Grapevine, or should I say rumour, is molding the impression that Abdulkareem Asuku, the incumbent Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kogi State is being pimped to succeed Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Recall that the former Chief of Staff who’s now the Deputy Governor was also said to be warming up to wear the governor’s shoe at the end of this administration.
While I have come to term with our political dynamics where impossibility is mostly impossible, I will be the last person to jump on that juggernaut, giving that the realities of today didn’t improve.
Asuku has the ability to improve through the prediction, but it would not only be unfair to the district that hasn’t produced a governor, it will be needing a baggage of sterling strategy – intimidation, financial inducement, violence etc, to rig and the dreadful violence and intimidation witnessed in the last election being just a tip of the iceberg.
First, If it was true that the governor promised to support Edward Onoja to be the governor as it’s been peddled in some quarters, it’s honorable to honor such promise, notwithstanding the pressure coming from the Governor’s kinsmen in a quest to satiate their selfish desires.
Onoja did incredibly well as the Chief of Staff. He is articulate and have the capacity to communicate government policies and programs. I believe he was instrumental to the meagre gains of their first term, unlike now that governance is neither here nor there. What however, I have heard from many sources is that he’s arrogant. This I haven’t seen, except through some of his Facebook posts where he truly exhibited that trait of rudeness.
However, Onoja becoming the governor may not impede the progress recorded.
Second, the legendary Sementy, a night masquerade in Okene, in 2016 sang a song that sharply disagreed with those who felt the Chief of Staff position shouldn’t have gone to Onoja who’s from Kogi East. He threw a rhetorical question, asking who we are if having killed a gigantic animal, we took the vital parts – the thigh, the limb and the head, while giving the intestines to outsiders? I share this rhetoric sentiment with him then and now.
What that question illuminates is that, if we have the governorship slot, and sort to retain other key positions in our basket as it was the tradition before his ascension, then it’s safe to inference that we, Anebira, are equally culpable of the greed which we have attributed to the Igalas all the while.
In the same vein, if after governing the state for 8 years, we still want to retain it, because we have a dysfunctional system that rigs elections by hook or crook and a judiciary that hands justice to the highest bidder, then we aren’t different from our ‘greedy’ neighbors. If we truly want Kogi to unite hinging on the government’s sponsored EBIGO agenda, then this push up is unnecessarily vindictive.
It’s on this ground I advocate, at the expense of my firm belief on what I call alternating administrations, a gentleman agreement to rotate the governorship slot among the 3 senatorial districts. This agitation has been coming. Now that a minority has the chance to change things, it’s the best way forward. Since Kogi East has done, and Kogi Central is on the throne, the governor should help source for a credible Kogi Westerner to succeed him. Retaining the position in the Central is not just greed, it’s crude and hegemonic, all of which we have accused the Igalas years past.
Third. Even if we want to toe the path of constitutionality, which is that anybody can vie for any position if he or she is constitutionally qualified, the choice of Asuku comes with a lot of defects. Asuku has not shown enough leadership capabilities since he assumed the Chief of Staff position.
I must commend that he started on a good note, by winning to his boss a lot of goodwill through the consultation he carried out. But what next after the consultation? Nothing. People like me hope to see that consultation transforming into building a robust intellectually experienced team that will help the government improve the fortunes of the state. What else has he done? His humanitarian droplets, you would say. I commend him for that, even though it’s not one of the core duties of one in his office and influence.
I dislike to compare him with his predecessor, in terms of proactiveness, strategic communication, and compassionate leadership, but truth be told, they are worlds apart. Notwithstanding, I believe he has enough time to learn.
First, to speak less and listen more. Second, to learn the art of public speaking. Third, to continue to reach out to people who can help their administration to succeed. Fourth, to stay off controversies. His actions and inactions should win more souls to the government. Fifth and most importantly, he should come back to the social media to filter undiluted criticism. His busy schedules are not more than the governors of some states who are visible on the social media, or even his predecessor when he managed that position.
One other important advice is whilst he needs the services of data boys and influencers to shove his personality in the minds of the people, he shouldnt be deceived by their cacophonous rakadedes. E get why.
Although he’s answerable to his boss. However, he should be able to excellently express his boss’s policies and programs when and where necessary. Onoja did this well. I believe he can do better. Then, we can talk about his capacity to wear his boss’s shoes. In any case, I wish him well in his political expedition into the shoes of his boss.
– Alabi John Ozovehe wrote from Abuja.
