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Someone once asked, “What is the achievement of Governor Bello since he has been following Buhari about in attracting Federal projects to Kogi State”?
Another person asked, why is he all over Buhari and still owing his people salaries back home?
These statements may sound correct but they are surface statements reticent of a political neophyte. Governor Yahaya Bello is the only Governor that has ruled Kogi State who has “networking sense”. While our lawmakers have busied themselves in fighting themselves in the state rather than engaging in Federal fights to bring the needed attention to Kogi State, he has been going about building bridges of network.
Here is what Governor Yahaya Bello is doing with his many trips:
First off, as a young politician, he is building a rally point that would prevent Kogi state from national isolation. Nigeria is ringed in a web like manner that a strong politician from Lagos can choose to influence the affairs of Kogi. It is therefore expedient that every politician must secure his political environment with political intelligence.
Have you noticed that Kogi State has been left off the national grid in attention because previous leaders we had in the State didn’t understand the power of networking? How can a State with the highest mineral resources in Nigeria, bordering ten states, closest proximity to the National Capital and Webbed with the River Niger with capacity for Deep Sea exploration and transportation not be the first to be tapped when national developmental discourses are tabled?
It is simply because our leaders lack networking and lobbying intelligence.
Besides the fact that he is the youngest Governor in Nigeria, he must be present at most APC formal and informal events as he is the Sub Committee Chairman of APC Governors’ forum.
What are his political mileages?
Governor Bello was in for Akeredolu’s election. He won. Governor Bello was in for Anambra election, APC lost, he learnt. Governor Bello has been the most vibrant Governor from the North in terms of regional response to social-politico issues, it has appended Kogi a regional power block in determining North central politics. His collaboration with Governors El Rufai and Ganduje is meant to sort then intangible parts of regional politics, something Lagos benefits.
On February 14th, he was able to bring the Governor of Kebbi State, a rice producing state, to share their success stories with Kogi State. Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote was part of the Investment and Economic Summit. HRM, the Oni of Ife was live in Kogi State. These personalities carry weighty media and people attraction. Two key investment opportunities were signed that day that involves planting of a Five Star Hotel, Cable Wire and Sports Courts on Lokoja’s Mount Patti.
What are his romance with Buhari achieving?
On the 28th of February, 2018, Governor Yahaya Bello signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, produce Biofuels with Cassava(Kogi is largest producer in Nigeria) and Sugar Cane, which is to net about 84 million liters of biofuel per day, with attendant gas stations to be erected across Nigeria. The project is to create about 2 million direct and indirect jobs for an about 4.3 million population of people in Kogi State.
Check this links for confirmation: https://punchng.com/biofuel-nnpc-signs-mou-with-kogi-plans-stations-nationwide/) www.nnpcgroup.com/PublicRelations/NNPCinthenews/tabid/92/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/973/NNPC-Kogi-to-Produce-84-Million-Litres-of-Bio-fuel.aspx).
On the 13th of February, 2018, The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara visited Governor Yahaya Bello in Lokoja, apexing their discussion was lobbying for the revive of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
On March 2nd, 2018, the Ajaokuta Steel debate was opened on the floor of Nigeria’s Green Chamber to a public debate. Kogi’s most vociferous activist on the Steel, Barrister Natasha Akpoti, delivered a cerebral and eye opening presentation for the first time in decades before the House. Check link for confirmation (www.nassnig.org/news/item/657).
In the chest of 2017, Kogi State got a large share of the SuKUk fund for roads which is going into Port 2 and 4 of the Lokoja/ Abuja highway. Kogi is not being ignored.
Could it not be also puzzling that the youngest Governor in Nigeria, Yahaya Bello who governs the most vulnerable state in Nigeria (Kogi border ten states in a unitary location) has the lowest crime rates in the country? In August 2017, it was down by 0.65%, that earned him the Inspector General of Police’ highest award on Security.
Have you also wondered how Police men patrol the border of Kogi State with a workforce mounting checks at every 15 kilometer drive on Kogi highways? All these can only happen by Federal networking strength.
Most importantly, the Governor’s social proximity to the First Family is the apex of achievement as Kogi Stands to benefit any one-point information.
Conclusively, Governance is a complex process than most people imagine. It is also instructive to note that Governor Bello’s “foreign trips” is one of the most minimal in the country. He is about exploring Nigeria for what would benefit his state. Can we say so of previous Abuja-Governors in Kogi State?
Kogi Rebel leaves you to answer that with your conscience.
– Promise Emmanuel (Kogi Rebel)
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