Except for skepticism, everything is wrong for a state that has accessed a federal government bail out to the tune of twenty billion naira, received no lesser than five months allocation in seven months, have a government that inherited two months untouched federal allocation and under a democratic government to have its state capital boring of business activities, having homes where a daily two square meal is observed by miracle, have its governor booed at every public outing with poor social amenities and apologetic citizens welfare.
To say nothing is working in Kogi state is a very wrong expression because there is an existing state government, reputable professionals, standard cooperate organizations, reputable firms and sufficient man power for both civil service and private engagements. However, insensitive has been institutionalized by the government of the day, civil servants have been turned to bread seekers rather than the bread earner they ought to be. Very worrisome to say but may God salvage Kogi as crime consequently taken occurrence in a lucrative manner. Lucrative because its the only venture through which returns have certainty so far.
Both the Christian and Islamic doctrines are immensely emphatic on the need to work before “chop”. Infact, the act of striving on a livelihood is considered a righteous action in faith lines but it seem contrary in Kogi state. Whereas, God has mandated that the sweat of a labourer shouldn’t even dry off before pay gets ready, it is only when one gets sick as a result of the labour expended in task that sympathy will surface in Kogi state. Sympathy from the poor, contributions from cooperative organizations and secrete donation from religious congregation. And certainly no one wishes to get so ill fated to such an extent of seeking helps as preceding if not for condition.
Ordinarily, criticism would have been easy to neglect as an act of opposition. But, with the continued crack within the state chapter of the ruling APC which has often and at every controversial opportunity distant itself from the Alh Yahaya Bello led government, rising standard of living with scarce circulation of cash; one cannot but say, “the new direction government is leading Kogi to Recession”. The civil servants now live in a land of “coovooki” as today the government will claim not to be owing any genuine worker, tomorrow it will claim to have commenced payment in batches and in the next press statement it will be promising to pay three months salary. What the hell are we in to?
The government is unequivocally characterized with misplacing priorities. While immorality is taking its toll, burial of civil servants no longer come as breaking news, commercial and transport routes are not working efficiently, markets are subconsiously been resized, students no longer receive steady alerts and stipends amidst sorrow cum agony in homes, the government out of its lack of empathy purchased dual SUVs for council administrators, organises birthday party for its officials at the government House with a usual smoke screen defense of tagging them surprise packages, exorbitantly purchased over a hundred vehicle for security task forces in a state with just twenty one local government areas.
For the sake of posterity, all those within the structure and helm of affairs in this government must realize that history only remember people by the legacies the leave behind. There are countless men and women whom have held sway of power in times past that are no longer relevant today, many have passed away, few even died in power, some are no longer remembered while some are rained with prayers and honour at every mention of their names. The most beautiful thing about the future is that it does not just occur, it happens in sequence and everyday event and opportunities are part of the tales that will make up the future. In the end, what the future tells about us is how we lived today. New direction will only be embraced when it is radiant with a guaranteed and better living!
– Comrade A. M. Nasir
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twitter handle: @Naadejohs
