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I have no option rather than to send it openly, so that it could reach your table as early as possible through media.
I write this letter with all diligence to stir your heart to the plight of our people, even though you are aware of the facts, I will once again record here for the purpose of history and posterity.
Your Excellency, on the 22nd of November 2015 the people of Kogi breathed a sigh of relief – relief from failed government, relief from broken promises, relief from months of unpaid salaries, relief from lack and hunger. The reason they had this sigh was because they fought for and voted for a governor of their choice whom they believed was coming to wipe away their tears and take away the pains of the past. Hope was birthed in the hearts of the people – your people. We all jubilated at our various wards, polling units and local government areas but unfortunately we loss Prince Abubakar Audu who was coasting home to victory.
Few minutes later after INEC conspired with few people in the state and declared the election inconclusive .The elections came but the people were disappointed and felt their hopes have been killed.
Now fast forward to campaigns , the people came all out to demand change which was founded on hope for a better Kogi. They campaigned, they faced intimidation from the then ruling party, but stood their grounds. Some of us became known as APC stalwarts because of the passion with which we campaigned for Audu Faleke. We campaigned at offices, Business places, Churches, among friends, etc.
The overwhelming support support Audu Faleke received on 22nd November, 2015 . The whole Kogi state went into jubilation. I received calls congratulating me and the people of Kogi. The people believed hope had come.
Today, twenty months into your government the story is different. The people that called to congratulate me when APC won are now calling me to complain about your government. I have now become your unofficial spokesman because I keep trying to explain APC plans for Kogi to the people even though I don’t really understand them myself.
One issue that is very deep in the hearts of the people – your own people, is the issue of payment of salaries. This issue is one that any government that plays with it is already planning to fail. Suffice to say that the refusal of the past government of Captain Idris Wada to pay salaries at the twilight of his administration was responsible for the rejection of the PDP in the state. Now the same trend is ongoing. Someone called me and asked a question. He asked whether you were no longer receiving allocations from the federation account. I answered in the affirmative. Then he asked “then why is Bello not paying salaries?” I didn’t have an answer for him and I still don’t.
It is public knowledge that Kogi state is ‘a civil service’ state. The civil service runs the state, hence once salaries are owed by the government, the economy of the state is seriously affected.
Your Excellency with the present state of affairs in the state, if a mock election was to be conducted today in the state I am afraid to say you will lose out. That is the level of disaffection the people have towards you. I don’t know the feedback your advisers are giving to you, but the truth is the feedback from the people are negative, which is not good for your government. The truth is if your government fails, some of us will not be able to talk again because of the level of commitment and passion we put into convincing the people to vote APC . Already they are blaming us.
It is my utmost desire that APC succeeds. I wish you and your team the grace of God and the “Common Sense” needed to pilot the affairs of the state well. I look forward to a time when people will start calling me to say ‘thank God we made the right choice – thank God we voted APC.
God Bless Kogi State.
– Alfa Tijani, a media aficionado, writes from Kogi state
Email: hon.tijanialfa@gmail.com
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