According to Lao Tzu, “He who talks more is sooner exhausted.” This is to say the least of what is gradually becoming of Hon Edward Onoja, the perceived defacto governor of Kogi state and self made twin brother of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the executive governor of kogi state. It is no longer news to say in a bid to complete the docile media team of the self styled new direction government, Hon Edward Onoja is up and doing to make a positive image for this government but unfortunately, his eagerness to out write previous administrations only end up exposing how uniformed the new direction government is before coming on board.
Without regret and surprise, I read a particularly article credited to Hon Edward Onoja where in it read in part that “1,2,3 and 4 were nonexistent or completely wrecked before January 27, 2016.”, the 1,2,3, and 4 in reference as earlier highlighted in the said article are:
1. Security of Life, Property and Investments.
2. Modern Infrastructures (Power, Roads and Utilities).
3. The nature and quality of Government’s Strategic Plans and Policies and the amount of Political Will present to execute them.
4. A Functional Public Service that is free of waste and serves its full productive function as the Engine of Development.”
As a matter of fact, in the present Kogi state, if you do not frequently visit the social media, you will be uninformed and if you do, you will be misinformed. The truth is always available for those who seek it. Hence, in the position of a citizen and one who hitherto had sympathy for the preceding government GYB succeeded on January 27th, 2016 attend to the issue of 1(security of life, property and investments) while posterity answers the rest.
Nothing thrives insecurity like youth restiveness, artisan idleness and unavailability of loan grant to intending entrepreneurs. All of which though was adequately treated by captain Wada is inexistent in kogi state today. Through the youth advancement and development for Kogi which was popularly knows as “YAD4” trained at least ten thousand youths across the twenty one local government area of kogi state in about seven batches during which the benefiting youths were not only trained in their selected trades but placed on a monthly stipend of ten thousand naira each.
While kogites may have seemingly forgot this uncommon gesture that sustained a lot of youths and at the same time developed many into their dream profession, the end it rendered to thuggery as at the time can not be forgotten especially at a time like now when it’s unsustained program has given rise to massive social decadence ranging from kidnaps to prostitution, stealing, cooperate begging and unspeakable activities arising from youth disengagement and unpaid salaries.
As much as I try not to meddle into matters of governance as it is only he who is in the heat feels the heat, I will appeal to those within the structure of governance to focus on how to offset the backlog of fifteen months salary arrears, sorry; twelve months rather than looking for cheap popularity at the expense of others administrations. It is only in doing this that we can X-ray which is better and not the self serving articles leveraged to trend on social media platforms.
The government should as a matter of urgency even commence scouting for a suitable youth empowerment scheme that will engage our teeming youths as an idol mind is the devils workshop. There have never been insecurity in kogi state like it has been witnessed in the past seventeen months through cult clashes, kidnappings, inter town robberies, pocket picks and street snatching all as a result of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities. A stitch in time they say, save nine. The clock is ticking and very soon, kogites shall have an opportunity to once again exercise their franchise but until then, give us good governance and not lecturing good governance.
Comrade A. M. Nasir
naadejohs@gmail.com
You can follow me on twitter via @amnasiru
