Alhaji Yahaya Bello
Governor, Kogi State,
Lokoja.
Your Excellency,
It is said that wisdom gives one the ability. Understanding gives one the intelligence to figure things out. Knowledge gives one the expertise to make things happen.
Sir, I will like to refresh your mind as an accounting graduate from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and as an MBA holder that, leadership is not about a job title or role. There are a lot of managers who are doing a great job leading. The issue is the behavior, not the role: I will also like to remind you that Management is about doing things right, while Leadership is about doing the right thing, all this I guess you are been schooled of prior to now.
When leadership is great, success inevitably follows. Likewise, when leadership is poor, failure inevitably follows.
Your Excellency Sir, I also wish to bring to your notice that all of us are shepherds and each of us is responsible for his flock. A Pastor or Imam is a shepherd and he is responsible for those in his care. A man is a shepherd in respect of his family and is responsible for those in his care. The woman is a shepherd in respect of her husband’s house and is responsible for what is in her care. The servant is a shepherd in respect of his master’s property and is responsible for what is in his care. All of us are shepherds and each of us is responsible for his flock.
As a citizen of the state, I have followed your leadership style and approach to government, I can clearly tell you that you have not only failed as a leader, but you never used the opportunity to reconcile what you have been taught, with the reality you met in the state. Let me quickly remind you of the three (3) important laws you never gave attention to as a leader;
Law of the Lid: Which state that, leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness; the lower an individual’s ability to lead is, the lower the lid on his potential. Likewise, the higher an individual’s ability to lead is, the higher the lid on his potential.
Law of Influence: Which state that, leadership is measured based on a person’s ability to influence others; nothing more, nothing less.
Law of Process: Which state that, growth in leadership happens every single day, not in a single day.
You were declared winner of the 2015 Kogi State gubernatorial election after you were chosen on the platform of the All Progressives Congress as the replacement for the late Abubakar Audu your candidature caused a lot of rift between you and different party members but one man stood by you, Senator Dino Melaye and through the help of God and the support of men, you assumed office in January 27, 2016.
As a youth, I saw hope in you including your friend Senator Dino Melaye and many other Nigerian, been that you are a contemporary youth, but your political skills could not match up with the reality and you seem not to be reading the clear handwriting on the wall, that you don’t belong to the political group rather, the business group where you came from, but you keep insisting to be in power for another four years.
Please Sir, ask yourself these sincere questions, how has your four years in office improve the wellbeing of the people of Kogi State, also I urge you to ask yourself, has your four years in office change the face of Kogi State? If you will be sincere to yourself, without any struggle, you will see yourself handling the Barton of leadership to someone else because you don’t deserve another four years as the number one leader of the state.
You can take a bow and leave honorably and respectfully, and the state will forever remember you, another four years which I see as mirage anyway will be adding salt to an already existing injury and it won’t go down well with you as many of your allies knowing that you won’t come back for another four years will go against you and use your own words against you as well, then you will only be an object of pity and disgrace.
You have hurt over 3million Kogites, your leadership role as a youth cannot be use as an example and I wish to let you know that the world is so digital that posterity may not easily forgive you because you caused children to lose their parent, and parent to lose their children due to the acute hardship your leadership style subjected them to.
You can still make it right Your Excellency if only you will act honorably and not allow temporary powers take over the future respect, take a bow out of the governorship race and allow the man with a more experience and political calling to take over from where you will be leaving the state, he has proven it has a senator and he can and will prove it as a governor, he is a man for all season, the voice of the poor masses and he his Gods ambassador in Kogi state, that I know you can’t deny because your success of becoming a governor is as a result of his endless effort and support for you.
Sir, a good name is the result of integrity, character and reputation. Once a good name is tarnished, it is most difficult to ever restore. Please note that I said difficult to restore.
Yours Faithfully
Elijah Ojonicko Akoji (Bright)
Department of Mass communication,
Bayero University Kano.
brightakoji7@gmail.com
