Before You Judge Him, Ask the Ordinary People Who Lived Through His Eight Years
Politics is a game of different opinions. Every election season, politicians tell stories that favour their side. The opposition will naturally point to what they believe went wrong, while supporters will point to what they believe went right. But beyond the arguments on radio, television and social media, there are many Kogi people who believe there are important parts of Yahaya Bello’s record that deserve to be remembered.
For many market women, farmers, commercial drivers, artisans, civil servants, traditional rulers, community leaders, students and young people, leadership is not judged only by political speeches. They judge a leader by what they can see, what they can touch and what they experienced in their communities.
Supporters of former Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello believe that when history is written, it should tell the whole story, not just the criticisms, but also what they regard as the progress made during his administration.
When Yahaya Bello became governor in 2016, Kogi State faced serious challenges. Security concerns, poor infrastructure, financial constraints and unemployment were major issues confronting the state.
Many people doubted that such a young governor could successfully lead a state as politically and culturally diverse as Kogi. Yet, according to his supporters and many political analysts, he accepted the challenge with determination and introduced policies aimed at improving governance and development.
Security first, because without peace, development cannot thrive.
Supporters often say one of Bello’s biggest priorities was improving security.
A trader cannot sell peacefully if roads are unsafe. A farmer cannot cultivate without confidence. Parents cannot sleep soundly if they fear for the safety of their families.
For that reason, supporters credit his administration with strengthening cooperation with security agencies and supporting initiatives intended to improve safety across different parts of the state. While security challenges remained, as they did across many parts of Nigeria, they argue that these efforts helped many communities feel more secure, and Kogi State was adjudged as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
One point frequently raised by Bello’s supporters is his emphasis on involving young people in government.
Many youths who had never imagined occupying important public offices found opportunities to serve. Women were also appointed to significant positions.
Supporters believe this sent a strong message: leadership should not be reserved only for older politicians or a select few. They see it as opening doors for a new generation to participate in governance.
Many suppporters and public affairs analysts also point to roads, schools, hospitals and public buildings executed in different parts of Kogi East, Kogi Central and Kogi West.
They argue that development was not limited to one area but spread across the state, with projects intended to benefit different communities.
Whether in Lokoja, Okene, Anyigba, Idah, Kabba, Ankpa or other towns, supporters say the goal was to ensure that no senatorial district was left out of government attention.
Parents understand the value of education. Bello’s administration invested heavily in school rehabilitation, educational facilities, teacher development and support for tertiary institutions.
Many supporters and educationists argue that these efforts were designed to give children and young people a better learning environment and prepare them for the future.
Health practitioners accross the state also highlighted Bello’s investments in hospitals and primary healthcare facilities.
They argue that improving access to healthcare was an important part of the administration’s development agenda, especially for families who rely on public health services.
Kogi State is blessed with many ethnic groups, languages and cultures. Supporters say Bello sought to build a government that reflected this diversity through appointments and political engagement across the state.
They argue that unity and inclusion were important themes of his administration.
Supporters believe Yahaya Bello’s legacy is more than buildings or political titles. They point to opportunities given to young people, investments in infrastructure, efforts to improve security and programmes intended to strengthen public institutions.
Like every public office holder, his administration attracted both praise and criticism. Different people will continue to assess his record in different ways.
At every village square, every market, every mosque, every church, every motor park and every community meeting, people discuss leaders based on their own experiences.
Supporters of Yahaya Bello believe that no amount of political criticism can erase what they see as visible projects, expanded opportunities for young people and reforms carried out during his administration.
Politics will always produce competing narratives, but supporters argue that history should be written with fairness, recognising both achievements and shortcomings.
For them, the final verdict does not belong to politicians alone. It belongs to the ordinary people of Kogi State, the farmers, traders, teachers, artisans, civil servants, transport workers, students and community leaders, whose daily lives they believe were shaped by the decisions of government.
As Kogi continues its journey of development, supporters maintain that every generation should remember the leaders who, in their view, sought to move the state forward, while also learning from the challenges encountered along the way. They believe that only by telling the full story can the people make informed decisions about the future.
– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene.
