On the 7th day of April, 2020, Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello approved the appointment of Dr. Usman Ogbo as the acting Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja after Professor Mohamed S. Atureta was formally relieved of his duty.
The appointment of Dr.Ogbo has generated divergent opinion, reactions and unproven theories among clans men, educated elites and politicians. It was argued that he is unfit for the job. Part of their argument stated succinctly that Dr. Ogbo do not maintain and portray capacity and the requisite skills to manage Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja. However, they were oblivious that his predecessor who is a renowned professor never manage a group of people or formal organization before his ascension as a Rector.
Professor Aturera, who hail from Okene Local Government Area of the State, was until his appointment a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics Science, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. On the other hand, Dr. Ogbo before his appointment was the youngest head of department in Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and also member of the governing council of the institution.
It is fundamental to draw to the fore that leadership or management behaviours like any other human practices is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. And whilst some people may be born with leadership qualities, research suggests that anywhere between 30%-60% most likely behaviours are developed overtime. At its core, leadership consists of a set of skills and behaviours that can be learnt.
If you ask a leader, how they become the personality that are internally and externally adored by many today, I doubt if they will say they were inherently born with unique set of gifts or skills. Instead, you will assume consciousness and shock swimming through the unimaginable pool of stories of their personal struggles, hardship, perseverance and learning which ultimately reward them with fame and titles which they uphold with dignity and security today.
From the above background, it is illogical, malicious, callous and absolutely incorrect for any sane Igala man or Kogite to berate and reprimand the appointment of Dr. Usman Ogbo as the acting Kogi State Polytechnic Rector.
According to his Excellency, Chief Edward Onoja, “I have implicit confidence in Dr. Ogbo’s capacity and competencies. I know he will apply the imbibed EBIGO philosophy to his stewardship and will hold KSP in trust for all Kogites, in transparent and accountable manner that will advance the institution from height to higher height.
“Dr. Usman Ogbo, professor to be, I trust you. GYB trust you, remember that good name is better than money and make every one of us proud”, he said in a congratulatory message.
A visit to Kogi State University chronicle furnished us with some objective documentaries. As inquisitive leads, I became inundated with credible pointer that all or some of the Kogi State University Vice chancellors were once a Head of Department or Dean of a faculty from their respective institutions. And Dr. Ogbo is not far from this rich experience as well. Therefore, what possibly propelled the undebatable argument of his capacity after maintaining rich administrative experiences? Could this argument or critics flooding on social media be a result of calculated hatred or envy of his personality?
According to the champion of this debate, Rector shouldn’t be a political compensation rather a position for a proven credentials. Does Dr. Ogbo fall short of the criteria? Emphatically No! His affinity with the ‘power that be’ in the state might not be negotiable or contested. Nevertheless, Dr. Ogbo worth the position and he has a valid, verifiable credentials and skills to advance Kogi State Polytechnic to its promise land.
It should be recalled that during the last Kogi State governorship electioneering campaign, thousands of people contributed humanly and materially to the successes of the campaign beyond the resources and comprehension of Dr. Ogbo. Why haven’t they been given the position? Does that mean the Governor and his adviser on education that sat down to review Dr. Ogbo curriculum vitae are ignorant and illiterates?
We must not deny political influence and nepotism which has become the major decider of political and socioeconomic direction today. Nonetheless, there are some perimeters that we can never maneuver or manipulate in the discharge of our mandates. These are the basic requirements that qualify you for a status regardless of whose ox is gored.
It should be categorically stated here that the classificatory locations of this bulk of critics maintain the same senatorial zone with Dr. Ogbo. There is this aphorism that said “Igala people don’t want their brother’s progress”. The case of Dr. Ogbo has proven beyond reasonable doubt to every body in Kogi State that the assertion is undoubtedly true.
Going by their self service slogan of ‘political compensation’, it’s clear in their misleading believe and messages that nothing can be offered and accomplished on the basis of merit, rather on the basis of influence and nepotism.
Come to think of it, from the PDP epoch down to APC administration, from Federal Level down to State level, all the political appointments has been on the ground of the purported political compensation, but with basic requirements as a point of consideration.
Objectively speaking, if we were mute during the former, why blaming the latter on the said political compensation? Why should we shamelessly summon the unavailable moral justification in us to justify the appointment of Dr. Ogbo?
It is obvious that nobody is 100% perfect, perfection is meant for God alone. Hence, Dr. Ogbo is not perfect, since leadership and management is not only inherently attributed to human, I am confident that Dr. Ogbo will learn and deliver the mandates of the office.
As a race, it is high time we shield our hatred and self-consuming anger towards each other and bargain for collective prosperity. Interest and politics might have divided and created an uneasy irrevocable hatred or despise among us. Strengthening further political divide and disunity among us is a great disservice to Igala Kingdom. Let assert freedom from this bondage and define a new purpose and identity for our ethnic group. As our brother, we owe him as a duty to pray for his success in that office and to also pray for Professor Marietu Tenuche, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Kogi State University. Their failure does not only have adverse effects on them but also our children and brothers/sisters who will be acting as their subjects within the period of their administration.
Note: The piece was only inspired by the principle of ‘how things ought to be’. The writer is neither Dr. Ogbo press secretary nor maintain any affinity with him.
– Ojimaojo Y. Abubakar writes from Abuja
