Kogi state is one of the most blessed States in Nigeria, considering its location, mineral and human resources. Kogi has over 20 out of about 28 mineral deposits in Nigeria. Prominent among these resources are coal, limestone, iron ore, crude oil. Yes crude oil as well as rich arable land. On the side of human resources, Kogi State have too much of untapped human capital, enough of intelligent and hard working individuals to make the state a development hub. I smiled uncontrollably last week when I read a list carrying the names of over 100 professors from kogi West alone add west and central and you can imagine how many only kogi has. I imagined the PhDs, MSCs, MBAs BSCs, HNDs, NCEs, NDs. I couldn’t help but smile in Thanksgiving to God for making kogi excel this well academically in the face of neglect from all quarters.
Amidst all these resources and blessings, we have remained one of the poorest state in Nigeria. Having found myself in the wilderness of thoughts and imagination, I realized that our problem is not that of availability but usage. Kogi got all it takes to be a vibrant economic hub but applications of these God given talents have posed a great challenge. The only asset in lack as far as kogi state is concerned is LEADERSHIP and FOLLOWERSHIP. This clearly shows that we are our own enemy, we are the destroyer of our own collective good.
Our greatest problem in kogi state is leadership, there is no committed, dedicated and sincere leadership in the state, the “I don’t care” attitude of both political and traditional leaders leaves one to wonder if they ever deserved the attention they get, their engagement in unhealthy politics has perpetually kept kogi state in its sorry situation. The self interest, greed, self centeredness synonymous to kogi old breed leaders, the desire to be forever relevant, the desire to have it all, the ” it must be me” syndrome, the ” I am the only fit person” mentality, the ” he shouldn’t progress more than me thoughts, are the erroneous postulations that have kept my people in abject penury in the land of plenty. These so called leaders lack foresight, integrity, zeal and focus to bring kogi out of the woods. All they care about is personal gain and self enrichment.
On the other hand, the followership in kogi state is a decayed one. I do not see a possibility of having bad leaders if the followership is determined and focused. The followers must know their onions to keep the leaders on their toes.
It is in common place in Nigeria for citizens to turn praise singers to leaders and even put their life on the line in exchange of peanuts. I have seen situations where people support and even protest the arrest of a fantastically corrupt individual because the said “yam eater” is their kinsman. We support and vote people who feed us temporarily in exchange of 4 years of an administration. 1000 naira and we sell our rights and privileges for 4 years, they Come home at intervals to put small food in our mouth as though we are tamed beast, they steal our common good while we welcome them in rousing ovation, the follower rejoice and celebrate the gallantry of the leaders in stealing, the followers party while their house is on fire. As elections draw close, I can hear and read how some uninformed persons have started shopping for people with lots of money to throw instead of people with integrity and willpower to develop the state. Followership is obviously our greatest problem in kogi state. Sycophancy and praise singing is a notable career. It pays so much that we now have too many activist and crusaders.
Only a handfull kogites in recent times are truly sincere and good as followers and leaders. An average kogi person as much as I know is hardworking, how then did we get here? Where did we get it wrong?
I weep often when I drive through the streets of major cities in Nigeria, knowing that the amenities I see around can’t be found in my state. Most worrisome is the fact that Kogi indigenes are now known for all the menial jobs (pump attendant, cleaners, guards hawkers, etc) education does not guarantee a job these days. I wept bitterly the day I went in the company of my colleagues to see a client in an office in Abuja. While I was stepping out of the lift, I heard a familiar voice calling my name, I looked back and behold it was the security man, an old time friend, a Bsc holder, he narrated the huddles he encountered to land this job, his looks was haggard, I couldn’t hold my tears, he has an aged mother and 4 siblings to cater for with 25, 000 salary. This is one of the over a million heart rending and humiliating experiences of Kogites out there.
I am making a clarion call on all kogites to demand accountability from their representatives, we need to better the lots of kogi people, we need to educate the mind of the youth, we need to do a moral re-orientation of our people, we need to find a concentric front in a fight for a better kogi state, we must find a concatenation to deterge our state. The Time is now else our children will curse us for handing down a decayed state to them. Posterity will judge us all if we don’t play our part for a better kogi state.
– Igomu Ojogbami Benedict writes from Abuja
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