The Special Adviser to the governor on Political Matters Hon Chief Pius Kolawole wish to felicitate with His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Deputy Governor, Hon, Chief Simon Achuba, The Chief of Staff, Hon Edward Onoja and the entire Kogi State on the one year anniversary of the governor in office.
The 365 days of the New Direction government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello cannot properly appreciated without giving a brief overview of the political past of Kogi State.
The political past of Kogi State can be described as one with Quashioko. A state that was crippled by chronic corruption, acute maladministration premised on ethnic jingoism and self aggrandizement, which resulted into poverty, insecurity and a general decline in the welfare of the State. This was a state that saw money in the time of boom, but lacked the needed purposeful leadership and the political will to invest in the future of the state through infrastructure and human capital development. Rather, the resources enjoyed by the state during the time of boom ended up in the pockets of a few cabals, the same cabals that held Kogi State to ransom until the coming of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Governor Bello who is an accomplished civil servant and a successful businessman, came into the politics of Kogi State to right the wrongs of the old,and use the present to prepare a better future for our dear state. It can only take a man with a strong passion and a dedicated mind to venture into the mucky waters of Kogi politics with the aim of changing the status quo.
Before the emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello as the chief executive of the State, the menace of insecurity bedeviled the state to the extent that armed robbery, kidnapping and other negative vises were the order of the day. This government haven understood that development cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity, set up a joint tax force (JTF), which he equipped with brand new operation vehicles and other necessary paraphernalia needed for effective and efficient combat against crime and criminality.
You can agree with me that this move has yielded tremendous results, as crime rates has reduced across the state, and investors are already trooping in to do business.
Another major feat achieved by His Excellency, is in the area of civil service reform. It has been established that the evil hands of Ghost Workers has been detected in the civil service of the State, which is largely responsible for the over bloated workforce that has continued to milk the state of resources that could be used to improve infrastructure in the state. Successive governments over the years have tried to conduct a screening exercise to rid the service of Ghost, but have failed simple because the political will wasn’t strong enough.
This government has taken a bold stand against that, and constituted committee to help flush out ghosts in our civil service.
Reforming our civil service doesn’t end at screening alone, but also the total repositioning of the civil for efficiency, effectiveness, and higher productivity. By motivating the workforce with a conducive work environment, capacity building, adequate remuneration, and generally improved work conditions.
I can assure you that after this is done, other state will begin to follow the footsteps of Kogi State.
In terms of infrastructural development, this government has taken upon itself to make sure that Kogi State becomes a leading light for her contemporaries when it comes to structural development. Governor Yahaya Bello in the last 365 days has embarked on aggressive infrastructure across the three senatorial district of the State. Starting with the award of contracts for the construction of roads across the state, the construction of the revenue house, Renovation and construction of two lecture hall and a medical lab at the school of health technology, Idah, installation of solar powered street lights across the state capital, electrification of Omala, the flag off of the Ife-Olukotun – Ohun – Ekinrinade – Alu-Igbagun – Ejuku – Jegede – Ijowa Isanlu roads, and the development of Omi Dam in the West, the idah-Umomi-Anyigba road, The Ankpa Abejukolo road in the east, not to mention the rehabilitation of NITEL-Ata road, Agasa to off checkpoint, among other roads already under construction in the central senatorial district.
All these are a way of opening up these towns and villages to connect with each other, thereby boosting economic activity and reducing the hardship faced by the people in moving both human and farm produce from one place to the other.
Students welfare is no doubt a priority to this administration, employment generation and the general welfare of people of Kogi State is top in the agenda of the New Direction government, and the government is working tirelessly to ensure that Kogi State is placed in the position where it belongs, which is at the top of table.
Your Excellency sir, your one year in office has brought monumental transformation to the fortunes of Kogi State. We the good people of Kogi State appreciate your leadership style, and we pray to God for His continued protection and guidance as you pilot the affairs of the State.
It has been a 365 days of hard work, investment, and commitment, we therefore remain steadfast as we journey into another 365 days of harvest and gains. Kogi is in safe hands.
Long Live His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello
Long Live Kogi State.
