The best leaders are the ones who have sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” -Theodore Roosevelt.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been saddled with the humongous responsibility of providing leadership and social welfare for Kogi State, a State with a population of over 3.5million people,blessed with arable land, water, mineral resources, rich cultural heritage, and diverse and unique people.
So far, his administration has achieved unprecedented levels of criticisms on the ineptitude of his administration on handling issues of governance, and his insensitive/nonchalant approach, to the high rate of poverty and dis-satisfaction in the state.
In as much as we know that the ‘Chief Executive Officer ‘, is solely responsible for the successes and failures of his administration, why have we been over looking the ‘team’ he has entrusted to aid and guide him in this quest for a new and better direction?
Government, is not an individual. Rather, government, is an institution comprising of individuals. The success of any organisation, is hindered on the synergy of the team. The ability of the team to work together creatively, to achieve the desired objectives.
The percentage of Kogites, that have felt the harsh sting of mis-administration in this government, in terms of non payment of salaries, bad roads, harassment, ridiculous taxes, inflation etc is more than 95%. In a democratic government whose underlying principle is ‘popular opinion’, why is a minority enjoying the dividends of governance? If you take a random poll, take a walk down any street in Kogi State and seek opinions on what the common man has to say about the administration. Dis Satisfaction is etched on majority of the faces, bitterness spews forth in their speech, their hearts are heavy with the burdens they carry.
On the other hand, visit Social Media. Here we find a lot of government officials, friends of government, relatives and tribal/ethnic sympathisers, that battle every day with aggrieved citizens and opposition party members.What pro active advise, what kind of feed backs, are they giving the governor?
No matter the feed back, positive or negative, The truth remains,majority of Kogites are suffering! Majority of Kogites are disgruntled, majority of Kogites, put the blame of their unwarranted sufferings, solely on Yahaya Bello.
In as much as I cannot absolve Yahaya Bello of blame, a team is only as good as its leader, and vice-versa, these Kogites in this administration, that feed the governor with illusions of funfare, are more to blame than the Governor.
They come out on Social media, failing to make any logical intellectual argument or proposition, and laugh/mock the sufferings of their fellow Kogites, most probably because they have temporary relief from the hardships of society.
They go back to their/our governor and assure him, it is well, we are in control, the masses love you, you are doing a wonderful job, 2020 is sure for you, we will die for you, we will live for you etc.
Does the Governor really have an idea about the sentiments carried by the ‘man on the streets’ as it concerns his administration and lack of administration?
These Kogites, that deceive the Governor/Government,and try to silence the overwhelming voice of the masses, that have been crying out, these people are the real enemies of our progress. When all is said and done though, the name that will forever ring in the history of Kogi, is the man that sat at the head of the administration.
When the Bible admonishes us to ‘pray for our leaders ‘, today, I had a deeper revelation on this. ‘Uneasy lies the head, that wears the Crown’. When you are surrounded by the noise of ‘psycophants’, how can you hear the sincere cry from sincere hearts of the masses!
Today, I have decided to pray for my Governor. I pray that the Lord will give him wisdom, to look beyond the enclave of ‘Yes Men’ that surround him, and be able to see the multitude that are in dire need of the social amenities they have been deprived of for so long. I pray he will surround himself, with people that have sincere agendas for the progress of Kogi State, and the capacity and capability to deliver. I pray his slogan, ‘a new direction ‘, Will truly take us to a new direction of unprecedented progress and prosperity.
Amen.
– Seun Olorunfemi
