The Vice-Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, has publicly celebrated the birthday of former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, describing him as a man of rare philanthropic character whose quiet acts of generosity have transformed the lives of countless individuals, including his own.
In a heartfelt tribute made public on Wednesday, Professor Usman painted a vivid picture of a leader whose humanity extended far beyond political campaigns and governance — one who intervened in personal crises, championed the cause of ordinary Nigerians, and empowered people of humble backgrounds to rise to positions of national relevance.
From a Distance to a Deep Bond
Professor Usman disclosed that his admiration for Yahaya Bello began from afar, long before any personal acquaintance. During the build-up to the 2015 Kogi State governorship election, he said he was struck by the youthful and confident appearance of the then-candidate on campaign billboards across Kogi East, sensing in him the courage required for leadership at the highest level.
That early admiration, he noted, would over the years evolve into a bond forged not through political convenience, but through repeated demonstrations of personal kindness by the former Governor.
A Surgery, a Car, and an Unforgettable Act
Perhaps the most poignant episode recounted in the tribute centres on a medical emergency involving Professor Usman’s younger brother, who had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and required urgent surgery. Faced with a deposit he could not afford, the professor had resolved to sell his personal vehicle — one acquired through a cooperative loan he had only recently finished repaying — at a heavily discounted price to raise funds.
It was at that desperate moment, he recounted, that former Governor Bello intervened. Having learnt of the professor’s predicament through an intermediary, Alhaji Yahaya Bello not only stopped the distress sale of the vehicle but personally funded the surgical procedure in full.
Tragically, the professor’s brother did not survive the surgery. Yet Professor Usman said that act of compassion remains permanently etched in the memory of his family, and that it marked a turning point in his relationship with and support for the former Governor.
A Leader Who Refused to Be Misled
Professor Usman also addressed a period of professional turbulence, revealing that certain individuals had sought to misrepresent him to the former Governor as an opponent of his administration — a campaign he described as driven by envy and a desperate quest for relevance. He disclosed that these efforts went as far as falsely invoking the former Governor’s name to justify his removal from the position of Dean of Student Affairs at what is now Prince Abubakar Audu University.
When the truth reached Yahaya Bello, the professor said the former Governor firmly distanced himself from the action and ensured that no further injustice was visited upon him. Rather than being diminished by the episode, Professor Usman said he was subsequently entrusted with greater responsibilities within the institution.
He credited the former Governor’s response to a leadership quality he described as a willingness to observe and assess independently, rather than act on secondhand narratives or political pressure.
Raising the Children of Ordinary People
Central to Professor Usman’s tribute is what he characterised as Yahaya Bello’s defining philosophy of governance: a deliberate commitment to identifying and elevating individuals from modest and underprivileged backgrounds.
The professor, who describes himself as a man born without privilege or influence, said the former Governor never once considered his humble family origins in extending support and opportunity to him. He framed his own career trajectory — from university staff to Vice-Chancellor — as a direct product of that philosophy in action.
“He was determined to raise the children of ordinary people and empower them to achieve extraordinary things,” Professor Usman wrote, adding that he considers himself a living testimony of that commitment.
A Rare Political Figure, a Grateful Beneficiary
Reflecting on Yahaya Bello’s broader legacy, Professor Usman described the former Governor as one of the most consequential politicians to emerge from Kogi State — and notably, as the only former governor in the state who continues to maintain meaningful relationships with both his predecessor and his successor in office.
As Yahaya Bello marks another birthday, Professor Usman said he remains steadfast in his loyalty and gratitude, expressing confidence that the challenges the former Governor continues to face are part of a larger process of preparation for even greater service to humanity.
He concluded the tribute with a prayer for the former Governor’s continued good health, wisdom, protection, and accomplishment in the years ahead.
