Whenever I have the rare opportunity as an independent journalist, to conduct an exclusive interview with the dynamic Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, one of the questions he would have to provide answers to, to enable us have a good grasp of the imitable spirit driving his new political philosophy and leadership quality, is who are his military and civilian heroes among Nigeria’s national figures since independent era. However, as a student of history, I would be surprised if Yahaya Bello’s list would exclude the legendary iconic former military Head of State, Late General Murtala Mohammed and former Premier of Western Nigeria, and political icon, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memories.
You would recall that it was not for nothing that the Late General Murtala Muhammed and Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo were at various times in our chequered history, being referred to as the best performed Nigeria’s Military Head of State and the best civilian president Nigeria never had.
In the light of this backdrop, I have become fully convinced like every other Kogites, who are not blinded by party, ethnic, clan, religious and other mundane primordial sentiments, that the duo of Murtala Muhammed and Obafemi Awolowo may have quietly in the spiritual realm reincarnated into Nigeria’s political system in the person of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, who marks his highly eventful and Impactful one hundred days in office this week (May 5, 2016).
Since the governor took oaths of office in January 27, he had demonstrated uncommon doggedness and commitment to re-enact in Kogi state, the revolutionary and visionary landmark achievements credited to these two fallen heroes who made their indelible marks in the task of nation building in Nigeria.
The ongoing meticulous reforms in the state civil service system being undertaken by the Yahaya Bello led administration have made him a good reference point in good governance and bridge building across the 21 local government areas in the state.
The parameters and fundamentals of my assessment of his 100days in office which earned him full marks in my score sheets, are evidence – based, as the following context would suffice:
Remember that the last administration of Capt. Idris Wada bequeathed a state that was characterized by insecurity, gloom, frustration, bitterness, anger, lamentation, despair, and general sense of hopelessness among the citizenry. Civil servants were owed about 4 months salaries and allowances. Local government workers did not fared better as they were used to collecting ridiculous and slave percentage salaries for years. Critical infrastructure and other sectors of the economy were in total decay and comatose. Residents of Lokoja, the state capital, would not forget in a hurry their life – threatening and embarrassing experience as Lokoja and other parts of the state remain the dirtiest cities in the country.
True, this was a period that it was evidently clear to every discerning mind that the then state government had completely lost control of sanitation and wastes management drive in the state, as there were heaps of refuse dumps in every corners and major streets, that kept growing in sizes by the day. To add insult to injury, public taps within Lokoja metropolis completely dried up, as portable water became a scarce necessity in the area.
In the same vein, the political system, as polluted as ever, was gripped in the throes of rancor and growing turbulence. This was the unsettling scenarios on ground, when Alhaji Yahaya Bello came on board in a historic setting on that fateful day.
But in his swift reaction to these pressing challenges on ground, the visionary governor quickly swung into action with all candor and courage needed to provide purposeful leadership at a time like these. First, he quickly restored the provision of water in Lokoja metropolis; cleared the heaps of refuse dumps in the city; and deftly initiated moves that finally brought the striking civil servants back to their offices, after 6 weeks at home.
Within the past 100 days, the governor had paid 2 months salaries with a promise to pay another one this week, all things being equal. He had also successfully accessed about N20 billion bail out fund out of the N50 billion recently approved by the central bank of Nigeria, after he had to re-apply for the fund because the immediate past government did a wishy washy efforts to access the bail out fund.
Secondly, Alhaji Yahaya Bello have almost completed the comprehensive civil service reform he initiated in February to clean the highly corrupt and bastardized civil service of age long mess and rot in the system at all levels of government in the state. The pragmatic governor had since granted full financial autonomy to all the 21 local government areas of the state, while he had also successfully restored sanity and stability in the polity. It is pertinent to note that most chairmen and officials of local government councils in the state have been forced to become born again public servants, as they have embraced a new culture of accountability and transparency in office.
In a related development, the governor had demonstrated his readiness to do things differently as he had deepened his efforts in bridge building across the state. For the first time in the history of the state, Governor Yahaya Bello went outside his tribe to appoint one Mr. Edward Onoja, an Igala man, as his able Chief of staff and right hand man. He also expanded his pan – Nigerian outlook to a new height, as he employed into his cabinet an Igbo man as his Special Adviser on speech writing. This too is a record in the history of Kogi state.
In the same vein, it is on record too that the governor also spread his appointments to cover almost all the constituencies in the 21 local government areas in the state, irrespective of party, ethnic, clan, and religious affiliations. From the intimidating profiles of all his appointees obtained by this writer, there are no traces of a mediocre or a misfit among them. These too are a record, as all of them are highly resourceful, innovative and competent professionals in their own rights. This is a sharp departure from the old order where hundreds of people were parading themselves as “Special advisers” even when it was obvious that they are ordinary political jobbers that could not add any value to good governance in the state.
In the infrastructure sector, the Yahaya Bello led administration had mobilized contractors back to sites, in his bid to complete all abandoned and uncompleted projects that would impact positively on the lives of the good people of the state, within available resources.
Above all, the youthful governor had announced plans to begin the full implementation of his socio – economic blueprint for the rapid development of the state, in tandem with the change mantra and manifesto of his party. Governor Yahaya Bello has also secured the state and created the enabling environment to make Kogi state a first choice as investment hub in Sub – Sahara Africa and in Nigeria in particular. These are the many reasons for Kogites to roll out the drums to celebrate his 100 days in office, as we look forward to more dividends of democracy ahead in his first 4 years tenure in office, by the special grace of God.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran independent journalist and social critic, writes from Lokoja
