THINK LIKE YAHAYA BELLO
THE BRIDGE BUILDER
BY OTORI OZIGI
“A good head and a good heart, are always a formidable combination”- Nelson Mandela.
It goes without saying that Kogi State is now, more than ever before, divided and fractured along ethnic, party and other primordial fault lines. This unfortunate and ugly development came to the fore, sequel to the avoidable political crisis, occasioned by the sudden and tragic death of one of the political icons of the state, late Prince Abubakar Audu, of blessed memory.
His demise in the course of an electioneering process acted as a veritable recipe for constitutional lacuna and other sundry issues that have refused to abate with the passage of time in the political system in the state.
As at the time of writing this piece shortly before the historic inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the 4th democratically elected governor of Kogi State, the entire polity was engulfed in multiple litigations filed at the election petitions tribunal by no fewer than four political parties and one Abiodun Faleke, member, Federal House of Representatives, and a supposed deputy governor elect who reportedly refused to turn up for swearing-in on January 27, at the state capital, Lokoja.
As Kogi state peculiar mess rages in, it is safe to say that only few citizens care about the corporate interest and fate of Kogi Project, in the face of this lingering avoidable crisis that has put the state on a cliff hanger. One of such patriotic personality that had put Kogi first in his private and public conducts under the prevailing turbulent circumstances, is the newly inaugurated governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
I have followed with keen interest his conducts since his entrance into the murky water of politics in the state.
It is noteworthy that the youthful governor has acquitted himself creditably and state manly since he came into public consciousness as a new breed politician. He has left no one in doubt that he came into politics to make a difference and show good examples in the art of active politics. Every of his actions and statements from his mouth were coated with uncommon wisdom and uncanny decorum that belies his 40 years of age. His sense of maturity, analytical mind and a good grasp of topical issues are very inspiring so far. I must confess that these are the principal reasons that had endeared him to me, and to a large extent, converted me into his growing fan base that cut across the three senatorial districts in the state and beyond. The euphoria of his victory at the polls was very infectious. Except those who have proved to be incurably disgruntled and politically rascal, the generality of the good people of Kogi State received his emergence in good fate and Optimism because it was clearly an act of God.
On a number of different platforms and fora, Yahaya Bello had repeatedly given insights into his personality traits and leadership quality. He has shown a good content of character so far. There are traces of a bridge builder, a beacon of hope and a peace maker in his political DNA. He is generally seen as a torch bearer at a perilous time like this.
He has also given assurances that his mission in politics is to render selfless and purposeful services to deepen unity, socio – economic developmental efforts and social justice in the state. According to the governor, he is armed with a sacred blue-print in tandem with his party’s manifesto to fast-track his vision for the backward state in the years ahead.
As an astute and prudent business mogul, with the right academic credentials, the governor who is a strictler for team work and inclusive leadership, had stressed the need for the citizenry to join hands with him in the arduous task to move the state on “a new direction” to the promised land.
It is clear to every discerning mind that our dear state has been groping in utter economic doldrum and under-development in the last 24 years of its existence. Everything that could go wrong, had already gone wrong these years. Today, the reality on ground is that Kogi State is rated as one of nation’s poorest and insolvent states. Arguably, this is not the best of time for anybody to be a governor of the state.
At the last count, shortly before the last gubernatorial election, the previous government admitted that it owed over N50 billion naira as outstanding salaries of civil servants and teachers at both local and state levels.
The debt profile of the state may have grown in size and figures as civil servants are still owed up to four months salary arrears. There is also the sum of N20 Billion naira bond reportedly obtained by the previous government to execute its “legacy projects”. However, these projects which are in their teething stages, have since been abandoned by the Wada administration for inexplicable reasons. The outgoing administration failed in his attempt to access the N50 billion naira bail out fund granted by the federal government to about 27 states to pay salary arrears in their respective states.
It is my concern to draw the attention of the new governor to some of the inevitable humongous challenges that would stare him in the face as he settles down to the business of good governance in the state in the years ahead. It is my candid view that the way he tackles these challenges would go along way to define his performance in office.
It is an incontrovertible fact that government business anywhere in the world is not a tea party.
If the new governor wants to succeed, where his predecessors failed woefully, he should be ready to take hard and tough decisions that he considers in the best interest of the state, no matter whose ox is gored.
Mr. Governor, please cloth yourself with the political will and the courage to always do what is right, without fear or favour. You are elected and endorsed by God because we believe in your ability to translate your electioneering promises into reality beyond the level of rhetoric that we were used to in the past.
You must bear in mind that when the history of this state is written in the future after you must have left office under whatever circumstances, it is only your name and your father’s name that will be mentioned. There would be no chapter or page for all those who you will appoint to serve under your administration. Nobody would remember who advised you wrongly or wisely, as you grapple with matters of governance.
It would be your cross only if you willingly allow anybody to hold you hostage in a democratic set up.
It is against this background, that you will like to learn from history and do away with all professional sycophants that would distract you from concentrating on urgent matters of governance at a time like this, in the life of our dear state, that is yearning for a renewal of hope, new vision and socio – economic re – engineering to drive the wheel of progress of the state to the Kogi of our dream.
When assembling members of your cabinet, in the shortest possible time, look out for highly resourceful, innovative, and competent experts both in the state and in the Diaspora. There should be no room for mediocre, in the midst of a pool of highly intelligent people that abound in the state.
Do not give political appointment and other patronages to anybody who can not add value to your government. Do not give appointments and contracts based solely on your next of kin, next of class mates, next of tribe, next of religion and other primordial tendencies as witnessed under previous administrations.
So, our amiable governor, be wise and smart as you take decisions on behalf of all of us. Do not let anybody use your head to crack the proverbial coconut, to feather their own nests. Any body who has any political and ethnic scores to settle with any perceived enemy, should look beyond your government.
I was happy the other day when you declared in an interview that you do not believe in “power shift” as being canvassed by some people in the state. I am equally happy that you have no god father (except GOD) in the polity. In view of this, it is safe to say that you are not owing any political debt to pay to any overbearing godfather or other ubiquitous stakeholders in the state. One of the problems of Kogi state was that certain people have come to see Lugard House as their business empire and cash cow to be exploited to the full in their insatiable desire to satisfy their greed and aggrandizement.
However, it is pertinent to remind you that you should give your priority attention to pressing issues at the moment. You may wish to start by urgently seeking ways to resolve the salary debacle in the state. As you are already aware, civil servants are currently on strike, protesting their ‘inhuman treatment’ in the hands of Capt. Idris Wada who departed Lugard House in the same state of confusion that heralded his entrance four years ago. You should strike a deal with their leaders in the organized labour with a view, to bringing them back to their offices without further delay. The other challenges on ground are the deepening poverty in the land. The growing army of unemployed youths in the state. The worsening decline and decay in the educational sector that requires a declaration of a state of emergency. The general rot in the health sector and the detoriating state of our infrastructure across the three senatorial districts.
As you refuse to be distracted by the litany of litigations against you at the tribunal, you should urgently set up a committee to review the hand over notes submitted by the outgone administration so that you can have a good grasp of the “legacy” he has bequeathed to your administration, and the way forward.
As your tenure progresses, try and see how you can seek ways to diversify the economy of the state, away from the statutory allocations from the federation accounts. You should consider going into massive mechanized farming, exploration and exploitation of the solid mineral sector, tourism and the effective and efficient tax administration in the state.
Needless to remind you, that, there are entrenched people in the system who have cultivated the bad habit of frustrating revenue generation in the state. They are situated in “Juicy “revenue generating ministries, departments and other agencies at both local and state levels.
In conclusion therefore, it is my fervent hope that your years of hardwork, resilience, excellence, open mindedness and managerial acumen that have served you well as a successful business mogul, would be required now that fate has brought you into Lugard House to serve our long suffering people, selflessly and purposefully in the years ahead.
To my fellow Kogites, let us think and act like Yahaya Bello in our collective efforts to clear the peculiar mess bequeathed to us by previous administrations. What is required from us at a time like this, is our un-alloyed loyalty and support and dedication to the service of our dear state.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran journalist and PR Consultant writes from Lokoja.
THE BRIDGE BUILDER
BY OTORI OZIGI
“A good head and a good heart, are always a formidable combination”- Nelson Mandela.
It goes without saying that Kogi State is now, more than ever before, divided and fractured along ethnic, party and other primordial fault lines. This unfortunate and ugly development came to the fore, sequel to the avoidable political crisis, occasioned by the sudden and tragic death of one of the political icons of the state, late Prince Abubakar Audu, of blessed memory.
His demise in the course of an electioneering process acted as a veritable recipe for constitutional lacuna and other sundry issues that have refused to abate with the passage of time in the political system in the state.
As at the time of writing this piece shortly before the historic inauguration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the 4th democratically elected governor of Kogi State, the entire polity was engulfed in multiple litigations filed at the election petitions tribunal by no fewer than four political parties and one Abiodun Faleke, member, Federal House of Representatives, and a supposed deputy governor elect who reportedly refused to turn up for swearing-in on January 27, at the state capital, Lokoja.
As Kogi state peculiar mess rages in, it is safe to say that only few citizens care about the corporate interest and fate of Kogi Project, in the face of this lingering avoidable crisis that has put the state on a cliff hanger. One of such patriotic personality that had put Kogi first in his private and public conducts under the prevailing turbulent circumstances, is the newly inaugurated governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
I have followed with keen interest his conducts since his entrance into the murky water of politics in the state.
It is noteworthy that the youthful governor has acquitted himself creditably and state manly since he came into public consciousness as a new breed politician. He has left no one in doubt that he came into politics to make a difference and show good examples in the art of active politics. Every of his actions and statements from his mouth were coated with uncommon wisdom and uncanny decorum that belies his 40 years of age. His sense of maturity, analytical mind and a good grasp of topical issues are very inspiring so far. I must confess that these are the principal reasons that had endeared him to me, and to a large extent, converted me into his growing fan base that cut across the three senatorial districts in the state and beyond. The euphoria of his victory at the polls was very infectious. Except those who have proved to be incurably disgruntled and politically rascal, the generality of the good people of Kogi State received his emergence in good fate and Optimism because it was clearly an act of God.
On a number of different platforms and fora, Yahaya Bello had repeatedly given insights into his personality traits and leadership quality. He has shown a good content of character so far. There are traces of a bridge builder, a beacon of hope and a peace maker in his political DNA. He is generally seen as a torch bearer at a perilous time like this.
He has also given assurances that his mission in politics is to render selfless and purposeful services to deepen unity, socio – economic developmental efforts and social justice in the state. According to the governor, he is armed with a sacred blue-print in tandem with his party’s manifesto to fast-track his vision for the backward state in the years ahead.
As an astute and prudent business mogul, with the right academic credentials, the governor who is a strictler for team work and inclusive leadership, had stressed the need for the citizenry to join hands with him in the arduous task to move the state on “a new direction” to the promised land.
It is clear to every discerning mind that our dear state has been groping in utter economic doldrum and under-development in the last 24 years of its existence. Everything that could go wrong, had already gone wrong these years. Today, the reality on ground is that Kogi State is rated as one of nation’s poorest and insolvent states. Arguably, this is not the best of time for anybody to be a governor of the state.
At the last count, shortly before the last gubernatorial election, the previous government admitted that it owed over N50 billion naira as outstanding salaries of civil servants and teachers at both local and state levels.
The debt profile of the state may have grown in size and figures as civil servants are still owed up to four months salary arrears. There is also the sum of N20 Billion naira bond reportedly obtained by the previous government to execute its “legacy projects”. However, these projects which are in their teething stages, have since been abandoned by the Wada administration for inexplicable reasons. The outgoing administration failed in his attempt to access the N50 billion naira bail out fund granted by the federal government to about 27 states to pay salary arrears in their respective states.
It is my concern to draw the attention of the new governor to some of the inevitable humongous challenges that would stare him in the face as he settles down to the business of good governance in the state in the years ahead. It is my candid view that the way he tackles these challenges would go along way to define his performance in office.
It is an incontrovertible fact that government business anywhere in the world is not a tea party.
If the new governor wants to succeed, where his predecessors failed woefully, he should be ready to take hard and tough decisions that he considers in the best interest of the state, no matter whose ox is gored.
Mr. Governor, please cloth yourself with the political will and the courage to always do what is right, without fear or favour. You are elected and endorsed by God because we believe in your ability to translate your electioneering promises into reality beyond the level of rhetoric that we were used to in the past.
You must bear in mind that when the history of this state is written in the future after you must have left office under whatever circumstances, it is only your name and your father’s name that will be mentioned. There would be no chapter or page for all those who you will appoint to serve under your administration. Nobody would remember who advised you wrongly or wisely, as you grapple with matters of governance.
It would be your cross only if you willingly allow anybody to hold you hostage in a democratic set up.
It is against this background, that you will like to learn from history and do away with all professional sycophants that would distract you from concentrating on urgent matters of governance at a time like this, in the life of our dear state, that is yearning for a renewal of hope, new vision and socio – economic re – engineering to drive the wheel of progress of the state to the Kogi of our dream.
When assembling members of your cabinet, in the shortest possible time, look out for highly resourceful, innovative, and competent experts both in the state and in the Diaspora. There should be no room for mediocre, in the midst of a pool of highly intelligent people that abound in the state.
Do not give political appointment and other patronages to anybody who can not add value to your government. Do not give appointments and contracts based solely on your next of kin, next of class mates, next of tribe, next of religion and other primordial tendencies as witnessed under previous administrations.
So, our amiable governor, be wise and smart as you take decisions on behalf of all of us. Do not let anybody use your head to crack the proverbial coconut, to feather their own nests. Any body who has any political and ethnic scores to settle with any perceived enemy, should look beyond your government.
I was happy the other day when you declared in an interview that you do not believe in “power shift” as being canvassed by some people in the state. I am equally happy that you have no god father (except GOD) in the polity. In view of this, it is safe to say that you are not owing any political debt to pay to any overbearing godfather or other ubiquitous stakeholders in the state. One of the problems of Kogi state was that certain people have come to see Lugard House as their business empire and cash cow to be exploited to the full in their insatiable desire to satisfy their greed and aggrandizement.
However, it is pertinent to remind you that you should give your priority attention to pressing issues at the moment. You may wish to start by urgently seeking ways to resolve the salary debacle in the state. As you are already aware, civil servants are currently on strike, protesting their ‘inhuman treatment’ in the hands of Capt. Idris Wada who departed Lugard House in the same state of confusion that heralded his entrance four years ago. You should strike a deal with their leaders in the organized labour with a view, to bringing them back to their offices without further delay. The other challenges on ground are the deepening poverty in the land. The growing army of unemployed youths in the state. The worsening decline and decay in the educational sector that requires a declaration of a state of emergency. The general rot in the health sector and the detoriating state of our infrastructure across the three senatorial districts.
As you refuse to be distracted by the litany of litigations against you at the tribunal, you should urgently set up a committee to review the hand over notes submitted by the outgone administration so that you can have a good grasp of the “legacy” he has bequeathed to your administration, and the way forward.
As your tenure progresses, try and see how you can seek ways to diversify the economy of the state, away from the statutory allocations from the federation accounts. You should consider going into massive mechanized farming, exploration and exploitation of the solid mineral sector, tourism and the effective and efficient tax administration in the state.
Needless to remind you, that, there are entrenched people in the system who have cultivated the bad habit of frustrating revenue generation in the state. They are situated in “Juicy “revenue generating ministries, departments and other agencies at both local and state levels.
In conclusion therefore, it is my fervent hope that your years of hardwork, resilience, excellence, open mindedness and managerial acumen that have served you well as a successful business mogul, would be required now that fate has brought you into Lugard House to serve our long suffering people, selflessly and purposefully in the years ahead.
To my fellow Kogites, let us think and act like Yahaya Bello in our collective efforts to clear the peculiar mess bequeathed to us by previous administrations. What is required from us at a time like this, is our un-alloyed loyalty and support and dedication to the service of our dear state.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran journalist and PR Consultant writes from Lokoja.
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