joshua
By:
Farouk Ozigi Onimisi
The White Orator
History was made in Kogi State following the reelection of Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello as the Executive Governor of the State on his second term basis. This history was born on 16th November, 2019, on an election which has earned so many concerns across the globe. This concern was fraught with the basis, nonetheless, people’s expectation of the fate of GYB/CEDO who throughout their first tenure earned series of attention on social media and television broadcasting cooperation.
It was really a deserved reelection especially, considering the final mark of acceptance Yahaya Bello earned himself in Kogi State and Nigeria at large.
The coming of Yahaya Bello ended ethnic bigotry, which almost had the state lackluster. While I understand the rate at which ethnic interest was propagated in the old days of Kogi State, the broken of the ethnic chains by Yahaya Bello is a most commended fusion and understanding its test of time to come forth, the New Direction Lieutenant deserved an all round support as he toils out the next level paradigm.
When man dances with the masquerade, he celebrates the manifestation of self, and when he runs from the masquerade’s whip, he defies his own monstrosity.
In addition, before now, Kogi State was eroded with leaders who understand nothing rather than violence. Politically, when the five years of Yahaya Bellos administration is removed, the years before are characterised with arson and violent killings, destruction of properties and intense hatred among members of the community.
Values as Kogi citizens were lost and the future seemed dreary until the coming of the New Direction Blueprint under the good governance of Yahaya Bello.
Recall that the New Direction Administration of Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello came into power in early 2016 and before then, Kogi State, created in 1999, was led by sons of Kogi East thus having an ethical marginalisation, political regional violence mostly in Kogi Central, negligence and underdevelopment until the coming of The White Lion, Alh. Yahaya Bello who, as a detribalized leader, broke the jinx of ethnic rivalry.
The violent nature of politics in Kogi State entered the third and fourth Republics. Contest for political office among politicians exacerbated the spate of violent conflict among clans and politicians in the State. To seek for political office, there was need to recourse to sub-ethnic identity. Politicians who felt marginalised instigated their sub-ethnic groups against the other clan members especially in Ebiraland.
From the Third Republic till 2016, violent conflicts assumed a different dimension. Marginalisation seemed to be the nucleus of unhealthy relationship among the groups in the state. The Igalas were seen as oppressors, but Ebiras hardly turn their violence against the Igalas. They rather prefer making Ebiras who are in support of Igalas government their target.
One thing that characterised the reigns of Audu, Idris and Wada is the marginalisation of other ethnic groups in the state. You will agree with me that the administration of Alh. Yahaya Bello is not in any way characterised with the unhealthy situations of the old governance as justice was done to security, unity, development, education and sustainable development. These forces of course led to his reelection for the next four years.
