By: Kelvin Oluseyi Eleta.
For some of us who are familiar with Kogi politics before 2016, and during the first administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, we are familiar with the popular usage of the term “Data Boys” – a nomenclature coined for supporters of the government mostly on social media and at public places.
During this period, not everyone would want to be associated with such label and fag tag gummed to these sets of people. Not every parents were in support of having their sons and daughters go up online defending the government and would be called a Data Boy or rather “His son is a Data Boy. He is jobless.”
Fast forwarding to 2019 shortly before the general election, Kogi witnessed a twist of fate which ushered in a new dawn of era for the Data Boys. The water was turned, and a new fish took charge of the affairs of youths in the state. I know you already have someone in mind as you read along this narrative, and I must say you are extremely correct and your inklings are accurate to the bone.
Pharm. Jamiu Abdulkareem Asuku was appointed Chief of Staff in 2019, and things have never remained the same for the ‘Data Boys.’ He began to fish out these sets of people who had been mocked, ridiculed, rejected by friends and family for supporting the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello whom they tagged as an enemy of the poor masses due to his reformation agendas, particularly screening exercises conducted to eradicate ghost workers living extravagantly on the government’s payroll without doing a single thing. Thus, he and his ‘Data Boys’ attracted a high level of hatred from these strata of citizens.
If you have been following my articles before now, you will know that I write with intel and accuracy. I can therefore inform you all that Asuku was the architect who put an end to the stereotype called Data Boys. How was he able to achieve that in the span of two years? I will let you know how, as you read on.
For the first time in the history of Kogi State and Nigeria, we had a 35 years old became the Chief of Staff to a seating Governor. We all knew the narratives were bond to change, and even the political Elites and Kingmakers knew a paradigm shift was eminent and irreversible. Asuku proved them right!
Asuku went after these rejected and mocked individuals who has contributed earnestly to the image branding of the government and called them to leadership roles. None of these ‘Boys’ were expecting a gladden turn of events the way it happened so fast. They were used to being handed crumbs as stipends and cheap money for data subscription.
Just as it was in the beginning, when Nigeria was founded by youths and by the likes of late Anthony Enahoro, Nigeria’s foremost anti-colonial and pro-democracy activists and author of Fugitive Offender: The Story of a Political Prisoner, who joined the struggle for our liberation at the age of 21. Kogi State is now being governed by youths far below 30s and 40s. This has never happened before in the history of Kogi State, and the state is living the dreams of the founding fathers all thanks to Governor Yahaya Bello and his Lieutenant, Pharm. Jamiu Abdulkareem Asuku.
With this major achievements in the youth constituency, Asuku now have an army in legions clamoring for him to remain in power beyond 2024. Who would not want such transformation to continue without any forms of hindrances or political interferences from schemers of chaos and unrest in the state.
Another shiver in the spines of Asuku’s political rivals is how he efficiently represents his Boss, Governor Yahaya Bello in public functions. The way he wears the image of his Boss and preach about his aticidents of Governor Yahaya Bello pleasantly, makes these individuals know for sure that he is gradually becoming untouchable and at most the Governor’s favorite Lieutenant.
Data Boys are now empowerment program initiators, research experts, political appointees, head of government agencies, and cabine