By joshua 
There lived a man about three thousand years ago. The man was ordained by God to be an emancipator of people under slavery and undesired living, his name is Moses. The man Moses was living in exile while he received a mandate to save the people who were tired of living in bondage and misery. On Moses’ shoulders rest a divine mandate to embark on a quest to lead the people out of bondage, misery, despondency, and disenchantment to a promised land flowing with milk and honey.
The enslaved people waited for their deliverer just like a watchman waits for the breaking of the morning and like a hungry soul waits for bread. Moses began the quest to accomplish the divine mission; through torturous pilgrimage, opposition, and against all odds, the people were emancipated and led to the promised land flowing with milk and honey; a prosperous habitation.
Those who are conversant with the emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello in the Kogi State political scene will grasp the context of this writing. The writing is not about the Biblical Moses or his frailty but a similitude of his victory and accomplishment which is found in the feats of Governor Yahaya Bello as he ventured into the political affairs of Kogi state and governance.
The emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello in the political arena of Kogi State began a radical paradigm shift from the undesirable living of Kogites and the inhabitants of Kogi State to a prosperous habitation and development.
Hitherto, the Kogi state was treated like a spoil of war by the microscopic myopic political class. The state is nothing short of a theater of cluelessness and wore a resemblance to a crime scene. The stench coming from the capital pointed accusing fingers at those who chose to neglect her affairs and there was a cry for redemption. The state was at the total precipice of despondency when God sent Governor Yahaya Bello to the rescue; the Moses of Kogi State.
It will interest you to know that Governor Yahaya Bello has delivered milk and honey to nourish Kogi state and its inhabitants. The milk and honey he has delivered to Kogi state have no rival and generations to come will look back and thank God for allowing GYB happened to them.
You may ask, what are the milk and honey that GYB has delivered to Kogi state? The focus here is tripartite feats that are fundamental to the prosperity of any state or nation. Follow me.
Governor Yahaya Bello has successfully reclaimed the lands belonging to Kogi state that was once taken over by the neighboring states. Kogi state is bordered by ten states including the Federal Capital Territory. Most of the neighboring states encroached and took over part of the land originally owned by Kogi state. This illegal trespass on Kogi state’s lands is as old as Kogi state and many leaders came and chose to ignore the right to claim them back.
It will never be forgotten that Governor Yahaya Bello reclaimed land in Abaji to Kogi state. Atte community, (the border between Enugu state and Kogi state) belongs to Kogi state, this land is reclaimed to Kogi state. Alu community (the border between Ekiti and Kogi state) is back to Kogi state, this is just to mention a few.
These lands possess treasures that have the potential to enrich and make Kogi state flourish. Thus, one of the greatest treasures of any state or nation is the ownership of land. Nations go to war over the ownership of land.
The right to own lands is fundamentally linked to your existence or freedom. It is a proven fact that land can make a nation develop or underdeveloped.
Kogi state is the officially only state in the North to be recognized as an oil-producing state. This implies that Kogi state will enjoy the statutory 13% derivative right, which has already begun. The derivation coming from the sale of oil to Kogi state will improve the revenue. This will translate into having more funds to execute important projects in the state. This will improve the GDP of the state and improve the welfare of the people.
The right to 13% derivative to Kogi state did not come without a fight. The opposition fought and those whose pockets are only their concern battled against Governor Yahaya Bello for daring to stand and fight for the common good of kogites. The governor was focused and resilient to make Kogi state a better place for all.
It is common to hear the slogan “resource control” in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, as the people there agitate to have maximum benefits of the resources in their land. Now, since the creation of Kogi state, this is the first time a governor will make bold to take on a big company who have for so long deprived Kogi state of its mineral resources.
One such major resource is the Obajana Cement Company established by the state government in 2003. The company was meant to produce about twelve (12) million metric tons of cement annually and as well save the country from a huge loss of foreign exchange and was hoping to drive down the prices of cement in Nigeria. It is a shock that down the line, the company was maneuvered and converted to a private company, while shortchanging the state, leading to a loss of revenue and development to the state.
Governor Yahaya Bello having seen the great injustice done to the people of Kogi state took the courage to ask for probity and accountability of the state of the company. This action alone drew blood from those who do not want to see the development of Kogi state but the doggedness of Governor Yahaya Bello is bound to yield results and put Kogi state in her rightful place.
There is no iota of doubt that the legacy of Governor Yahaya Bello in Kogi state will be very hard to surpass by his successors.
The Biblical Moses may not have seen the promised land flowing with milk and honey but Governor Yahaya Bello has seen the land flowing with milk and honey; he is truly the emancipator of Kogi state.
Written by
Barr. Emmanuel Omeiza Shadrach