By joshua 
FROM GEGU BEKI TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE: HOW ENGR. BASHIRU GEGU’S POLITICAL PROPHECY CAME TO PASS
By Our Reporter
In Kogi LGA, they still call him the village boy who read the political winds before they blew. Today, Engr. Abubakar Bashiru Gegu, Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, is being hailed not just for foresight but for a record of service that many say is unprecedented in the state’s history.
Bashiru Gegu’s political journey began in the Peoples Democratic Party, where he rose as a formidable force and once contested the House of Representatives seat. Though popular, he fell to the political machinery during the early days of former Governor Yahaya Bello in the bye-election that followed the death of Hon. Buba Jibril. Instead of retreating, he rebuilt, crossing over to the All Progressives Congress where his transparency, sincerity, and commitment quickly earned him the trust of the Bello administration.
That trust launched him into a role as both strategist and philanthropist. In Kogi LGA, his name became synonymous with grassroots empowerment. He aligned with the masses, particularly the less privileged and vulnerable, and became a rallying point for communities long neglected. Traditional rulers across the area acknowledge that the upgrades they have received under his influence are unmatched — schools and roads have found their way into communities that once felt forgotten, while appointments and daily empowerment programs have made “Bashiru Gegu” a household name.
Over time, he earned another reputation: that of a political oracle. His residence in Gegu Beki became a meeting point for political actors, buyers and sellers of influence alike, with many seeking his counsel on the direction of Kogi politics. Ahead of the 2027 election cycle, he declared that Kogi remained a one-party state under the APC, that the state was firmly aligned with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Ododo, and that political gravity would eventually shift back to former Governor Yahaya Bello. At the time, many dismissed the prediction. But days to the APC primary, the pattern appears to be unfolding exactly as he foretold, with the party’s structure, the presidency, and the governorship all consolidating under the same bloc, and Bello emerging as a central figure.
Beyond politics, Engr. Bashiru has left an indelible mark on the solid minerals sector since assuming office. He introduced institutional reforms that have repositioned the ministry to work for the people rather than a privileged few. For the first time in the state’s history, there is a structured framework for regulating mining activities, ensuring that host communities benefit directly from their resources. Licensing processes have been streamlined to curb illegal mining, while partnerships have been forged with investors to create jobs and boost state revenue. Under his watch, Kogi’s vast mineral wealth is no longer a dormant asset but a tool for economic empowerment, with communities now seeing tangible dividends in the form of development projects and employment opportunities.
His approach has blended political sagacity with governance. While he advises those who once doubted his predictions to accept the outcome and work for the APC and its chosen candidates, he continues to push for policies that strengthen institutions. It is this balance — between influence and impact — that has cemented his standing as both a political bridge and an administrator.
For many in Kogi, Engr. Bashiru Gegu represents the rare combination of a grassroots mobilizer and a reform-minded technocrat. No single individual, dead or alive, is credited with his level of impact in Kogi LGA, a fact traditional rulers and community leaders readily affirm. As Kogi politics enters a new phase, his prophecy has come to pass, and his legacy in both the political and mineral sectors is already being written into the state’s history books.