GYB: LEAVING OFFICE WITH AN EXCELLENT SCORE CARD- by CKO
The man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who actually does strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. There is no gain saying the fact that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, “the White Lion” of Africa is a possessive of all the unbeatable characteristics aforementioned. He bravely walked his way unnoticed into the political scenery of Nigeria and took dominance even to the astonishment of those that were considered to be learned old class of politicians.
When the youths were clamouring for a bill tagged “Not too Young to Rule”, encouraging the National Assembly to pass into law the latitude that would create a space for the youths in the Nigerian political map, the ordinary Yahaya Bello, as he then was, had been able to transform himself into a demigod of some sort and dared the “Mighty” in the Nigerian political landscape. He did not only subdue all forms of intimidations and threats; he crossed the bar that even “the Mighty” trembled to dare; he was able to match and defy all the obstacles and stumbled on the “Red Lines”. Benevolence eventually smiled fortune on him.
THE EVENTUAL YOUTHFUL POLITICS IN KOGI STATE
Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello threw his hat into the ring of democratic rulership in Kogi State at the age of thirty-nine. Nobody had thought that the then “Small Boy”, as he was popularly referred, could be so daring to contest against “the Mighty” in Kogi politics. He closed the range in the APC governorship primary of 29 August, 2015 to emerge first runner-up. The odd later favoured him after the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu. That was the beginning of a new era in Kogi state political calculations- youthful politics took prominence. His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi State changed the entire political landscape of the state to allow youths involvement in policy making and the aged formed advisory councils. The involvement of youths in decision making have been so glaring as though it was legislated that anyone above 60 should not bother to get involved in Kogi politics. This is unprecedented! No state in Nigeria currently has this score card with the exception of Kogi State under GYB administration. More than 80 percent of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello’s cabinet members are below 60 years. This is record breaking!
WHY DO OTHER STATES ENVY KOGI STATE?
Since His Excellency, took over the mantle of leadership, Kogi state has become the anthem of all Nigerians. The Kogi State that was hardly noticed in the comity of states in Nigeria before, has so suddenly become a regular feature in the political, economic and indeed socio-cultural discourse of late in Nigeria, not only among those involved in Nigerian politics, but also among students and pupils in our various primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. For instance, the Governor’s insistence that COVID-19 was not an African disease despite that all his governor colleagues fell ignorantly and inadvertently into the scheme to unleash hardship on Nigerians thereby crumbling the economy of the country. This singular act stood him out among his peers and earned the amiable Governor profound respect among the people.
WOMEN INCLUSIVITY
It is on record that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, led among the governors in Nigeria in terms of identifying with and carrying women along in policy making and administration. He was the first governor that conducted local government council elections where women did not only contest, but also won and sworn in as either local goverment council chairpersons or vice chairpersons in all the 21 Local Government Councils of the state. Women were also given special appointments in the various ministries, departments and agencies, not to mention the female commissioners in his cabinet. Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has earned himself this unprecedented political and economic score card. These and more are not just political propaganda but practical realities that are verifiable.
INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE
Before the assumption of office, the previous successive governments of the state were accused of running Government of sectionalism. Since the coming of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, the narratives have changed dramatically. Every indigene and non-indigenes of the state have been involved in the governance of the state. Appointments have been evenly distributed. Everyone in the state has been experiencing the presence of the government in all the administrative and economic spheres of the state. The government house that used to be a reserved place for a section of the state has now become a home for all well-meaning Kogites and Non-Kogites alike. The economic prosperity of the state was being distributed among the geopolitical zones and senatorial districts of the state. This was in sharp contrast with the former pattern of administration in Kogi State where some districts were sidelined and marginalised for no just cause. Praise be to God, the messiah has transformed the fortune of the entire state to the the glory of the Almighty God.
SECURITY
Despite the fact that Kogi State is clustered with about ten states of the federation ravaged by incessant security threats and breakdown, the Confluence State has remained one of the safest havens in Nigeria. Many people, including governors of other states, are yet to come to terms with the miracle that was only known by Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello. It can only take a committed government to achieve this feat. Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has written his name in gold on the issue of security to the admiration of other governors. He took the bull by the horns and chased all criminal elements in the state into extinction. This is another unprecedented feat achieved by the White Lion to say the least!
INFRASTRUCTURE
This is another area you cannot deny the political, administrative and economic prowess of the Governor Yahaya Bello-led administration and the admirable performance index, even if you would disagree with him on some of his peculiar way of doing things, which is normal. Since the creation of the state in 1991, no administration that has achieved His Excellency’s feat in terms of Infrastructural development. People fondly ask whether there are still roads in the heart of Kogi State that have not been tarred. All the major towns of the East, West and Central districts are all beneficiaries of this giant stride. Other sectors of the state have also witnessed this unheard-of Infrastructural development. To mention but a few His Excellency’s landmark infrastructural achievements is the establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara; Construction of Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital; Reconstruction and Renovation of Specialist Hospital Lokoja; Establishment of Kogi State University (KSU) Kabba; GYB Model Science Secondary School Lokoja; GYB Model Science Secondary School Ogaminana ; GYB Model Science Secondary School Isanlu; Reference Hospital Okene; Kogi Revenue House Lokoja; Kogi Rice Mills Ejigba; Mohammed Buhari Event Centre in Lokoja; Ganaja Junction Flyover, Lokoja; Establishment of Military Forward Base, Achoze.
All these infrastructures cut across all areas of the economy such as health, education, security, agriculture, human resource development and so on. They are evenly distributed in all the three senatorial districts of the state.
GYB is a blessing to Kogites. – COALITION OF KOGITES FOR ODODO 2023