By joshua 
By Abdulmumuni Danga
Nigeria is a beautiful country with lot of amazing people there in, from up North to down South, the rich heritage of different cultures displays themselves with pride. And from East to West, the story is the same.
Kogi state, Middle belt Nigeria was created on 27th of August 1991 from portions of eastern Kwara and western Benue states and it’s bordered by the states of Nassawara to the northeast; Benue to the east; Enugu, Anambra, and Delta to the south; Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara to the west; and Niger to the north. Abuja Federal Capital Territory also borders Kogi to the north.
The state consists of a wooded savanna region bisected by the southward-flowing Niger River; the Benue River, a major tributary of the Niger, forms part of the state’s northeastern border. The Igala peoples are the main ethnic group east of the Niger, while the Ebira and Okun live west of the river. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. Major crops include yams, cassava rice, sorghum, beans, corn (maize), and cotton. Riverine fishing is also important. Nigeria’s largest known deposit of iron ore is found on the Agbaja Plateau north of the state capital, Lokoja. Marble is quarried at Jakura, 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Lokoja, and the town has a lime-processing plant as well. Ajaokuta is the site of a major iron and steel plant. Lokoja, on the west bank of the Niger River, is connected by road northward to Abuja and southwestward to Benin City. Idah, on the east bank of the Niger, is a major trading and ferrying port, Kogi State is with about the Population of 3,314,041.(2006 census).
There are three major ethnic groups and languages in kogi State: the Igala, Ebira and Okun with others such as Bassa Nge of Bassa Local Area, Kupa and Kakanda Speaking Language who are Nupe extraction under lokoja local government area, Bassa-komo which is also of Bassa Local Government Area, Oworo people, Ogori magongo speaking languages
Kogi people around the world had always dreamt of having a Governor who will launch the state on the national and international stages; a unifier who will collapse the walls of division; a patriotic leader who places service above elections; in Alh Yahaya Bello, their prayers were answered.
Before the advent of the present administration, the State was sharply divided along ethnic lines, corroded by disunity as politicians planted division in the minds of our people for their selfish political gains.
It was a fresh breeze that reshaped the mentality of the Kogi People. They were glad to have a bridge builder and a unifier as Governor. Projects were spread all over the State and the institutions of government were ushered into a new vista of development. All the appointments under his administration were spread, a situation which has helped beak down the barriers of ethnic jingoism.
Due to the geographical location, When you mention Kogi State, Nigeria is made in the media, lots of insinuations, innuendos and undercurrents play out, especially in the social media about the unassuming, dogged, down-to-earth, Peaceful, Compassionate and modest Governor of the State, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello.
The Charismatic, Digital, Pragmatic, gap-toothed, ever-smiling, friendly and comely Governor of the Confluence State means different personality to different folks. Just like the different persons touching different parts of an elephant will describe the gargantuan animal based on their perspective of it, the personage of the youngest governor ever democratically elected in the history of Nigeria is not different from the elephant syllogism, Governor Yahaya Bello is the elephant and bulldozer of Nigeria’s political infinite.
The case with Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, GYB as he is fondly called, is that of a celestial kismet that cannot be undermined regardless of whatever shenanigans, whether ethereal or terrestrial done to circumvent it. His becoming the All Progressives Congress, (APC) eventual candidate in the 2016 gubernatorial election in the State was purely divine. There is no denial of the incontrovertible fact that Kogi State is one of Nigeria’s best-kept secret with goldmine and fortunes. The Governor has in the last five (5) years turned around, and still improving, the fortunes of the State. Since he assumed office, the Gateway State to the Federal Capital Territory has achieved unprecedented Midas touch different from what the State was known for before.
Kogi State was known to be the least developing despite being the most endowed naturally among all the States of the Federation. With over 42 mineral resources available in the State before the ascendancy of Governor Yahaya Bello, Kogi State was described as backwardly and retrogressing in the committee of States. Despite being strategically located and viable for prosperity, the State was economically comatose, socially torpid, business-wise sluggish and politically volatile as killings, maims and arsons were the other of the day. The emergence of Yahaya Bello was a blessing in disguise to Kogites as he swung into action immediately he was sworn into the office by putting up a blueprint that would put the State on a path of steady progress. His landmark achievements can be seen in all the Ministries of the state which has proven his administrative prowress in all ramifications.
Before GYB assumed office as the Executive Governor, Kogi State, insecurity in the State was at the apex. Robbery and kidnapping were perpetrated with reckless abandon. Travellers who usually would pass through the State to link the northern part of the country were under constant siege. From Abaji to lokoja, Bassa to Dekina, Ibillo to Ogori Magongo, Lambata to Okene, Kabba-Bunu to Lokoja, Idah through Ajaokuta among other routes were nightmarish for commuters on transit. As if that were not enough, the State was notorious for being the headquarters of the Boko Haram insurgents. The State Capital, Lokoja was used as a base by the religious extremists to hatch their nefarious activities. As a matter of fact, Kogi State was where the Boko Haram vampires produced their IEDs. And this had gone on for years during the past Governors of the State before Governor Yahaya Bello’s forthright leadership came to dislodge these criminals.
Security architecture is a unified security design that addresses the necessities and potential risks involved in a certain scenario or environment. It also specifies when and where to apply security controls. The design process is generally reproducible.
As a Security Conscious Leader, Governor Yahaya Bello has changed the security narratives. He provided over 200 utility vehicles for security patrol against criminal activities in the State while over 500 motorcycles were provided for security operations to allow security agents access to the hinterlands where most of the heinous crimes are committed. The Vigilante servicemen and women use the motorbikes to access difficult terrains where criminals reigned as terror lords since those locations are inaccessible. Aside from this, Gov. Bello’s administration procured sophisticated gadgets for Operation Total Freedom (OPT) established by the administration to stamp out criminal activities in the State.
This heavy investment in communication gadgets and training of security operatives, the introduction of the Security Whistle Blower Policy exposed a lot of the criminals. The Vigilante Service Operation (VSO), the introduction of Community police and the domestication of the Criminal Justice Code were all instrumental to the excellent security of lives and property in the state. The OPT gesture further stimulated the gathering of Intelligence as it became seamless and properties that were proceeds of crime were destroyed to serve as a deterrent to others. Statistically, criminal activities in the State dropped by over 92 per cent complemented by the zero tolerance of the Governor towards any form of criminality and his insistence on not negotiating with bandits! A synergy geared towards complementing the efforts of the Federal Government on security architecture saw the construction of Army Forward Operation bases at different places across the state to enhance the security of lives and property.
The Inspector General of Police, the Military and other Security agencies commended the Governor for providing logistics support for all the security operatives working in the state and Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has won over 20 Local and international award on Security.
Sequel to the emergence of the opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC, the State was sharply divided along ethnic lines and even religious colouration which was further exacerbated by the disunity the politicians planted in the minds of the people against one another. However, on the assumption of office, the first three appointments of the Governor immediately after his inauguration on January 27th, 2016, were spread across the three Senatorial Districts in the State. In his first term, HE Hon. Edward Onoja from Kogi East who is today the deputy governor became the first Chief of Staff (CoS) in the State to emerge from a different political zone from that of the Governor.
Unlike what was obtainable with the former State leaders before Yahaya Bello, he would go-ahead to alter the status quo. His Chief Press Secretary (CPS) was appointed from the western part of the State while his Special Assistant (SA) on Media was appointed from Kogi Central. It was a new dawn in Kogi State, a fresh beginning and a break from the norm. It was time to jettison individual differences, reshape the mentality of the Kogi people. The people were glad to have a unifier, rallying point, an egalitarian Leader as Governor. Projects were distributed across the three Senatorial Districts of the State and the institutions of government were ushered into a new path of growth and development. All appointments under his administration were spread across the state a situation which has helped break down the barrier of ethnic chauvinism.
A look at the nooks and crannies of the State has witnessed quantum infrastructural Development which includes among many the establishment of Custech university, referral Hospital across the three senatorial district, renovation of zonal and specialist hospitals across Kogi State, Constructions of cottage hospitals, building of administrative blocks and remodeling of Nursing school, restoration of electricity to ogori land, Kogi east was 90% in darkness before the coming of GYB but today the story has changed with about 80% of the entire community in kogi east enjoy power supply, ganaja fly (ongoing), road projects by the State’s agency saddled with such responsibility. The Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA) has taken delivery of modern and state-of-the-art equipment to help deliver world-class projects. The hitherto moribund and obsolete equipment has since been replaced to give the State a befitting infrastructure after years of reckless abandonment.
If there exists any governor or state government that has given prominence to women in politics, no one can rival the white Lion of the Confluence State, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello the hope of greater and better Nigeria, Eloquent, detribalized, trailblazer, self-styled, soft-spoken progressive Governor GYB shocked the country recently when he encouraged and supported women as deputies to all-male chairmen of local governments in the State. It is to display his uncommon valour for empowering the female folks.
Aside from empowering women as deputy local government chairmen, Governor Yahaya Bello’s ADC, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and head of service are women while the leaders in charge of Kogi State Investment Agency, an independent parastatal of the State Government is under the headship of a woman. All of these moves are pointers to the undeniable fact that Mr Governor is women-friendly.
Governor Yahaya Bello and APC symbolises unity, development and progress in kogi State as against the PDP and its candidate that believes that one family is destined to govern forever in Kogi State. Governor Yahaya Bello is a symbol of youthful empowerment across the Kogi State, as against the PDP and its candidate which held on to placing the younger generation in our State to the background in perpetuity.
Today in Kogi State so many young people in Kogi State have broken the ceilings by virtue of Governor Yahaya Bello’s government policy of giving the youths preference in terms of appointments and recognition. Under Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration, the erstwhile cries of ethnic marginalisation are gone with the winds.
Kogi political dynasty is changing, those who are political Thomas will see the dynamic nature of our politics before they believe, For sure APC dominance in kogi state will continue beyond 2023 because of the existing structures in the state, the opposition parties are literally living the crouches and in no distance time, they may crumble.
GYB has change the narrative of Kogi State from an undeveloped to a developed State, from dirty to a clean State, from a divided to a more united state because he’s an astute politician, a great unifier, a gentleman who has attained prominence through sheer dent of hard work, resilience and forthrightness and his accomplishment in all ramifications are well deserved, his monumental achievements, his sternly immense attainment, unquestionable character and his uncommon passion for good governance is awesome, this and many more are the reasons why the Women, Youths, Critical Stakeholders in Nigeria are calling on him to come and salvage this country as he has succeeded doing in kogi State for the past glory Nigeria to be attain, regain and restore.