Olawale Daniel Ibikunle
Even in death, *William Shakespeare* remains one playwright the world cannot but always talk about especially when it comes to the aspect of Literature known as *Drama.* In one of his many plays titled *Macbeth,* *Shakespeare* came up with a line of words that is presently affecting the political situation in Kogi State. This was when he wrote in Act ll Scene 2 the point *Macbeth* killed *King Duncan.* He said, *”Macbeth does murder sleep.”* Sleep symbolizes peace, tranquility and innocence but *Macbeth’s* internal peace became disturbed and he lived in total fear till he died. Unknown to *King Duncan* who gave *Macbeth* the free hand to operate in his kingdom, *Macbeth* was a lizard lying prostrate with stomach ache.
*His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello* is faced with the same scenario at the moment in Kogi State. In his own case, he has around himself many of his close allies jostling for the same position and he only knows a little part of their character. He is a boss that all of them are claiming to show respect but a situation of this nature places anyone in a dilemma. he is actually in a dilemma. Howeverer, *Gov. Yahaya Bello* knows that *real sleep* has been taken away from those who have shown interest in contesting for the *Gubernatorial Primary Election (GPE)* under the party known as the *All Progressives Congress (APC)* in Kogi State.
Let me say it point blank that it is wrong for anyone to totally place blame on *Gov. Yahaya Bello* for allowing *ten (10)* of his cabinet members to buy the *Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms* for a position that only one soul will be picked at the end of the *Primary Election slated for 14th of April, 2023.*
*Gov. Yahaya Bello* as the political leader of the *APC* in Kogi State had no option than to give a go ahead to all those who were interested in succeeding him. For many months now, those around *Gov. Yahaya Bello* occupying different positions in his government have been eyeing the seat of power occupied by their *superior, saviour and destiny helper.* Many of them were actually nobodies not untill *Gov. Yahaya Bello* came and painstakingly panel beated them to attain the status they are now showing off with. Personally, I see their overambitious zeal as a brazen show of total disrespect to the person of *Gov. Yahaya Bello.* As the governor’s foot soldiers, they were too forward and a thing like this is not in any way healthy for a system that wants to move forward and remain in the corridors of power.
There is nothing wrong in eyeing the position of one’s superior since he or she is not going to occupy it forever, but they were too quick to show their interest judging from their body languages and also the cold and hot war from their various supporters divided into blocs which is visible to the whole world through their activities on social media platforms. A wise leader in the mold of *Gov. Yahaya Bello* has shown that the only option available to him is to allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to try their luck by going into the field to contest and see the outcome which will surely end up as victory or defeat.
*Gov. Yahaya Bello* displayed the same wisdom we heard of a particular proverbial hunter who had to send out all his restless hunting dogs to a particular part of the thick forest for them to search and kill one animal. The hunter was supposed to have sent only one of his dogs to embark on this hunting trip but the other dogs became jealous and the hunter decided to send all of them out on the journey of which only one of them must kill and bring the animal home. The other dogs after the futile hunting exercise came back home empty handed and serving as bodyguards to the fortunate dog that eventually caught the animal. They ended up exerting their energies on a long distance into the thick forest out of greed and jealousy. The same thing that happened to those proverbial dogs is a perfect resemblance of the wise decision the Chief Hunter *(Gov. Yahaya Bello)* has taken so that no one among them that are interested in the governorship position will be able to point an accusing finger at him for liking the other person above him.
Therefore, the *murdered sleep* explained all along is what has made all the aspirants to be running helter skelter and from pole to pole hoping that luck may shine on them to be the one that will win the *Gubernatorial Primary Election* of the *APC.* Right from the time they starting nursing the ambition of becoming a governor to the point that they have now been screened and qualified to contest the *Primary Election,* the real sleep God made available to man to refresh his brain, nerves and to have peace of mind after a hard day’s job has eluded them. Their ambition has eaten deep into the fabrics of their finances still, the real contest is yet to begin but the “dogs” are hell bent on going ahead as none of them is ready to step down for the other.
I will use this medium to appeal to *Gov. Yahaya Bello* of the dire need to tread carefully with all those are set to partake in the *Gubernatorial Primary Election* as anyone he will pick as his successor must not be a person that will make him gnash his teeth.
One of the many proverbs made available to us by the learned *Chinua Achebe* of blessed memory for us to learn from is the one that says, *”All lizards lie prostrate on the ground no one knows which of them suffers a belly-ache.”* A simple explanation that can be offered to this proverb is that no one can tell by sheer facial expressions a person’s intention, motive and purpose especially when you are in pole position to make them have a head way on the path leading to their destiny. *Gov. Yahaya Bello* should be well aware that *Macbeth* was the right hand man of *King Duncan* yet, he ended up killing the king for him to ascend the throne. *I am not saying any of the contestants is planning to kill *Gov. Yahaya Bello physically but if the governor ends up handing over to a successor that is not going to be genuinely loyal, loving, respectful, obedient and ready to improve upon his developmental strides that is prevalent across the length and breadth of Kogi State then, Gov. Yahaya Bello is as good as having shot himself in the feet.*
We are all aware that *Gov. Yahaya Bello* is about 3 years or less shy of 50 years and God has helped him to quickly serve as a two time governor of Kogi State. Judging from his age, he is still young, agile, full of life, intelligent and he still has a long way to go in life. Part of what will make him relevant politically is that man he will throw his weight of support behind to be his successor. Finding an answer to the puzzle of finding his successor is no joke at all. Those of us who genuinely loves Gov. Yahaya Bello should on daily basis henceforth before the Gubernatorial Primary Election pray fervently for him not to make a huge mistake because *”all the lizards (contestants) are lying prostrate and it will be suicidal for him to pick as his successor the one with a stomach ache.”*
May the God *Gov. Yahaya Bello* has always pointed his hands to reckon with His supremacy over the earth which is His footstool and in heaven where He resides not allow him to make any grave mistake even as the time for him to round up his tenure is drawing closer. Amen.