The Many Sins Of Gov Alhaji Yahaya Bello
Anywhere you go all around Nigeria today, mention Yahaya Bello and your audience would have no difficulty fathoming him as governor of Kogi state, with plenty false and wicked narrative they may have been served or gathered from malicious, untruthful politicians and the internet. Governor Yahaya Bello has become even more popular than Mr President in recent times. Funny enough, while their aim is to rubbish this young governor who dared to be different, little do they know they are merely setting him up for success as we also would continually speak his success stories against the hate and lies.
What are the crimes of these young unassuming governor to attract such hues of hatred ?
Before the New Direction administration of Governor Yahaya Bello came on board to steer the ship of Kogi state, Kogi can be likened to a very sick man on life support, who is in need of urgent medical attention, so as to be rescued him from imminent hemorrhage and untimely death.
A lot of ills and anomalies were the bane of Kogi state under the watch of previous administrations. As much as efforts were made by these administrations to correct these ills, there were no political will to implement clear cut recommendations, for sentiments I would be sharing much later, which are to the detriment of the state . This ineptitude on the part of government, ate deep into the fabrics of Kogi's existence, the state was merely existing and stopped living many years back. Top among the ills was the issue of insecurity. People dared passing through Kogi state, whenever they pass through, it is with their heart in their mouth, their Bibles and Quran at hands, chanting Jesus or Lai Ila Ila la . Thuggery, kidnapping, robbery were pastime in the eastern flank, kidnapping and robbery was the order of the day in central, while bank robbery was a daily occurrence in the western senatorial zone. These ugly trends became dangerous fangs that drove away investments and people of good intentions from Kogi state.
You would also recall that few months to the end of the previous administration, it could could not pay workers salaries. This was a result of the prolonged overwhelming internal issues that were being managed over successive administrations, which coincidentally reached its crux in 2015, the center could no longer hold and it carved in, hence the systemic comatose of that administration manifested, starting with owing workers three moths salaries.
Kogi was in dare need of somebody who will bell the cat, somebody who will take away power from the hands of the Old brigades, who merely think for themselves, family and friends. It was indeed a risky thought, as these power brokers are furious and can fight dirty in murky waters, with all its arsenals , just to retain Oligarchy. Alhaji Yahaya Bello took the bold step, knowing fully well Ab ini tio, what he was going into, they will come for the jugular, if you dare them.
It is a battle between the Old and the Young, between family and friends interest, against the interest of the good people of Kogi state, its development, its future that had been hitherto 2015 mortgaged by a few.
One major monstrous feature of the Kogi state civil service, created by "powers that be" is the inclusion of their family members into government payroll to draw illegally from government , enriching themselves in the process . It has continued unbridled until 2015. Kogi state must have lost billions into the pockets of these greedy people. Similar to this is what goes on at the Local government level, where LGA cashiers were multi millionaires, owing state of the art properties and cars with monies accrued from illegal inclusion of fictitious names into the payroll ; A situation where somebody takes the salaries of over twenty persons. These were ludicrous and wicked practices that Governor Bello dared in the face and said enough is enough. Previous administrations had carried out staff verification exercises in the past but could not muster the courage to implement them, because family members were involved and benefiting from the scam .
Someone once told me how her cousin is being owed 38 months. I asked her to tell her cousin to call me. He did and when I requested for his details so that I can verify the authenticity of his claims, I am still waiting after 3 weeks. This is to affirm that there are more lies out there about Yahaya Bello than meets the ears. A genuine civil servant would have looked for the minutest avenue to correct his problem. Nobody is happy owing his workers salaries, I am sure Governor Yahaya Bello is indeed not happy, it is not a proud thing. However, in place of commendation, the backlash has been terrible and unreasonable.
Mallam Amina Kano said "Nigeria will know no peace until the son of Nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody"
In times past, godfatherism was a factor if you must gain political mileage in Kogi state. You simply cannot aspire to become anybody or assume a political position without the approval of one godfather or the other. A situation that reduced useful and brilliant youth to hanger-ons and political thugs. Howbeit by providence, Governor Yahaya Bello became governor without a godfather's approval but by the God the Father's approval, freeing political leadership from the hands of men that has hitherto seen themselves as political Lords, into the hands of a youthful and focused young man, who maximized this opportunity and created a government that is 80% youth inclusive, without consulting the lords. A laudable feet but which has cost him a lot of enemies.
Yahaya Bello has broken a whole lot of jinxs, from being a de-tribalized Governor, who is not a religious bigot. A common practice in times past was governors in Kogi state to to appoint principals and critical aides such as their Chief of Staff from the same clan as them. Against pressure to toe the line of his predecessors, Yahaya Bello demystified the powers that be and appointed an Igala Man , Edward Onoja, to be his most trusted aide, an appointment that sparked criticisms and condemnation, fact is Edward Onoja has led a pivotal role in the administration of the New Direction administration.
Nevertheless , in the face of all these backlashes, I am confident in the quote of the elder statesman. Since the son of a nobody became governor, Kogi is peaceful, . Bank robbery is zero for the past 3 years, armed robbery is a thing of the past, kidnapping has totally been trashed out, except for pockets of communal clashes that predates this administration but being handled with dexterity by the award wining Governor on security.
Can't we read between the lines that the attacks on Governor Yahaya Bello are 90% borne out of anger and hate from big toes he has stepped on to rescue Kogi from oppression of few?
Let us be sincerely objective, holistic and truthful, Governor Yahaya Bello has done what no governor has done, his only sin is the clearing of salary backlog of genuine workers , which I am confident too shall pass like others did.
What are the crimes of these young unassuming governor to attract such hues of hatred ?
Before the New Direction administration of Governor Yahaya Bello came on board to steer the ship of Kogi state, Kogi can be likened to a very sick man on life support, who is in need of urgent medical attention, so as to be rescued him from imminent hemorrhage and untimely death.
A lot of ills and anomalies were the bane of Kogi state under the watch of previous administrations. As much as efforts were made by these administrations to correct these ills, there were no political will to implement clear cut recommendations, for sentiments I would be sharing much later, which are to the detriment of the state . This ineptitude on the part of government, ate deep into the fabrics of Kogi's existence, the state was merely existing and stopped living many years back. Top among the ills was the issue of insecurity. People dared passing through Kogi state, whenever they pass through, it is with their heart in their mouth, their Bibles and Quran at hands, chanting Jesus or Lai Ila Ila la . Thuggery, kidnapping, robbery were pastime in the eastern flank, kidnapping and robbery was the order of the day in central, while bank robbery was a daily occurrence in the western senatorial zone. These ugly trends became dangerous fangs that drove away investments and people of good intentions from Kogi state.
You would also recall that few months to the end of the previous administration, it could could not pay workers salaries. This was a result of the prolonged overwhelming internal issues that were being managed over successive administrations, which coincidentally reached its crux in 2015, the center could no longer hold and it carved in, hence the systemic comatose of that administration manifested, starting with owing workers three moths salaries.
Kogi was in dare need of somebody who will bell the cat, somebody who will take away power from the hands of the Old brigades, who merely think for themselves, family and friends. It was indeed a risky thought, as these power brokers are furious and can fight dirty in murky waters, with all its arsenals , just to retain Oligarchy. Alhaji Yahaya Bello took the bold step, knowing fully well Ab ini tio, what he was going into, they will come for the jugular, if you dare them.
It is a battle between the Old and the Young, between family and friends interest, against the interest of the good people of Kogi state, its development, its future that had been hitherto 2015 mortgaged by a few.
One major monstrous feature of the Kogi state civil service, created by "powers that be" is the inclusion of their family members into government payroll to draw illegally from government , enriching themselves in the process . It has continued unbridled until 2015. Kogi state must have lost billions into the pockets of these greedy people. Similar to this is what goes on at the Local government level, where LGA cashiers were multi millionaires, owing state of the art properties and cars with monies accrued from illegal inclusion of fictitious names into the payroll ; A situation where somebody takes the salaries of over twenty persons. These were ludicrous and wicked practices that Governor Bello dared in the face and said enough is enough. Previous administrations had carried out staff verification exercises in the past but could not muster the courage to implement them, because family members were involved and benefiting from the scam .
Someone once told me how her cousin is being owed 38 months. I asked her to tell her cousin to call me. He did and when I requested for his details so that I can verify the authenticity of his claims, I am still waiting after 3 weeks. This is to affirm that there are more lies out there about Yahaya Bello than meets the ears. A genuine civil servant would have looked for the minutest avenue to correct his problem. Nobody is happy owing his workers salaries, I am sure Governor Yahaya Bello is indeed not happy, it is not a proud thing. However, in place of commendation, the backlash has been terrible and unreasonable.
Mallam Amina Kano said "Nigeria will know no peace until the son of Nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody"
In times past, godfatherism was a factor if you must gain political mileage in Kogi state. You simply cannot aspire to become anybody or assume a political position without the approval of one godfather or the other. A situation that reduced useful and brilliant youth to hanger-ons and political thugs. Howbeit by providence, Governor Yahaya Bello became governor without a godfather's approval but by the God the Father's approval, freeing political leadership from the hands of men that has hitherto seen themselves as political Lords, into the hands of a youthful and focused young man, who maximized this opportunity and created a government that is 80% youth inclusive, without consulting the lords. A laudable feet but which has cost him a lot of enemies.
Yahaya Bello has broken a whole lot of jinxs, from being a de-tribalized Governor, who is not a religious bigot. A common practice in times past was governors in Kogi state to to appoint principals and critical aides such as their Chief of Staff from the same clan as them. Against pressure to toe the line of his predecessors, Yahaya Bello demystified the powers that be and appointed an Igala Man , Edward Onoja, to be his most trusted aide, an appointment that sparked criticisms and condemnation, fact is Edward Onoja has led a pivotal role in the administration of the New Direction administration.
Nevertheless , in the face of all these backlashes, I am confident in the quote of the elder statesman. Since the son of a nobody became governor, Kogi is peaceful, . Bank robbery is zero for the past 3 years, armed robbery is a thing of the past, kidnapping has totally been trashed out, except for pockets of communal clashes that predates this administration but being handled with dexterity by the award wining Governor on security.
Can't we read between the lines that the attacks on Governor Yahaya Bello are 90% borne out of anger and hate from big toes he has stepped on to rescue Kogi from oppression of few?
Let us be sincerely objective, holistic and truthful, Governor Yahaya Bello has done what no governor has done, his only sin is the clearing of salary backlog of genuine workers , which I am confident too shall pass like others did.
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