Yahaya Bello: Hues from 30 epic days of note!

In the inaugural speech of the executive governor of Kogi state, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, reiterated his intentions and desire to prosecute his administrations business vigorously on the premise of carefully highlighted blueprints that will usher in rapid development to Kogi State, while radically empowering its people overly.

These blueprints are to marshall the plans for rebuilding Kogi state, using every index of development. With this, it is obvious that the intent of the governor of Kogi state is to hit the ground running without delay. For ease of monitoring the progress of his administration, the Executive Governor deemed it imperative to set timelines and targets meant to appraise the performances of his administration at periodic intervals. It is based on the above prevailing determinations, that this write up is necessitated to x-ray analytically, the journey so far.

Without ambiguity, the exuberance of the Executive Governor is apparent, seen and felt within the nooks and crannies of the polity; he has been conscientiously assiduous in discharging his duties and responsibilities within these first few weeks.

According to Vince Lombardi “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand”. The young governor understands this logic and so with a youthful energy budding within, plus an uninhibited determination to make a mark, he sets out on a mission to revive a gasping and malnourished Kogi. Herculean as they may seem, they are doable! A Yoruba adage says, it takes the two hands to wash each other clean. In his inaugural speech Yahaya Bello reverberates “I would appreciate, and I ask for nothing, other than you give me the benefit of the doubt as we set off” The ship has set off, how well has it sailed in the turbulent waters of mudslinging and vis a vis in the last 30 days?

The base of any democracy or government is the rule of law. Succinctly put, there must be an independent judiciary and legislature. Judges who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing, legislatures who will make laws devoid of political sentiments or acrimony. In his inaugural speech, Alhaji Yahaya Bello stressed the importance of the rule of Law. “The rule of law is key to effective governance he says and we intend to work hand in hand with the judicial arm of government and the legislature to deliver the best governance possible to Kogi State”. Unfortunately, even before the inauguration of Yahaya Bello, the State House of Assembly has been absorbed in an imbroglio that has led them into a quagmire and a vacillating situation; these are detrimental to the collective interest of Kogites. It is therefore exigent they get their acts together before it gets to the state of “frenzy where uppercuts, hooks and chair throwing” become the order of the day, as often characterized in certain legislatives chambers in times past.

For any administration to thrive, it must take serious cognizance of its work force. The power house of any government is its civil service. When the civil service reeks of ghost workers, over-aged staffers whose marginal level of productivity and mental abilities have greatly diminished and coupled with incompetence in placement, what is to be desired? Output will be a sorry tale. Alhaji Yahaya Bello in his inaugural speech stressed with emphasis the civil service reforms which are aimed at changing the orientation of its workers with the aim of improving their productivity, which will in turn stimulate growth and development. In his “promises made”, He promised that civil servants living conditions would be greatly improved. Training and re-training of staff would be of high priority, while rewarding excellent, hard work and creativity.

However, despite financial dearth, the state experienced hitherto his inauguration, Alhaji Yahaha Bello promised in his inaugural speech to pay salaries aptly and promptly while defraying backlogs that have accrued from previous administration’s inability to pay staff salaries. The actions of the Yahaya Bello-led administration are indeed cheering. In a bid to alleviate the sufferings of its Local Government Workers, the Yahaya Bello’s administration granted financial autonomy to the Local councils. To be sure local government staff are being treated accordingly, he directed all local government chairmen to forward to his table January financial statement. These actions are unprecedented in the history of Kogi State. A friend called these actions Bellovolence, another Bellonomics I call it, BELLOMISATION.

For first time in the history of Kogi state, we have a sitting governor. Not an “ajala travel all over the world governor” that globetrot and gallivants around on inordinate jamborees at the expenses of the state and returns with no prospect. From inception, except for few occasions when he had to pay condolence visits and courtesy calls outside Kogi state. Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been on ground in Lokoja, overseeing the day-to-day running of the administration so much that he pays unscheduled working visit to government establishments, putting staff of all Kogi state establishments on red alert, “for no one knoweth when the chief will waltz in without the buzz and cries of siren”. A clear departure from the shadow of past administrators who scarcely know where certain government establishments are located.

From the blast of the whistle, it was crystal clear that Yahaya Bello is a detribalized man. This is seen in the first appointment he made, where the exalted office of the Chief of Staff was handed to a like mind, a young man from the eastern block amidst pressure to pick a candidate from his part of the central senatorial district, a move he vigorously and briskly objected very firmly but calmly.

If the former action looked like a surprise, then it is diminutive compared to the second set of appointments he made. The second appointment shows his government’s resolves to inject new and fresh blood into the system, so as to achieve results. The government is a youth driven government, after all, we the youths, are the leaders of tomorow. Ninety per cent of the second appointees are brilliant and intelligent young men and women, who have carved a niche for them selves out there with the zeal and expertise to deliver on set targets. Exactly what is needed, “square pegs in square holes”. Sequel to the above, Yahaya Bello’s government is a gender friendly government. Aside some female Special Advisers, he appointed a female as its Secretary to the State Government, This is indeed, CHANGE. What more can be desired if these beautiful strides were felt in just 30 days? What tale will 100 days in office bring? Let’s keep our fingers crossed till then.

Williams Charles Oluwatoyin
Writes from Lokoja