The ascendancy of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello to the exalted office of Kogi State Governor in 2016 heralded a new beginning in the history of Kogi State politics. As the Chief Executive officer of the State who could not rule the state alone, there was need for him to recruit officials in the appointive and elective realm to assist in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the state. Several people were appointed and elected into the executive and legislative arms of government out of sheer magnanimity of the Governor, because among the lucky beneficiaries that were considered for political appointments and elective offices, there are thousand others outside there who were more qualified that were not considered.
In what I could describe as over-stretched magnanimity, more than 60% of the Governors cabinet especially those in appointive positions at the expiration of Governor Yahaya Bello's tenure in January, 2024 may have spent the same number of years, 8 that the constitution allows His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello to serve as Kogi State Governor. This is unprecedented in the history of Kogi State politics. It is best known to the Governor, why he has allowed these his cabinet members to stay this long, but that over-stretched magnanimity resultantly over-pampered his appointees, and the negative attitude usually exhibited by over-pampered children translates to the political misbehaviour of some as expressed in the Governor's speech at an expanded Stakeholders meeting held in Glass House today being 18th of November, 2023.
With the coming on board of the Governor, several people who never occupied any political office prior to 2015 were fortunate to be incorporated into his government, several people who were living in rented houses before then now owned apartments of their own, some who were hitherto seen moving around on Okada like me now own cars, some who couldn't marry as a result of poverty, married more than one wife under the Governor, some who were on negative balance in their bank accounts became millionaires, some who had never footed the bill of sleeping in a hotel now have permanent accomodations in luxurious hotels, some who hitherto could not vie for Councilor in their respective wards became local government Chairmen, some who hitherto could not own houses in their villages now owned mansions in FCT and other capital cities. These all came out of the benefits that power brings and the magnanimity of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for considering them for one position or the other.
My candid advice for His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello and the incoming Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is that except for tenured offices like the office of Chairman, State and National Assembly members, occasional reshufflement is very important for other political office holders. When new hands are being incorporated, it creates room for more inclusion of people into the government. Appointing same sets of people for same offices also means that one set of people is being settled in the political realm living others who may have worked harder for the party in the cold. The loyalty of those currently occupying one position or the other could have been best put to test if they were kept out of the arena of power.
It wouldn't have been possible for all the appointees of the Governor to be considered as his successor like the Governor-elect, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is fortunately being considered, but take a look at what transpired in the just concluded Governorship election in the state, just because some overambitious people were not considered, they conspired to nip the success of Ododo in the bud, but for the effective leadership role of the Governor that saved the party.
People who are rooted in grassroots politics and are in constant touch with their people and ready to impact positively on their lives should be considered for political appointments and elective offices. I think it's imperative for the Governor as the leader of the party at the moment and the incoming Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to take a sample opinion of how each of the political office holders and those in elective offices have touched the lives of the people in their respective local government areas. Political offices shouldn't be for self aggrandizement and family empowerment but to be utilized in impacting positively in the lives of so many people to ensure that happiness of the greatest number in democracy as espoused by Jeremy Bentham is being achieved and not happiness of the few.
I wouldn't mention names but I can see so many people in white Baba rigas, some with dark and white beards around the Governor-elect that doesn't deserve re-appointment because of their past antecedents and by virtue of the fact that they have benefitted enough from the system.
Myself and several others have put in their bests to ensure the victory of APC in the just concluded election. Who and who are being considered for appointments as the Governor-elect assumes office in 2024 is of kin interest to the stakeholders of the party in virtually all the Local Government Areas.
I wish our outgoing Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello more progress, advancement and blessings as he prepares to leave the stage for the incoming Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. To the incoming Governor, I wish you a happy and successful tenure. May your incoming administration be of great benefit to the entire people of Kogi State, ameen thuma ameen.
Kabiru Usman, APC Stakeholder from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
One time Senior Legislative Aide to Honourable Muhammad Kabir Ajanah at the Federal House of Representatives.
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