Yahaya Bello: An Enduring Legacy Built in Seven Years
By Nafisat Bello
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness while some have greatness thrust upon them.”
That was characteristically philosophical Williams Shakespeare describing the three different routes to power and greatness in his iconic piece titled “Twelfth Night.” As far as the celebrated playwright was concerned, a great man is either born to royalty or wealth or he has to strive for it day and night before achieving same, or he has to be in the right place at the right time where greatness is imposed on him.
Considering the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his ascension to power, the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, obviously belongs to the third category of the Shakespearean school of thought as explained above.
But it is one thing to be fortunate to have an opportunity, it is another thing to make effective use of that opportunity to solve human problems, fight for your people, serve them with the whole of your heart for 24 hours in a day and leave an enduring legacy for generations yet unborn.
His rise to stardom was an answered prayer for the people of the state. They had always wished to have a unifier who will break the walls of division, a patriotic leader who will place the interest of the state above personal gains.
Before his assumption of office, the Confluence State used to be described as underdeveloped and unsafe. Insecurity was rife, kidnapping, armed robbery, killings and maiming were the order of the day. But there has been a remarkable turnaround in the last seven years as the state is now rated as one of the safest in the country by reputable local and international organisations. The governor has also received numerous commendations and awards both locally and internationally as well on his stewardship.
First, his administration’s policy was to embark on a thorough screening of civil servants in the state, to eliminate ghost workers who are busy feeding fat on the lean resources of the state without adding any value to the state. After completing the screening exercise, the governor gave a standing order for civil servants’ salaries to be paid between 24th and 27th of every month, an order that has put a smile on the workers faces till date.
Based on the economic realities in the country and the challenges of survival people faced, Governor Bello also approved the 30 percent National Minimum Wage Scale for Kogi civil servants. He did this to reflate the economy and bring back the Middle Class.
Aside the huge health infrastructure built by Governor Bello including the Reference Hospital in Okene, the governor also instituted the “Bello Care” programme to take care of the sick and vulnerable especially People Living with Disablilty (PLWD).
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The governor’s robust leadership and policies have also driven the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from ₦350 million monthly to a whopping ₦1.5 which which means ₦18 billion per annum. The state government is also aggressively targeting #2 billion per month.
When it comes to youth and women empowerment, Kogi state under Governor Bello has been number one in the country. There is no state in Nigeria that has women occupying top positions in government as much as Kogi state.
The Confluence State used to be sharply divided along ethno-religious fault lines which the governor has addressed adequately. While Muslims have always had a Mosque where they gather and pray, it was Governor Bello who built and furnished a befitting Chapel for the Christians in Government House where the appointees now worship, a symbolic gesture that has continued to receive the commendation of Christians at state and national levels. He also broke the myth of one ethnic group dominating others in terms of appointments and projects, because they produce the governor. He did not only appoint an Igala man as his Chief of Staff, he also distributed projects fairly and equitably across the different parts of the state.
In recognition of the way Governor Bello has united and secured the state and put in place infrastructural amenities that will stand the test of time, President Muhammadu Buhari paid a visit to the Confluence State recently for the inauguration of the legacy projects.
A proud President Buhari commissioned the world-class, 300-bed Central Reference Hospital, located in Okene, the GYB Model Science Secondary School, Lokoja the Ganaja Flyover, the Confluence University of Science and Technology at Osara, the Rice Mill in Ejiba, as well as hospitals in Idah, Kabba and Okene.
A piece on the seven-year stewardship of the governor cannot be complete without mentioning the added glory of Kogi state under Governor Bello now being an officially recognised oil producing state. Governor Bello put up a robust fight and advocacy for the oil wells claimed by neighbouring Anambra state to be duly awarded to Kogi. Aside the recognition, the state received its first 13 percent derivation late last year and has been receiving same on a monthly basis ever since. Governor Bello’s successors will therefore have a lot of resources to do more people-oriented projects for the state.
There is no doubting the fact that Kogi state has experienced interesting times – full of ups and downs, milestones and challenges – under Governor Bello in the last seven years. In his broadcast commemorating the anniversary, an emotional governor thanked the people of the state for trusting him with their votes, cooperation and prayers. He promised to use the last months of his eventful tenure to consolidate on his signature achievements and finish strongly.
