by Shehu Audu

On the contrary, one of the biggest political sacrileges yet in Nigeria’s democratic set-up, was the imposition of Mr Yahaya Bello as Kogi State governor by the ruling All Progressive Congress [APC] in connivance with power brokers in Abuja.

When I saw Mr Isa Eneye Mubarak’s title, I had inferred he has written the obvious: maladministration, directionless and confused political leadership in Kogi under Bello’s watch. As I read further, it became clear that the writer was alluding political vengeance as against good governance.

I will rather not be dragged into ethnic warfare to what ordinarily should have been a robust exchange of opinions. But let me attempt a few commonsense posers: That previous administrations: Ibrahim Idris [2003 -2012] and Idris Wada [2012 – 2016] didn’t perform is a justification or whatsoever for Yahaya Bello [2016 – till date] to toe the same line of failure? Successive administrations are inaugurated for continuity of purpose. Does Bello intends to use his first four years to play the blame game and halt governance?

The Kogi State civil/public service has a sizeable number of workforce who are of the Igala stock. This is so, given any scientific or natural consideration that Igala constitutes the majority ethnic group in the state.

The welfare of Kogi workers has never been this terrible under any previous administration, not even the hard time of military rulership. While it is good and within the fundamental human right framework for citizens to express themselves, we have a responsibility, no matter how unpleasant, to speak fact.

The inability by kogi government to pay wages began during Wada’s regime. However, while prudent management of resources would have cushioned the effect of the present economic down turn, Wada managed to pay workers through a negotiated reduced salary structure of 40/50 percent of their basic salary.

Mr Bello opted for a clean up of the civil service perhaps to achieve a lean workforce which is commendable. Mr Mubarak’s assertion that discovered ghost workers are people of Igala origin is unfortunate and far from the truth.

The call to Yahaya Bello to take a shot at 2019 is indeed a tough venture. The legality of his mandate as approved by the supreme court is still a subject of heavy moral burden.

What are the substances that will qualify Mr Bello to seek reelection? How does voting him out amount to political blunder? Sentiments have weakened our capacity to think critically in clear terms.

16 months salaries owed; Tertiary institutions shut down; Hospitals are closed to patients; Political instability and tension have all become the hallmark  of Bello’s administration. And you think the consequences of Bello’s emergence as governor isn’t upon us already.

I understand mr Mubarak is upset with the sorry state of things in Kogi. One had expect that he would rather demand accountability for funds collected by Bello to advance kogi, and cease chasing vanished ethnic shadows.

There are better ways to play the ethnic card: by giving quality advice to Bello so he can be his own man and do the needful by serving his people; by reminding him that if he fails, his failure will be blamed on poor advice and lack of supports base and needless encouragement [sycophancy].

It will rather be a political blunder if Bello stays beyond 2019.

On the political front, Bello should take to heart the report of Tony Momoh-led fact-finding reconciliation committee inaugurated by his party headquarters, which indicted him, to mend fences. The ongoing political spat between the governor and senator Senator Dino Melaye is a distraction and needless.

At a time kogi is not represented at the federal cabinet, Bello is expected to mobilise for the deployment of the senate cleared ministerial nominee from the state, Prof Stephen Ocheni.

With education in comatose, health facilities abandoned, salaries and pensions in huge arrears the future of the state is doomed.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Shehu Audu is a concerned citizen of Kogi State. twitter: @IGONO