Between Yahaya Bello and Kogi people

Every stakeholder in Kogi State knows that at the moment, the image of the chief executive of the state, Mr. Yahaya  Bello, is dipped in all manners of controversies such that the state’s slogan ‘The Confluence State’ has been subjected to ridicule. Since he miraculously assumed the post of the helmsman of the state, Bello […]

Every stakeholder in Kogi State knows that at the moment, the image of the chief executive of the state, Mr. Yahaya  Bello, is dipped in all manners of controversies such that the state’s slogan ‘The Confluence State’ has been subjected to ridicule. Since he miraculously assumed the post of the helmsman of the state, Bello has done nothing to prove his detractors wrong that he was not just an 11th hour miracle.

Bello must be the second most talked about person in the country at this time after President, Muhammadu Buhari. Though they do share much in common, there is no gainsaying both men belong to the same political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Even that seeming thread that binds them is at a breaking point.

There is a growing divergence of opinion on the leadership style of Bello. Recently, a peaceful protest was carried out by a group, Kogi Rescue Mission (KRM), to the national headquarters of the APC, with numerous placards stating the group’s grievances. From unpaid salaries to misuse of state resources and widespread hunger in the land.

More recent is the outcry in the APC over Bello’s ambitious goal to run a second term. The lack of support from his party members is evidence that truly Bello has performed below bar. Surely, the great men and women who have made the state proud must be rolling in their graves on how the state, which once was the pride of the people is now a mockery of its past.

Truly, the APC won the majority seats in the state House of Assembly, but it didn’t erase the fact that it was a fierce competition for the ruling party. Ordinarily, this feat should earn Bello the desired applause but his apparent mediocrity cannot be ignored, nor his intimidating stance over other political appointees who didn’t align to his goals.

It is not the first time he is using his political weight against those who challenge his authority. Who can easily forget the intriguing saga between him and Senator Dino Melaye. With all his political backing, Bello couldn’t destroy the reputation of the rambunctious senator. The senator further made Bello to eat his dust when he emerged the winner of the Kogi West Senatorial District, a victory neither Bello nor the party foresaw. The victory of Melaye instead of being perceived as what it is, that is a rejection of Smart Adeyemi and Bello because of his failure and misgovernance is now blamed on political appointees. This seems to be Bello’s modus operandi to redeem his name.

The latest scapegoat in this case is a retiring director general whom Bello claimed charged people to offer employment because the DG expressed interest in running for governorship. Another DG who is being considered as a possible replacement for Bello forced the governor to start looking all over the place for election results of the fellow, hopefully to prove that since he didn’t win his polling unit or ward in the just concluded national elections, then he is of no political value.

The Kogi State governor carries the can for harassing a senator to be marooned on a hospital bed in a hospital so that a recall against the senator will take him out while he was incapacitated.  After spending the salaries of workers on the failed recall, somebody would have thought he learned some lessons, but it looks like it is impossible for him to learn. When elections came, he harassed him again, kept him out of the state, prevented him from campaigning and even tried to stop him for entering the state to cast his vote but the senator still won the election again.  A governor that cannot secure a recall in absentia or win an election against a candidate in absentia; that is who Bello is.  And it is very shameful. The governor has been exposed for who he really is; a pure political lightweight, and socially irrelevant.  Unfortunately, he has a bloated image of himself and wants to come back as governor. How absurd.

In his desperate attempt to rule over the will of the people, Bello forgets that he is the most unqualified candidate for the state’s upcoming governorship election in November. Whatever achievement his administration may brag about, in terms of achievements has paled into insignificance. Non-payment of salaries and withholding funds for the state’s development is enough reason for indigenes to oppose and condemn his re-election bid. The threats to life on those who are perceived as enemies of the state further deepens the increasing hostility towards the governor.

Oyedepo wrote from Lokoja, Kogi State

Multichoice, what happened to boxing?

Multichoice, through DSTV, used to air boxing matches every week, reviewing boxing activities around the globe in a special package on Supersport 10. That was besides the active live coverage of championship boxing matches, being they in Las Vegas, Berlin, Moscow, or any venue hosting a significant live championship boxing match. But all these seem to be disintegrating, as the weekly boxing review has been stopped, and only a few live championship matches are carried on Supersport these days. Multichoice should please note that all subscribers are not football fans. They have dedicated almost all Supersport channels, except Supersport 1 and 2 to football, leaving boxing out. This is wrong and unacceptable.

Camelo Igna, Karu, Abuja

 

FEC, please remember Lokoja-Ajaokuta road

I wish to appeal to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to please, in their meeting next Wednesday, deliberate on, and consider doing something about the long, bad portion of the Lokoja-Ajaokuta road in Kogi State. That bad portion has existed for a very long time, and is badly deteriorating. The FEC members should please remember that the road is very important as thousands use it daily between the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country, especially those going to Benue and the Southeast states. While considerable effort is being made on road construction in several parts of the country, the Lokoja-Ajaokuta road should equally be put into the FEC agenda, albiet it’s not the entire road I’m complaining about but just a few kilometers of it between Lokoja and Ajaokuta which has remained bad for many years now.

Jonathan Ben, Orokam, Benue State

 

Good tidings from Zimbabwe

It gladdens my heart that the president of  Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has commended the Nigerian government for extending relief items to the people of Zimbabwe recently affected by disaster cyclone Idai.

Mnangagwa said Nigeria brought lots of medicines and other materials to be given to people who suffered the devastation.

He described it as a demonstration to the people of Zimbabwe, a friendship and support from Nigeria which was a front line state during the struggle for apartheid. “So, to the people of Nigeria, I say the people of Zimbabwe are extremely happy and grateful for the support they have given to us,’’ the president said.

He added that most of his generation were trained in Nigeria, which is why they are now independent. Such heart warming comment from another country. Long live Nigeria, the brother’s keeper.

Emilia Bangkong, Calabar

 

FRSC, why so many unclaimed licenses?

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) recently admitted that 280,751 drivers’ licences were unclaimed nationwide as at May 10, including the 30,831 yet unclaimed in the Federal Capital Territory, though Lagos State has the highest with a total of 75,511. One wonders why this is so, and I wonder if the owners of such licenses provided adequate information on their contacts while applying. It is however possible that some of these people are still waiting to collect the licenses, so I urge the FRSC to devise a clearer mechanism of reaching out to license applicants for quick and easy collection.

Muhamad Idris, Sokoto