By Taiye Odewale
The phrase “ New Direction Journey in Kogi “, will no doubt , ignite different thoughts of meanings in the minds of readers at first sight , more so, when Kogi State is not a human being , naturally required to embark on one form of journey or the other at different stages of life since Life itself , is a Journey from birth to death and on spiritual template , finally ending at the destination of Paradise or Hell Fire for every human being, depending on his or her level of Godliness or righteousness while alive .
However in figurative term and within the literary context, Kogi State being a geographical entity in the larger one, called Nigeria; can be viewed to be on a journey from one stage to the other on the template of Statehood, being one of the 36 States of the Nigeria Federation which itself, has been on a Nationhood Journey since October 1st, 1960 when she attained independence from the British Colonialists as a Sovereign Country.
In a nutshell, as analyzed in this book. Kogi State since creation over 30 years ago, precisely on August 27, 1991; has been on development – driven journey through different directions as charted by any Governor in office from Colonel Danladi Zakari Mohammed the first Governor of the State, to the incumbent, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello who according to the Author, brought a New Direction into the journey in January 2016 through inclusivity – driven governance.
The Author in chronicling the different stages of Statehood Journey, Kogi has passed through over the last 30 years at different periods by Nine different Governors, segmented the 20,000 worded book into seven different Chapters with chapter one focusing on the historical evolution of the State and its strategic importance to the evolution of the entity called Nigeria.
Chapter two of the book is devoted to definitions of the concepts of Journey, Direction and Destination while chapter three focuses on 25 years of Statehood Journey of Kogi from 1991 to 2016 when Governor Yahaya Bello gave it a new direction.
Strikingly before the Governor Yahaya Bello’s New Direction, foundations laid on the development – driven Journey by his eight predecessors, particularly the late Prince Abubakar Audu who had the opportunities of ruling the State at two different times from January 2nd 1992 – November 17, 1993 and May 29, 1999 to May 28, 2003; were copiously analyzed and documented in Chapter Three.
The Author in the book, put it on record that during the second term of Governor Ibrahim Idris, the then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Clarence Olafemi served as Acting Governor from February 6, 2008 to March 29th 2008 on account of electoral litigation, Court ruling and re – run election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission {INEC].
The Statehood Journey of the State as documented in the book however got a new ‘Chief Executive Driver’ in person of Captain Idris Ichala Wada on the 27th January , 2012 through a mandate secured for that purpose from Kogi electorates in 18 out of 21 local government Councils of the State in December 2011 .
Governor Wada as stated in the documentary piece between January 2012 – January 2016, added some development – driven directions to the Statehood Journey of Kogi, some of which were modern vocational training centre in Lokoja, modern motor park in Lokoja with capacity for 10,000 passengers per day , conception of modern medical diagnosis centre in Lokoja aside upgrading the Specialist Hospital as well as building of University Teaching Hospital at the Kogi State University Anyingba and numerous other projects captured in chapter three of the book.
“However it is on records that due to sharp drop in monthly subventions from the Federal Government to the state government between 2014 and 2015 as well as increase in workers monthly salaries which arose from N18,000 minimum wage implementation then , Kogi State under Wada ran into trouble waters as regards monthly salary payments to workers , resulting into three months unpaid workers ‘s salaries as at the time he left office in January , 2016 .
Though as clearly chronicled by the Author in the book , all those who governed Kogi State at different times from creation on August 27 , 1991 to January 27, 2016 when the incumbent Executive Governor , Alhaji Yahaya Bello came on board , contributed to the Statehood Journey but the Journey assumed a New Direction under Yahaya Bello .
The New Direction as well captured by the Author in Chapters Four, Five, Six and Seven, is anchored on Inclusivity – Driven Governance facilitated by EBIGO Policy.
Explanatorily , as a miniature Nigeria, for unity of purpose in Kogi State on the New Direction Journey , Governor Yahaya Bello came up with inclusivity – driven policy which centers on practical involvement of peoples of the three major ethnic groups in the State i.e., Ebira , Igala and Okun ( EBIGO), as well as the minority ones like Bassa Nge , Bassa Kuwo , Nupe ( Kupa and Kakanda) , Oworo , Idoma, Ogori Magongo etc , in governance at all levels .
In demonstrating this the Author recalled , few hours after his inauguration on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 as the 4th Elected Executive Governor of Kogi State , Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello announced appointments of Mr Edward Onoja ( an Igala man ) as the Chief of Staff, Abdulkarim Abdulmalik ( an Ebira man) as Special Adviser on Media and Strategy and Mr Kingsley Fanwo ( an Okun man) as Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) .
Mr. Onoja, who hails from Ogugu in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the State and described as “ my right hand man “ by Governor Yahaya Bello in his inaugural speech, is now the Deputy Governor of the State while Mr Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo , a journalist who hails from Takete Ide Amuro in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, got elevated to the position of Hon Commissioner for Information and Communications .
Inclusivity policy of Governor Yahaya Bello in terms of political appointments and involvements of peoples of Kogi State in governance also reflected gender – balancing right from his first term of office with appointments of Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade as Secretary to the State Government (SSG ) and Deborah Ogunmola after Hassana Lawal as Head of Service ( HoS) aside ensuring that Vice Chairmen of all the 21 Local Government Councils in the State are women by facilitating their participation in the local government election conducted on Saturday, December 12, 2020 by Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission ( KOSIEC) one of whom has become a substantive local government chairman in Okene.
Strikingly , since March 2016 when Hassana Lawal in acting capacity, was made Head of Service till now , the position has been held by women in the order of Deborah Ogunmola after Hassana Lawal , followed by the appointment of Hannah Odiyo as the new Head of Service in February 2021 by the gender sensitive Governor , Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello .
The Author in driving home his point on the New Direction , made reference to remarks made by the Deputy Governor , His Excellency, Chief Edward Onoja at the Banquet Hall of the Government House , Lokoja on Saturday , October 3, 2020, during the retreat of the Senate Press Corps , .
The Deputy Governor as quoted at the retreat said: “Political appointments in the State under His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, are driven by merit and inclusivity and not tribal, ethnic or religious sentiments.
“In the past in this State, government was run on tribal sentiments where some political positions were exclusively reserved for certain ethnic groups in a state that has over 10 tribes”.
“From whatever way the New Direction Programme and perhaps Statehood Journey of Kogi is viewed under the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello ; Kogites generally are United by seeing the State as theirs and ready to join the government in taking it to the Desired Destination of oneness , genuine and sustainable development”.
Similar quotable remarks on the New Direction Journey in the State by the Executive Governor himself, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, were referenced in the book from chapter four to seven, the most striking of which is the one made on 27th of January 2016 after taken oath of office as the Navigator of the New Direction Journey.
“Change has come to Kogi State. I may be the Torchbearer, and Custodian of it, but you, the great united people of Kogi State, are its Owners and Proprietors. Let us arise together, take our Collective Destiny in our hands and go forth excitedly to chart our New Direction. Kogi, THIS CHANGE IS YOURS! “, he said.
Expectedly, mileages covered in the New Direction Journey in terms of involvement of peoples of the State across the various divides in government, Policies. Programmes and Projects executed across the 21 local government Councils, were analyzed and well documented by the Author.
The 100- page book is no doubt, a must read for all Kogites in particular and knowledge – seeking Nigerians generally.
Taiye Odewale writes in from Abuja.
