Kogi State is one of the most destablized States in Nigeria. Prior to 2015, Kogi was a Balkanized shreds of interests, peddled by ethnic champions who grabbed the headlines for the propensity to cause ethnic divisions for political gains.
For 25 years, the dividers held the state hostage, shrunk her possibilities and opportunities and created a poly-anomalies of idiosyncrasies that almost destroyed our dear state.
Every sincere kogites will agree with me that before 2016, every governor who had ruled the state ensured that his Chief of Staff was of the same ethnic group with him. Bias became normal, division was accepted.
Young people were only deployed to destroy. They were not given any chance as gerontocracy became the other of the day.
But the emergence of Yahaya Bello has demonstrated an efficacious antidote to division and exclusion.
In his acceptance speech of his first tenure at the confluence stadium, he promised a departure from the past; he promised youth inclusion. And between that Stadium and the Government House on the same day, he walked his talk by announcing his first three appointees.
His first Chief of Staff emerged from Kogi East. The governor hails from Kogi central. He broke the jinx. He rewrote history! His Senior Special Assistant on Media hailed from Kogi Central.
His then Chief Press Secretary hailed from Kogi West. He set the record of spreading his first three appointments across the three Senatorial Districts. The hope of the people was rekindled. It marked the beginning of a new era hitherto ethnically defeated people.
The governor has not yielded to the strong pressure to champion on ethnic agenda which excludes other tribes to the sole advantage of an Ebira. He has rather chosen to exemplify a United Kogi where all have the sense and feeling that they belong.
Likewise, he has not treaded the path of a religious extremist as he has built a befitting Chapel of Worship in Government House for the followers of Christ. Thus, making Kogi one of the few Sates especially in the North/North central that have a place of worship for adherents of both major faiths within the seat of power, just like the Presidential villa.
Without any cause for dispute, Governor Yahaya Bello (GYB) is the rallying point for the three main tribes in Kogi state. GYB is a true son of Ebira tribes (Kogi central), trusted ally of Igala people (Kogi East) and dependable friend of Okun in Kogi West.
He has eliminated politics of ethnicity, class and religion sentiments. Today, Kogi state is made up of people of different ethnic nationalities who trust one another. It is no more about where you come from, but about what can you offer a state in dire need of leaders who can dare to be different. He is a true “confluencer” that embodies and personifies the state title (confluence state).
The governor has removed the scales of ethnic sentiments that has covered our eyes and inhibited the development of our dear state hitherto.
He has given us a new orientation and brought us together for a common good purpose. Now we are confluence people indeed because of the influence of a “confluencer”.
Nigeria is like a Ship with people of different language, faith and cultural values all aboard. And we need a figure who will and can Captain the Ship to the expected destination without shipwreck. We need not look further or far away because we now have what we have been looking for.
Governor Yahaya Bello who has achieved such a great feat in Kogi State is the answer to the Nigerians prayers who truly seek after the peace, security, oneness and development of the country as a whole.
La’Niyi Africa
