Bello’s Unusual Approach to Governance
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello appears to have a different approach to governance compared to what used to be the norm. In this piece, Yekini Jimoh takes a look at some of the steps taken to stabilise the polity, beginning with the balancing
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello appears to have a different approach to governance compared to what used to be the norm. In this piece, Yekini Jimoh takes a look at some of the steps taken to stabilise the polity…
Bello, from the outset chose to be wedded to justice and selflessness, both of which are the fundamental basics of the ethics, which impregnates responsible politics…A few weeks ago, he assumed leadership of the state. But the governor has since embarked on what a majority of the people of the state now refer to as taking good steps in the right direction
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is generally believed to have started his government on a right footing – playing fair politics accompanied with ideal philosophy on the balance of power. And so far, has not in any way abandoned governance to the whims and caprices of rapacity, unflappability or egocentric hedonism. Bello, from the outset chose to be wedded to justice and selflessness, both of which are the fundamental basics of the ethics, which impregnates responsible politics.
A few weeks ago, he assumed leadership of the state. But the governor has since embarked on what a majority of the people of the state now refer to as taking good steps in the right direction. In his inaugural speech, he frankly told the people of the state that, “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”, adding that the quote was a complete worldview that defines the purpose and methodology of his administration as well as sets an agenda of inclusiveness, which he was certain would characterise his tenure.
He said there was no greater evil than corruption and that nothing champions evil more than impunity... ”corruption and impunity made sure our people repeatedly arrived at a promised future and found it bereft of substance or the promised better life.” According to him, future generations would not be given reason to count the incoming administration among those that reveled in corruption or impunity.
“We will be different by the grace of God. We must and will be that generation of leaders, who made the entirety of Kogi resources work for the entirety of Kogi people,” he said, declaring that his administration would have zero tolerance for corruption and impunity. He also promised to lead the state by honest and humble example.
So far, in his first political appointments, he made sure it was equitably shared with a spread across the three senatorial districts of the state. For instance, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward Onoja from Kogi East will be the first person in the history of Kogi politics to be appointed by any governor to be appointed into that office and who is not his kinsman. The deputy governor, Simon Achuba is from the east.
Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulmalik Abdulkarim is Kogi central, while his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo hails from Kogi west.
On assumption of office, Bello demonstrated his love for equity and justice by reinstating all Local Government Council Chairmen, who were sacked on political grounds by the previous administration. Also, Kogi workers were on strike before his assumption of office. But after holding talks and properly negotiating with the Labour Unions, the industrial action was called off.
Bello came on board and put an end to the labour crisis, albeit temporarily. Under the leadership of his predecessor, almost all Kogi workers shed tears each time they get their monthly salaries because it is either half or some miserable percentages of their monthly earnings.
But Bello came on board and jettisoned the bothersome, pitiable, and lamentable phenomenon of half salaries. Under this administration, Kogi workers are to get their full salaries on the 25th day of every month. To every clean mind devoid of any form of jaundice, this is considerably fair and so good!
Prior to this administration, 500 million naira was being deducted every month from monthly allocations meant for the 21 Local Government Areas in Kogi State. To say the least, the previous administration was alleged to have committed a progressive range of unpardonable sins against justice, equity and good conscience as it engaged in a gargantuan but deregulated heist of local government funds.
Today, under the present administration, there are no more illicit deductions from local government allocations as they are now to get their full allocations every month. The governor recently abolished arbitrary deductions from the allocations of councils in the state. He disclosed this while meeting with local government chairmen at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Bello, who frowns at the various deductions from the council allocations by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said state laws cannot override the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He therefore directed the ministry to submit its running cost to the Office of the Governor and stop exploiting the local government councils.
He urged council chairmen to ensure that pensioners and teachers are paid their monies, asking them to ensure council workers are promptly paid their full wages. He warned against profligacy, saying the chairmen must account for every penny received from the federation account.
He also called on them to execute projects that would impact positively on the people of the state, reiterating his desire to visit local government areas to commission projects. He canvassed for forensic audit of local government pensioners. He also advocated better supervision of teachers to ensure efficiency.
The Kogi State Chairman of ALGON, Hon. Alloysus Okino, while reacting to the benevolence of the Governor, thanked him for his clear directive on council properties and urged the chairmen to take possession of their properties. According to him, the ball is now in their court and therefore, every local government chairmen in the state will do everything possible not to disappoint the governor.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Abdulkarim said the decision by the governor to give councils financial autonomy was a revolution that has heralded a new Kogi State. He also mentioned that in the history of Kogi politics, Bello took the bull by the horn and appointed his Chief of Staff from another senatorial district of the state.
He added that the free hand the governor has given the local government chairmen to run the affairs of their various councils is an indication that Bello is determined to improve the wellbeing of the people of the state from the grassroots.
The prayer of many in the state now is that the governor maintains the tempo so that at the end of his four years in office, his administration will have left behind a legacy that lends credence to the age of his ideas.