By Felix Udebu
A welter of scintillating stories had been told about the breaking of Governor Yahaya Bello (CON) from a humane background into national political limelight. All the way, his story has been smooth and yet replete with testimonies of daunting challenges which could have eclipsed his success, had he not learnt to fight his battle, like a determined soldier he wouldn’t have made any headway in life. His school of politics is with a difference, carrying out his activities, as he does with civility and unrivalled panache.
Worried by the colossal waste occasioned by the syndrome of abandoned projects, his leadership boldly puts in place a comprehensive programme of action to rehabilitate abandoned but viable water, road and rural electrification projects. Throughout his elaborate tour of local government areas of the state before his election, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was visibly touched by the low quality of lives of the people which he personally remarked had been adversely affected by inadequate social facilities. He noted with regret that these abandoned projects were well conceived as their effective implementation would have brought improvement on people’s lives. He said nothing would have given him greater joy than to ensure the speedy completion of all the viable, uncompleted projects. One very rare policy adopted by the present administration which is a departure from the past is the genuine desire to complete all inherited projects. This is believed would save the state from having its resources tied down under the guise of abandoned projects.
At the time Alhaji Bello was elected governor of the state in 2016, the infrastructure of the state was in a battered and shattered shape, but he never gave up. He decided to pick up the pieces of the lives of the people and resolved to turn the state fortune around. At the inception of his administration, Alhaji Bello vowed to complete uncompleted and on-going projects. His commitment and genuine concern for abandoned and uncompleted, but viable projects, propelled him to confirm his readiness to carry on with such projects. He expostulates or frowns at the poor attitude of past leadership in the state towards the maintenance and rehabilitation of abandoned but vital social infrastructure in the state. Today, the story has changed completely, the state is no longer in that sorry state because of the incredible development strategies put in place by his administration to lift the people out of poverty.
Close and honest watchers of the infrastructural development in Kogi State would readily admit that His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the incumbent Governor of Kogi State is a leader with a huge difference. He has strong willed, full of energy, youthful, loaded with wisdom, knowledge, good-will of the people and above all God’s divine support on his side. He is an individual who is truly fired up by the possibility as well as the enterprise nature of the people of Kogi State to develop the state beyond human imagination within a very short time.
HIS INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT STRIDES
Infrastructural development is an area the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello has outclassed his critics. Let us have an overview of the sectorial achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello Administration in Kogi State (2016 till date) that could be classified as legacy projects of his administration. Within the last seven and half years in office, he has taken bold steps to develop all spheres of the infrastructural needs of the state. His investments in the area of infrastructure developments have also been deepened to support the growth of the private sectors and create jobs.
His footprints are visible throughout the State. He has exhibited purposeful leadership, deep passion and commitment to take Kogi State to the next level in line with democratic norms, especially in the area of rural electrification, quality health care, robust educational policies, prudent management of resources and infrastructural development which are commendable.
EDUCATION
The recent development in the educational sector in the state shows that there are remarkable transformations in the state. Under the Bello Administration; massive construction and renovation of classrooms for primary and for junior secondary schools and senior secondary schools respectively were accomplished. His administration also invested in procurement of core textbooks for the pupils in primary schools. The Ultra-Modern GYB Model Science Secondary School, Adankolo, Lokoja the school out-rightly wears a new look, providing a highly conducive teaching and learning environments for both the teachers and students of the college. The administration established the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara (CUSTECH) in 2021 as a response to the growing irrelevance and dwindling capacity of tertiary education in Nigeria. Its mandate was to balance global perspective with community relevance and therefore to demonstrate its capacity to drive progress by producing global citizens for community development. The impact of Bello-led administration is equally visible at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja from the perimeter fencing and the entrance to the campus one begin to see renovation and the upgrade of the infrastructure of the college. The College of Health Sciences, Idah too has the signature of Governor Bello’s administration on their infrastructural improvement and on infrastructural development the administration constructed a magnificent building as Internal Revenue Service office complex, Lokoja.
Recognizing the importance of education in the development of the state, Governor Yahaya Bello brought life into the state educational system. In spite of the prevailing national crisis in the educational sector as of then, the sector in the state witnessed a conducive learning atmosphere. Funds are readily made available to the sector to procure necessary instructional materials and the renovation of physical structures. The Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme has improved access to school. Concerted efforts are been put in place by the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to improve the quality of teaching and schooling. The administration in conjunction with the various local government areas in the state have erected a number of GYB Model Primary Schools that have changed the face of education and add great value to primary education in the state. All levels of education in the state are presently receiving adequate attention especially in the area of infrastructure, staffing, welfare packages and financial support. All tertiary institutions owned by the state are getting necessary financial grants to carry on with their teaching, research and academic work.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello, knowing fully well that knowledge is the best treasure of a state, being a lover of education himself, prepared his blueprint on how to fine-tune the education of Kogi State to a type that will enhance future sustainable growth. It is quite true that no government can achieve its goals without investing in education, Governor Bello allayed himself with the quote of former South African President, Nelson Mandela who said, “…..Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.” Some of his other landmark projects include:- renovation of 120 classroom blocks, facelift of 735 classroom blocks, establishment of 239 GYB Model Primary Schools across the 239 wards of Kogi State, expansion, renovation and building of facilities at all Kogi State tertiary institutions. His administration in less than one year conceived, constructed and commenced studies at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara (CUSTECH) and the recent approval for the establishment of another State-owned university at Kabba
HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
The Gov. Bello administration recorded a remarkable success in the health sector, the rehabilitations of all General Hospitals across the State and the establishment of the Reference Hospital in Okene, the administration equally upgraded the facilities at Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba and the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
In the health sector, the administration of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello continues to live up to the people’s expectation, especially in the area of preventive health care system, procurement of drugs and the recruitment of medical personnel into the state health sector. His government has shown signs of better collaboration with the three tiers of government in the provision of health services to the good people of the state. Due to his administration commitment to healthcare delivery system, free medical and maternal care are being put in place for the pregnant women and children all over the state by the current administration of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The state government under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello has shown appreciable signs of better collaboration of health services. Continued advocacy across the twenty-one local government areas, better household practices, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation have been the key opportunities to improving child health.
To overhaul basic health infrastructure, training of health’s workers and care – givers as well as addressing financial barriers to improve health care system remain top priority in Kogi State. Kogi State has enjoyed the benefits of progressive partnership with the international community and organizations. Since the inception of this administration, counterpart funding towards the effective performance of its externally aided health projects for instance, African Development Bank assisted projects, World Bank Assisted Health Fund project and World Bank Assisted Essential Drugs programme. Some of his landmarks include the following: establishment of Sustainable Drug Supply System (SDSS) technological innovation to monitor and track drug movements and distribution channels, supply and installation of medical equipment at 5 selected Public Hospitals across the three Senatorial Districts, with medical tools, essential drugs and diagnostic apparatus, establishment of a world-class Referral Hospital, Okene with similar facilities in Gegu, Ajaokuta and Isanlu, reactivation of the Confluence Advanced Medical Diagnostic and Imaging Center and the repositioning and facelift to the College of Health and Midwifery, Obangede. His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello has done well because a lot of general hospitals have been built, rehabilitated and equipped with modern health equipment. Many healthcare centers have been constructed, upgraded and equipped in all the Local Government Areas of the state too.
Also, His Excellency has worked assiduously as well took proactive measures to prevent the importation of Covid-19 pandemic to the state via other neighbouring states. He brought in serious public enlightenment and placed the state public health officials on the red alert as well as making radical public health care delivery policies that have helped to stern the disease from Kogi State.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
On road construction and rehabilitation, the administration executed such projects in every nook and cranny of the state to open up the rural areas for improved economic activities. Urban and rural roads constructions are in progress scattered all over the 21 local government areas. Several bridges and culverts have been constructed in different parts of the state, this is to ease transportation. The following completed as well as ongoing projects as testimonials to his good works such as: Ibana-Ikeje-Ette road and Idah-Umomi-Ayingba road in Kogi East, Ponyan-Jege-Ejuku-Ijowa road and Ekinrin-Adde-Ohun-Ife Olukotun road in the West, Idoma road and Mohammed Attah road in the Central, Taiwo road, Lokoja Township road and some portions of Ganaja road in Lokoja have also received attention, Okene Townships roads, Kabba Townships roads, Dekina Townships roads and the Ganaja Junction Fly-over bridge. This is very strategic considering the volume of traffic plying this route which often creates gridlock at rush hours. Noteworthy is the acquisition of Earth Moving Equipment for timely road maintenance interventions by Kogi Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA). His key area for investment for an integrated rural development include rural infrastructure such as water supply, electricity, schools, health care services, irrigation and quality roads. His administration has massively paid attention to Kogi East which was far behind in terms of availability of electricity at the time his regime came on board. The administration initiated the Project Light Up Kogi East (PLUKE), in which over 200 communities from the area are currently benefiting from this laudable initiative. Similar feat has been repeated in parts of Kogi Local Government Area of the state.
FACELIFT FOR LOKOJA
Lokoja, the former colonial headquarters of Nigeria is presently undergoing tremendous changes in term of massive infrastructure, economic growth and human development. Today, Lokoja is the second fastest growing city in Nigeria after Gwagwalada according to a recent survey. This is as a result of the peaceful atmosphere created by the purposeful leadership so far displaced by the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello. The major roads in the state capital are now going through massive rehabilitation. The beautification of the town is on-going. Other areas worthy of mentioning are the rehabilitation of the dual carriageway in Lokoja, provision of street- light as well as the construction of the drainage system along the major roads which has eased the traffic flow in the ancient town. Presently, the Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration has graciously completed the first ever fly-over in Kogi State located in Lokoja in the shortest time possible. This project is meant to ease traffic reticulation in the ancient city and for its beautification. The administration also constructed a new modern and outstanding Governor’s residence and office in Government House (Lugard House) Lokoja. The administration constructed the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja a metropolitan square where several state functions are held. The administration equally built new palaces for the royal fathers across the state which includes the Palace of Ohinoyi of land. The administration also constructed a new office complex for the state newspaper, The Graphic. Today, the town is wearing all the paraphernalia that could be found in most state capitals in Nigeria.
Let me pontificate clearly here and backed with findings across Kogi State that His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello has embarked on several multi- billion Naira projects that are on-going now, targeted at improving the socio- economic life of the people of the state. All these projects are currently at various stages of completion.
His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello will continue to occupy a special place of honour in the Kogite pantheon of heroes for his unifying largeness, genuineness of his vision and his massive infrastructural developments throughout Kogi State.
As the out-going executive governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has exhibited in office his trademark of finesse and effectiveness and he will be leaving the office with indelible marks on the execution of public policy and programmes. At the end of the call to duty in January 27th, 2024 the people of the State will pay him glowing tributes, describing him as a man of exceptional competence, and so on and so forth. Those communities that have benefitted from the various infrastructural projects will doff their hats for him for his contributions to humanity and celebrate his benevolence and humility. This is the measure of a man who sees ultimate victory in the emancipation of his people and the triumph of development over underdevelopment. His life is therefore, most inspiring to the younger generation of Kogites; instructive to those praying for a brighter future and food-for-thought for all.
In the spirit of consolidation and continuity of good works of the administration, there is a general appeal for support for consolidation and continuity of good policies and programmes of the Bello’s administration.
Whatever anyone may feel towards His Excellency, no one is likely to accuse him of lack of competence or enthusiasm towards the task of providing infrastructural development to his State of his birth. If anything, his critics are more likely to charge him for being too workaholic and committed to national reconstruction through his good policies. His patriotism and enthusiasm are never in doubt.
The sweet story of Governor Yahaya Bello depicts a life full of service to mankind.
Written by:
Felix Udebu
08065335338
Ultra Modern Okene Roundabout to Ihima-Agasa Road
The Kogi State Revenue Board Headquarters constructed by the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello
Overhead Bridge, Ganaja Junction, Lokoja
GYB Modern School, Adankolo, Lokoja
Reference Hospital, Okene
Muhammadu Buhari Square¸ Lokoja