Kogi: Paradox of Mediocrity amidst Excellence BY, Daniel Akuh Ogah

My Kogi is in serious dilemma right now. What a pity! The governorship election come 21st November, 2015 seems to now be a contest between Wada and Audu. What a situation! Our case is now apparently that of being between the devil and the deep blue sea.

It would be recalled that in 1999, Prince Abubakar Audu became Governor as a fall out of the fact that late Dr Steven Makoji Achema- the best governor Kogi never had- for a strategic reason lost the chance to represent his party,the PDP in the governorship election at that time. As such, the prince was favoured in that election being left with no formidable threat. Unfortunately, on becoming governor, he became a tin god and unreachable, polarized the state on ethnic, religious line, dehumanized his people, left the state in high debt.
Even the main achievement created to his administration, the Kogi State University was dubiously managed and left in shambles before his being butted out via the ballot box in 2003.
What is more, he was corrupt -ridden and his case with the EFCC is still on in a judicial ''go-slow'' country. Thereafter, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris was drag onto the scene as a desperate move to oust the Emperor of Kogi State, as Prince Audu was then known and called. Today, the fact that the achievements of IBRO's government is still being debated as to whether or not it measured up to that of the disconcerted and disowned Audu's administration, goes to show the gross inadequacy of even his own stint with the state as its governor.
And with Ibro's exit, here we are with a Wada in Lugard House at the confluence, seeking a re-election. He has steered the affairs of the state for the past four years leaving much to be desired.Observations and feelers from many quarters revealed that he has not fared any better, but, rather,has gone down in the unimpressive tradition of his predecessors of which Prince Audu obviously layed the foundation.

So I am deeply pained for us kogites. For the umpteenth time, we are faced with a poor choice, and as always, of making do with selecting either a ''Wada'' or an ''Audu".
Yet, this is repeatedly occurring in a state, which immodestly speaking, parades some of the most intelligent, active and highly calibered people in the country. needless to say, that a visit to our universities and workplaces is unneeded to attest to the eloquent testimony that a KOGITE connotes a person of great mind and stature, as even an ordinary streetwise encounter will suffice.

So, how is it that our dear state has achieved notoriety for flaunting mediocres as leaders, when the state itself is an embodiment of a culture of excellent individuals? The truth of the matter is that we have for long allowed the entrapment of ethnicity and god-fatherism, as well as permitted the overbearing power of money and brigandage to dominate our political sphere, rather than celebrate good pedigree, intellectualism and visionariness in politics.

Thus, individuals with progressive and transformational leadership mindset have been nefariously intimidated, cornered or ultimately pushed over the cliff.

But this shameful condition ought to have reached us by the neck by now. And so all progress- loving kogites must rise up and see our state for what it is, a big sham in the face of vast potentialities. As such, we must say NO to the nightmarish past and discontinue the woeful present to ensure a prosperous future kogi, where everyone's happiness is sure and maximized.