The second page of Sunday, November 13, 2016 edition of The Nation newspapers would not be strange to the contemporary students of political propaganda. But more importantly, it shows a desperate need to disparage every institution that is against the interest which the newspapers was established to protect.
When the torch promotes darkness, hopes scamper for redemption. Barometer became blindfolded by an ignoble desperation to fault anyone or institution that is perceived to be against the interest of politicians who are fighting frenetically to keep the abnormalities of political godfatherism in place.
Top of the page was a group of people who were protesting alleged attempt to rubbish Jagaban within APC. The quality of the T-Shirts worn showed how rich the project was. I leave that to the media managers of the party to handle.
Below the pictures of the protest was a tacit attempt to malign the person and office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, painting a false scenario of hopelessness and lack of direction, electoral fraud and sundry other allegations.
And at the bottom was a piece titled: “Yahaya Bello as Scarlet Pimpernel”. In this piece, the writer laboured in vein to blacken the integrity and capacity of the Governor to pilot the affairs of Kogi State. In the process, attempts were also made to tarnish the image of the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
What all of these point to is the osmotic vengeance on the system. The resistance of the national leadership of the party to declare Abiodun Faleke as the man to replace the late Prince Abubakar Audu as APC Candidate in the supplementary election has sparked torrent of attacks on the Presidency, party hierarchy and the Kogi State Government.
As democrats, loyalists of Faleke and his sponsors should have accepted the rulings of all the tribunals, up to the Supreme Court where it was affirmed that Governor Yahaya Bello was the rightful replacement for the late Prince Abubakar Audu. There cannot be democracy without the rule of law.
The fact that Lugard House would not be “remote controlled” from a street in Lagos is victory for the people of the State. As the Confluence of Excellence, Kogi has proven that it is capable of resisting external influence and unbridled desperation for power.
Barometer aligned itself with the rumours that were hyped and paid for by sinking political foams who thought rumours of death could actually kill. It also told a blind lie that the media managers of the Governor did not disclose whether he handed over power to his Deputy before embarking on a trip abroad. All of these have been proved wrong by the facts presented to the public by the Governor’s team.
Governor Yahaya Bello is a classic example of equality. It is self-evident that all men are created equal. The emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello is a signal of rebellion of the Kogi people against established political forces. The people are tired of career politicians. They want practical leaders who take decisions that favour the people and not a select few of leaders.
The reforms that have been carried out in Kogi State wouldn’t have been possible with a career politician as Governor. The Civil Service Reforms is such a sensitive project. The Staff Verification Exercise has touched many powerful forces in the State but the people will benefit as thousands of ghost workers or unintended beneficiaries would be yanked off the payrolls, thereby saving billions of naira for infrastructural development, job creation, educational renaissance and quality healthcare delivery, among others.
The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Governor to unravel how the State has used its resources in the last thirteen years is another bold step by a courageous leader. Kogi State has not been able to justify the billions that have come into its coffers in the past thirteen years, hence the need to ask questions. Governor Bello is not a proponent of political correctness in policy formulation but making impact on the people.
Also, it is instructive to note the radical departure from the past in the area of making appointments. Kogi State is currently receiving applauds for ensuring equitable distribution of political appointments across the three geo-political zones in the State. Capacity and competence have been the guiding principle in constituting a cabinet loaded with a chemistry of dynamism and experience.
"As we speak, agricultural revolution is going on in the State. Healthcare facilities are receiving a facelift and road projects are going on across the state. The current attack is understandable : The Jagaban Camp in Kogi State needs to start discrediting APC in the State to pave way for a stooge who is coming to contest for the governorship on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy in 2019. The Governor is not interested in politicking yet. It is time to justify his mandate by delivering democracy dividends to the people of Kogi State".
The little delay in the payment of salaries was as a result of the need to wait for the final report of the Staff Verification Committee which is almost ready. As soon as it is ready, the State will boast of a reliable and credible database for the civil service.
Unlike the political enclave of the sinking Lord will want the world to believe, Kogi State is in safe hands. With the New Direction Blueprint, the future is bright. The administration of Alh Yahaya Bello is repositioning the State for excellence and service to the good people of the State. Painting a gory picture of situation cannot in any way affect the solid foundation Bello is putting in place.
The last paragraph of the piece by The Nation calls for worry. It is a direct threat to the life of the Governor of Kogi State which is unacceptable. The Nation feels Governor Yahaya Bello couldn’t be impeached neither would he resign. And the paper strongly feels he shouldn’t see out his tenure. What then is the plan of The Nation and its embittered sponsors?
This bravado display of bitterness and crude hooliganism in the grand plan to stop the Governor at all cost, for no just cause, may cost The Nation and its sponsors the little integrity left in their kitties. We hereby alert the people of Nigeria and security agencies to the path which opponents of the Governor who pilot The Nation have decided to tow.
Governor Yahaya Bello will never be intimidated by any force who think they could control Kogi State from Lagos.
Statesmen build a nation, they do not tear it apart just because they don’t have their way. No man has the legitimacy to impose Governors and Kogi State will prove a positive example of greatness in the next three years.
Nigeria will rise above her current challenges to be great again under our President, Muhammadu Buhari. APC will survive the current “remove-the-pillars-syndrome” to lead our nation for many years to come. Kogi State is right on the path to greatness, to the consternation and disappointment of people who never gave the People’s Governor a chance.
No man is greater than our dear nation.
Kingsley Fanwo is the Director General Media and Publicity, Office of the Kogi State Governor
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