Governor Yahaya Bello – Scorecard of a performer per excellence »

Providence they say knows best, indeed God knows why He enthroned Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello as Governor of Kogi State, He was anointed by God for a purpose to redirect Kogi State on the path of greatness, a paradigm shift from the stale ways of running a corrupt tribalized Government centered around ethnic sentiment.

on assumption of office, He took an unprecedented step by appointing his Chief of Staff from another Senatorial District, in the history of Kogi State politics such detribalized decision has never been taken before. at first, many saw it as a political miscalculation but as time goes on the chief of staff proved to be a perfect fit for the job, he has performed excellently well beyond expectation. unlike in the past, the position of chief of staff was a position that is specially reserved for relatives of the Governors but Governor Yahaya Bello looked beyond tribal sentiment to do otherwise, aside this position the Governor spread several other key appointments across the three senatorial district. interestingly, many who made their way into his cabinet were people he never knew from Adam but because they were recommended to him to be good hands for the job He went ahead to work with them irrespective of their tribal, religion or political affiliation. people who are privilege to have close encounter with him know him as a man who love seeing his people happy, the burning quest about seeing to the needs of all kogites is what he talk about all the time.

On how Kogi state has fared under Yahaya Bello led administration, it is no doubt that the state has been through turbulent economic hurdles in the last three years as a result of over bloated state civil service staff strength, embezzlement of state funds to humongous loans left behind by the past administrations, all these were daunting issues the new direction Government met on ground upon assumption of office, the Governor decided to take a bold step to address these issues by embarking on screening to help weed out ghost workers off the state Government payroll and as well cut down the wage bill so as to enable the state have sufficient funds to cater for infrastructural needs of the citizens who form the largest percentage of the total population.

What Kogi State is experiencing presently in respect to percentage salary payment is not peculiar to kogi state alone, majority of states are struggling to keep up with salary payment. kogi state being a presumed civil servant state have been neglected for long infrastructural wise, this infrastructural deficit is what prompted the Governor to adopt percentage salary payment so as to enable him balance the infrastructural deficit across the state. today Kogi state is gradually been transformed to a world class state. At a time, The State Sanitation Board had once embarked on an indefinite strike as a result of non payment of salaries thereby throwing the entire city into humongous heap of refuse. Of course, this was a contributory factor to the outbreak of cholera epidemics in Lokoja metropolis and its Environs as at then. This was due to the failures and inept leadership of Wada and his cohorts of underperforming aides. As soon as Governor Yahaya Bello assumed Office, he swung into Action and reached an accord with the organized Labor, who immediately called of the strike And later engaged the Service of Geemony And Atimpsuda Cleaning Service Companies to give the State Capital a face lift. Below are lists of other projects executed under GYB led administration.

SCORECARD OF AN EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMER

SECURITY SECTOR

1. CONSTRUCTION OF ARMY FORWARD BASE: One of the commendable feats recorded so far on Security under GYB led Administration is the Construction of an Army forward Base in Okene, Kogi Central in partnership with the Nigerian Army. This was aimed at aiding in the curbing of insecurities in the State with the assistance of the Nigerian Army. This indeed has helped in reducing crime rate in Kogi Central being a soft target zone for Criminal activities in the past. Two more Army base are to be built in other Senatorial Zone of the State in due course.

2. DISTRIBUTION OF OVER 200 OPERATIONAL VEHICLES: One of the many efforts of Governor Yahaya Bello led Administration to curtail insecurities in the State was the inauguration of 100 man joint Security outfit dedicated to fighting kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Cultism and other various crimes in the State and donation of 204 operational patrol vehicles to Security operatives made up of Nigerian Army, Nigerian police force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense corps, Nigerian Customs Service, federal Road Safety Corps, and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency in the State.

3. INAUGURATION OF VIGILANTE GROUP AND FOREST GUARDS: Thousands of Kogi State Youths were beneficiaries of this Employment Scheme aimed at protecting Lives, properties and protecting the forests within Kogi State against uncontrolled Deforestation. Over Two Hundred and fifty motorcycles and Ten Trucks were distributed to the recruited volunteers to aid their movement within their respective place of assignment.

AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

1. Construction of Rice mill factory in Omi.

2. Green House farm in Osara.

2. Cassava Bread Bakery across the State.

3. Purchase of mechanized farming Equipments.

HEALTH SECTOR

1. Construction of Advanced medical Diagnostic and Imaging Center, Lokoja. (CAMDIC)

2. Remodeling and Reequipping of medical Laboratories at the College of Health Sciences and Technology, Idah.

3. Inauguration of Health Care plus Initiative.

4. introduction of Sustainable Drug Supply System.

5. Recruitment of Health personnel under ministry of Health.

6. Re- equipping and upgrade of public Hospitals across the three Senatorial District with state of the art medical equipments, essential Drugs and premium quality Diagnostic Apparatus.

7. Introduction of maternal Newborn and Child Health programme.

8. free medical outreach under Bello Health Intervention Initiative.

9. professional Training of Health Care Officials across the State.

10. free medical and surgical treatment of over fifty thousand patients.

EDUCATION

1. Ongoing GYB model School across 29 Wards of Kogi State.

2. Remodeling of Legacy Schools.

3. Reconstruction of ministry of Education.

4. Construction of Library at Kogi State College of Education and technical studies) Kabba.

5. Construction of Hostel at GSS, Obangede.

INFRASTRUCTURES

1. CONSTRUCTION OF KOGI STATE REVENUE HOUSE: The Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Service has recorded a tremendous progress under Governor Yahaya Bello led Administration, the increase in the internal generated revenue to close to One Billion Naira monthly as against four Hundred million Naira recorded under past regimes was a result of it’s total restructuring for excellent service Delivery. Before the emergence of New Direction Government, the Administrative Block of Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Service wears a stale look, GYB came on board and built a modern multistorey Corporate Headquarters for the Board from scratch within one year into office. Aside the provision of this Conducive Accommodation and other facilities, other factors contributed to the recorded increase in revenue, Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Service was granted a free hand to operate autonomously and employ competent hands to enable it meet its mandate in terms of revenue generation.

2. INSTALLATION OF STREET LIGHTS IN LOKOJA TOWNSHIP : Over One Hundred and fifty modern Street Lights have been installed across Lokoja Township metropolis as one of the steps adopted by the State Government to give he State a new look and as well reduce insecurity in the City most especially at Night. This has also boost the Commercial activities of Road side Business owners within Lokoja and its Environ.

3. RENOVATION OF GLASS HOUSE: The Glass House Office Complex is situated in Kogi State Government House. most of the Government appointees office are located in this Building. Aside it’s stale look begging for urgent attention, it’s Architectural mistake of having only one Toilet for a building that House a large number of people was another thing of concern. The Toilet is usually shared between the Administrative Staffs and the Government appointees. today this Office has been renovated to World Standard courtesy of purposeful leadership of his Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. PURCHASE OF EARTH MOVING MACHINES: it is evident that many Roads in Kogi State was in near shamble before the emergence of New Direction Government. Aside the Goverment’s efforts to employ the Service of Construction Companies to fix some of this Roads across the State. the State Government, in a bid to complement the efforts of the Construction Companies in improving the Quality of Roads in the State considered it imperative to empower the State owned Road maintenance Agency (KOGROMA) to improve their Quality of Service Delivery and enable it embark on Road Construction and Rehabilitation to enhance Rural integration and Development in the State. this machinery is expected to provide an access Road to farmers to enhance the movement of farm produce from Rural to the Urban settlement where the markets abound.

2. Renovation of Governor’s Office Complex, Lokoja.

3. Construction of New SDG Building, Lokoja.

4. New Building for ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs

5. New Ultra modern Clinic Center in Isanlu, kogi West.

6. Construction of Hostel Blocks, Kogi State College of Nursing and midwifery, Obangede

7. Construction of Office Complex for ministry of Transport.

8. Rehabilitation of welcome to Lokojao Army Barracks, Ganaja junction-Nataco junction Road,

Lokoja.

9. Construction of a Swimming pool at Confluence Stadium.

10. Construction of mount patti Road.

11. Remodeling of Kogi Hotels, Lokoja.

12. Construction of 2.7km, Agasa-Ukpogoro Road.

13. Construction of 2.8km, Ebiya Kpatesi Ogigiri Road.

14. Construction of 2km, Obehira Okengwen Obangede Road.

15. Rehabilitation of Idah Ajaka – Umomi Ejule Road.

16. Construction of Oguma Sheria Road Bassa LGA.

17. Construction of Ganaja – OtokitI dual carriage way bye pass Road.

18. Construction of Embankment along Kpata, Kabawa Lokoja.

19. Rehabilitation of Ankpa Township Road.

20. Rehabilitation of Kabba Township Road.

21. Construction of 2 Hostel Blocks for Govt. Girls Unity Secondary School, Oboroke Okehi LGA

22. Rehabilitation of Ibana junction, Ikeje-Ibana Ogugu Ete Road

23. Rehabilitation of Idah Water Works

24. Rehabilitation of Kabba Water Works

25. Rehabilitation of Okene Water Works.

26. Rehabilitation of Ankpa-Abejukolo road

27. Rehabilitation of Shintaku-Dekina road.

28. Abejukolo Electrification project.

29 Construction of Court House at Ganaja, Lokoja.

30. Construction of Ganaja village road Lokoja.

31. Renovation of Kogi State House Assembly Complex.

32. Construction of Ganaja viillage-500 Unit Estate Road

33. Rehabilitation of army Barrack street road, lokoja

34. Electrifcation project in Koto-Karfe.

35. Rural Electrification project in Agassa

36. Rural Electrification project in Ogori

37. Construction of Onyedega Odike Road Ibaji

Despite these obvious bulwarks placed by previous Administrations, Governor Yahaya Bello through the assistance of federal Government with Bailout fund and Paris club refunds as published in National Dailies and on the State Government’s Website recently, has made significant improvement and advancement in the settlement of Salaries and pensions. this among several other reasons is why we love Bello, I implore kogi state citizens on their own part to give GYB more time by voting him for second tenure so as to enable him give the state necessary change the state deserve, there is need to developed the state from a civil servant state to a commercial hub where businesses will be given conducive environment to thrive. Kogi state as a state is too blessed with enormous natural and human resources to remain a civil servant state.

as rightly said by captain Sankara, He said “You cannot carry out fundamental change without certain amount of madness, in this case it comes from non conformity, the courage to turn your back on the old formulas, the courage to invent the future” – captain Thomas sankara Barr Ehimonis