Politician of the Year: Yahaya Bello’s Modern Ideologies A Threat to Post-Independence Politicians and Why They Want Him Out »

We have all followed the activities of Nigeria’s youngest Governor with keen interest and not surprised that on 16th August, 2022 he bagged the Blueprint Award which decorated him as the country’s Politician of the Year. To me, this is a deserving award.

While I congratulate His Excellency Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, for adding this colorful feather to his chains of achievements, I will also be using this opportunity to spell out some facts on why Nigeria Post-Independence Politicians are finding it difficult to dance to a new beat.

Nigeria before the introduction of the modern day politics introduce by the likes of Governor Bello, and some innovative youthful politicians who against all odds challenged the status quo and existing dogmas of politicking. An approach synonymous to post-independence era politicians who managed or successfully were able to hold on to power even till this present digital age.

On October 1st 1960, Nigeria got her independence and was supposed to begin operations as a democratic nation. It was so, for some time being. But then Democracy gradually began to degenerate into Authoritarianism and totalitarianism; as sometimes in between our democratic years we experienced military takeovers. In 1999 democracy was restored. But as not well experienced enough politicians began to learn the act of politicking and particularly the game of politics, our democracy as a nation gradually disintegrate into oligarchy; as most countries in the world who claimed to be practicing democracy, are really oligarchies. A situation whereby power successfully remained with a small elite group not willing to let go. This has been the case of Nigeria since 1999.

Governor Yahaya Bello: a novice, young and politically naive (as thought by many), became Governor at 40. A position that automatically qualifies him as one of the country’s determinants.

Also in his political party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor Bello over the years has demonstrated an unquestionable team player traits; holding fronts for the Party, and making himself readily available for service when called upon. No wonder the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan described his as the Sarki Yaki of APC.

In Kogi State where he is saddled with the responsibility of a Chief Executive, as the Executive Governor, Yahaya Bello brought to the doorsteps of every kogi indigene, dividends of democracy. This he achieved through the provisions of amenities such as road constructions, construction of modern hospitals in the state’s senatorial districts, and revamping of the state educational sectors and establishment of new tertiary institutions, amongst numerous laudable projects too numerous to mention, all in the archive of His Excellency.

This is why Yahaya Bello is different. A young politician labeled as naive, inexperienced, and clueless in 2016 now the pride of the country’s democracy.
The oligarchy leaders as defined above, identified these attributes of Governor Yahaya Bello and possibly were threatened to some point. This is a norm rivalry between analog and digital innovators.

Nigeria being blessed with a youthful demography, made the activities of Yahaya Bello more pronounced; as he represents a leader of our generation. A reality the Post-Independence Politicians sees as threat due to their short time span in the corridors of power due to age, and other natural variables.

Yahaya Bello’s only offense is his effrontery for trying to challenge the long existing small group of elites stylishly running our democracy in disguise as oligarchy, making political participation nearly impossible without playing according to their scripts. For this I beg to reaffirm my initial stand that Yahaya Bello is different. He did not only broke into the territory of this small group of elites, but also attempted to take what they believed to be rightfully theirs. Presidency? Well, your thought is as good as mine.

How then can we not agree that Yahaya Bello is the Nigeria Politician of the Year?

Congratulations Your Excellency, for this historic award.

Kelvin Oluseyi Eleta,
Writes from Abuja.
17th August, 2022.