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While growing up, it was certain that Governor Yahaya Bello had good dreams and great plans for the future.
The future later came and the Okene, Kogi Central-born Bello became the fourth democratically elected governor of the state in 2015 and was sworn-in on January 27, 2016.
This was after Bello had achieved excellence as a student in all the schools he attended, and in all the places where he worked as an accountant before venturing into business.
Governor Yahaya Bello’s rise to stardom as the fourth executive governor of Kogi State, no doubt, was an answered prayer for the people of Kogi State.
The people of the state since its creation about 32 years ago had always wished to have a unifier who would break the walls of division in the state. They had yearned for a patriotic leader who would place the interest of the state above any personal interest or gains.
An opinion poll conducted by The Point showed that 60 per cent of the respondents judged Governor Bello as the best governor of Kogi since its creation.
His becoming a Governor at a very youthful age and the circumstances surrounding his emergence is no longer news.
The candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the 2015 governorship election, Prince Abubakar Audu, had passed on suddenly on the eve of declaration.
Consequently, the legal and political fireworks that ensued thrust the mantle of leadership of the state on Governor Yahaya Bello.
“The youthful governor began with total departure from the existing order of running government affairs by enunciating five thematic areas in his administration’s blueprint, which he pursued vigorously to develop the state during his eight years.”
On assumption of office, he hit the ground running with his New Direction mantra, having known the enormous challenges ahead of him.
The youthful governor began with total departure from the existing order of running government affairs by enunciating five thematic areas in his administration’s blueprint, which he pursued vigorously to develop the state during his eight years.
Health sector
His landmark achievements in the area of health, especially the establishment of a world class Reference Hospital in Okene, the headquarters of Central Senatorial District, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, endeared him to many stakeholders and even the naysayers who had, before then, never seen anything good in his administration.
The 300-bed capacity hospital, which has been completed and now operational has commenced services to humanity, with medical practitioners from across the country raining commendations on the Kogi Governor after their first-hand experiences at the hospital.
As of today, renal and coronary disorders for which some people travel abroad can now be accurately investigated and treated at the hospital. The medical facility, which would also serve as a teaching hospital for medical students, has, to a greater extent, reversed the trend of medical tourism within the North Central states.
Despite his lone voice on the issue of the Covid-19 pandemic between 2019 and 2021, Governor Bello paid attention to medical facilities as the Specialist Hospital in Lokoja, which was established by former Governor Ibrahim Idris, was rehabilitated, upgraded and expanded to serve the health needs of the people. Moreover, his stance on COVID-19 is now being commended by those who had criticised him back then, owing to new facts being churned out across the globe on the insincerity, or otherwise, of theories around the pandemic.
In addition, Governor Bello also constructed, completed and put in use Specialist Hospitals in four other towns, including Gegu Beki in Kogi Local Government; Ajaokuta, Dekina and Isanlu, Yagba East local government areas. This is aside from the Primary Health Centres that were rehabilitated in more than 80 communities.
The governor in the recent past procured and distributed 25 brand new ambulances to several hospitals in the state. Doctors in the state have not stopped singing praises of the Governor as the best they’ve had in terms of health sector development and prompt payment of salaries and allowances.
Education
The administration has also devoted a large chunk of its resources to education in the last eight years. The establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba and the Confluence University of Technology, Osara, has clearly demonstrated the love the governor has for education.
He went further to establish GYB Model Schools across constituencies in the state. The schools are furnished to taste and stocked with state-of-the-art teaching facilities, furniture, tiles, air conditioners, computers and contemporary laboratories.
The flagship of Governor Bello’s achievements in education is the establishment of two new state universities in his second tenure in office.
The first is Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara in Kogi Central which commenced academic work in 2020 and hopefully the first set of the institution would be graduating by February, 2024.
The Kogi State University, Kabba which was established through a bill by the state House of Assembly was given approval by the National University Commission to take-off, having made all the necessary requirements. The KSU Kabba became the third university under the finances of the Kogi State government and matriculated its first set of students a few days ago.
Governor Bello, at different occasions, gave reasons for the establishment of additional universities. The aim, according to him, is to address the challenge of gaining admission into higher institutions by Kogi indigenes and ensuring good education for all, towards the development of the state.
Infrastructural development and transparency
The infrastructural footprints of the Bello administration are not limited to the health and education sectors alone. Under his leadership, Kogi State has recorded substantial achievements in security, roads construction, agriculture, rural electrification, provision of potable water, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, civil service reform and many more. These have earned him awards, both locally and internationally.
His commitment to financial transparency and accountability since he came on board in 2016 has also earned him accolades by the World Bank’s States’ Financial Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability index, where the state was rated top among Nigerian states not once.
It is not out of place to mention that Governor Bello’s success in the governance of the state has been well planned and executed, which gave rise to the enunciation of a 32-Year Development Plan for the state.
The plan, which would span over three decades, will put successive administrations on their toes to further develop the state. This vision, perhaps, motivated the governor to search inward for a successor who would not deviate from his laid out laudable goals, but consolidate on his numerous landmark achievements and programmes.
The story of the emergence of Bello, a multi-talented young man in the prime of his youth as the Governor of Kogi State is an eloquent testimony of a man entrusted by destiny and the unmistaken hand of God to salvage his people and generation at a critical and agonizing moment of the people’s quest for development and true happiness.
Bello has governed Kogi State with wisdom and determination, which has resulted in developments in all ramifications in the state.
He shamed the critics, who thought he had nothing to offer. Not only did he perform, he surpassed the achievements of all his predecessors put together.
Prior to the Presidential Election of February 25, 2023, which produced Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the President of Nigeria, Bello had dared to give the office a trial.
It is on record that Bello ran one of the best campaigns before he later withdrew from the race and threw his weight behind Tinubu.
Bello is a man that pursues any cause he believes in to a logical conclusion. He believed and still believes that the office of the Nigerian President is not exclusive to the people of certain parts of the country and he obtained the nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC to contest for the coveted office.
The Kogi State Governor was able to carry the youths along in his campaign and he had the best media presence before the primary.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja in September last year, Governor Bello said that his only political ambition for now was to help President Bola Tinubu succeed.
He said that he believes all Nigerians would succeed if President Tinubu succeeds.
“I thank God for my successes and achievements as governor of Kogi. I know where I met the state and I am happy for where I have taken the state to,” Bello said.
“Unlike what naysayers, who don’t even know anything about Kogi State might have said, Governor Bello made sure he made the resources of Kogi people work for them.”
A former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, applauded the notable achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello.
Wada made this known on Saturday when he paid a courtesy visit to Bello.
He said his visit was specifically aimed at commending Governor Bello for his sterling stewardship since he assumed office in 2016 and to convey his best wishes for his future endeavours.
He also pledged his full support for the incoming administration in the state.
Governor Bello, while welcoming former Governor Wada to his Zone 4 residence, in Abuja, described him as an exemplary leader and a statesman of progressive qualities.
Also, the Personal Physician to the Kogi State governor, Abdulazeez A. A., has described his principal, Governor Yahaya Bello as a builder of men and a compassionate leader who has made huge investments and allowed everyone to excel in their respective callings.
He made this known in a special message to the state governor as the New Direction government under the leadership of Governor Bello prepares for transition on Saturday.
The medical practitioner thanked the governor for supporting and believing in him and tolerating his weaknesses while he also appreciated his family, wife and children who struggled to cope with his absence most times.
Dr. Azeez also used the medium to thank the Governor for allowing him to grow tremendously in several capacities, noting that it only takes a “builder conscious” leader to fast-track their subordinates’ growth.
A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State chapter, Adeiza Momoh Jimoh, said, “Unlike what naysayers, who don’t even know anything about Kogi State might have said, Governor Bello made sure he made the resources of Kogi people work for them.
“Look around you, all these achievements, no Governor has surpassed his record. Kogites will remain grateful to him.”
Governor Bello has proven that he can walk where others fear and that with strong determination, nothing is difficult to achieve.
