BY AKONI FEYISAYO
In the early days of Alh. Yahaya Bello Administration in Kogi State, I followed an event with keen interest. I wanted to see how he would deal with the terrorists ravaging his Kogi Central enclave before the advent of his administration.
There were terrorists cells in Okene, his hometown and they were even in control of a mosque. They killed and maimed and no one dared the devilish sect.
So as an investigative journalist, I wanted to see how he would handle the danger. Was he going to toe the lane of his predecessors who were afraid of tackling criminal gangs or was he going to act differently and decisively.
He immediately zeroed in and started from his home front. He led from the front to destroy the abodes of the criminals, pulling down structures housing them. Multi-million naira structures erected with blood were brought to the ground.
And his people and even the criminals immediately knew there was a new Sheriff in town. The signals reverberated through the entire Kogi landscape and it became clear that a sure battle was going to rage as Kogi was already a notorious hot pot for cooking dangerous crimes.
Through a robust synergy between his Operation Total Freedom comprising of operatives from the Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence Corp and other security outfits including Vigilante Service and local hunters, dangerous extremism was dealt with in Kogi Central.
In Kogi East, I heard of a notorious criminal kingpin that was dreaded by everyone, including the Government. GYB coordinated security operatives to deal with the criminal. He never believed he could be defeated. Many of his types in Kogi East were rooted out with decisiveness.
He dealt with criminals without asking questions about their origin. He dealt with religious extremists and other criminal elements. To him, a crime is a crime and must be dealt with regardless of who is involved.
This is the leadership needed to fix Nigeria. This is the spirit we need to make Nigeria work.
I have taken my time to study Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. In my characteristic manner, I usually choose to discuss ideologies over personality. But I am not ignorant of the fact that there is a personality behind every ideology.
From his Civil Service Reforms to his security policies; Yahaya Bello has proven that what separates good leaders from bad leaders is the ability of the former to act in the spirit of State interest. Leaders who do what is necessary may not be immediately popular because people may find what is wrong immediately convenient.
We all witnessed the crisis and violence which engulfed the Lagos State Local Government Poll. It was bloody and violent, despite surreptitious efforts by the politicians to hide the bloody aspect of the election. Kogi held the same election and it was violent free.
Have we investigated how Kogi did it?
By location, no one would have expected Kogi to be so low on crime rate. It shares border with about ten states, including the nation’s seat of power. Virtually all her neighboring states are battling with serious security challenges. How is Kogi different?
Nigeria can be right if we have great leaders taking decisions for the common good. Security must not be politicized. We must act in unity to end terrorism and criminality. Criminals get more audacious when they enjoy State cover. They know it is over when the State choose to deploy its arbitrary powers to ensure peace and security.
Nigeria can’t tolerate insecurity further.
This Bello !
Akoni Feyisayo is an ace columnist and he writes from Oke Agbe Area, Akure, Ondo State.
