Opinion : Just Before the Kogi Fifth Executive Governor's Inauguration Blues
After all is said and done, the desperate and unguided vulnerable mindset will tell you that “ win na win”. My worry however is that for how long shall we continue with this anomaly and get our democracy in motion? There is a system collapse every where. No evidence of good governance and responsible leadership. To say the least, there is no prospect in sight with group of greedy charlatans in the corridor of power seeking immediate gratification and stomach infrastructure.
I wish the government and its leadership is aware that there is more to governance then election especially in the wake of political armbushment and the disenfranchisement of the electorate otherwise known as rape of democracy.
There should also know that the last Gubernatorial election in Kogi State will go down in the annals of our political history as the worst election in Nigeria. “no bi mi talk am o” (Nigeria Pidgin English) ( see reports of both local and international observers as well as key election monitoring groups).
We will not pretend that this administration brought the worst of experiences to the work force of the state both at the state and local government level. Most of our institutions and ministries became shadow of themselves. This is because of lack of attention and maintenance. Our primary and secondary schools including hospitals were neglected.
There was mass exodus of doctors from hospitals and lecturers in our higher institutions of learning. This is because of either poor remuneration or lack of payment of salaries and other entitlements.
We had one of the worst of Staff Verification Exercise ( screening) in the history of Kogi State. Yet our wage bill kept soaring higher unabated.
Kogi State is no doubt in a bad shape and in the least of state without enviable development index. In fact , in most cases, we are st the button of every good things that pertain to good government, development and responsible leadership. Like I have always said , “everything starts and end with leadership”.
Today , the world and Nigerian are celebrating the likes of Governor Zullum and Mankinde or Borno and Oyo State respectively. This is because of their outstanding leadership qualities. It did not just happened over night. The choice of their team matters a lot.
Unlike Kogi State where appointment were made on reward approach leaving experience and competence out ... they carefully choose their appointment to fit their dream and desire for excellence ... In fact , you cannot give what you don’t have.
We had too many incompetent hands and inexperienced juvenile in the government, hence the pettiness, frivolity and mediocrity. Most of the administrators though illegal were incompetent and moribund in the discharge of their duties making them directionless.
At the state level , those that should show leadership became unnecessary and over bearably ambitious and power drunk thereby engaging in trivial fights that guloed the tax payers money.
We are a living witnesses of the testimonies of Governor Zullum as given by his predecessor Senator Shetima. This is referral approach to leadership and it has proven overtime as a good approach unlike the reward system that is practiced here in Kogi State.
If Kogi must work again, many sycophant and bootlickers must not find their ways into this government. They are the major problems of the government. Because they hide their incompetence in undue adulation and praise singing.
We have been embarrassed and disgruntly disgraced beyond recovery in the previous tenure of four years and we man not tolerate mediocrity any more.
-Team MacDave
Good Governance Advocacy Group, Lokoja Branch
