By Dada Ahmed
For the second time in four years, the political climate of kogi state witnessed another significant milestone on January 27,2020 as all road led to the Lugard House, Lokoja; the seat of power of the state for the swearing of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for the second term.
The day therefore marks constitutional mandate bestowed on him to provide leadership for the people of the state for the next four years as their number citizen as well as the chief security Officer of the 29-year-old geo-political entity.
Political pundits believe that with the inauguration of the governor all, eyes are on him and his lieutenants to change the political, economic and social terrain of the state for the better, in consonance with tenent of the principle of enhanced good governance.
Bello, who is re-elected in the Governorship election on November 16, 2019, is the fourth democratically elected governor of the state, the youngest and the first indigene of the central senatorial district of the state to occupy the position of the first citizen of the state.
As the governor stepped out to take his oath of office and that of allegiance at the low key ceremony, political analysts expressed hope that his second coming would address contending issues, with renewed vigour, to ensure the needed vibrant economic policy to put the state on the orbit of realistic social and economic development.
For the state workers, if there is any news they would love to hear from their governor, it is the prompt payment of their which went ebb for almost three years but resumed November last year.
Other areas they tasked the governor include ensuring inclusive governance, social cohesion, result-oriented civil service ,employment and enhance and to ethnic hegemony, the unique philosophy of his administration, among others.
In apparent and swift response to the yearnings and aspirations of the people, Bello assured them of of the avowed determination of his administration to ensure a new Kogi state in many ramifications.
In what has been described as the most cheering news to the state workforce, Bello promised that henceforth, payment of workers’salaries and that of pensioners would be on 25 and 28 respectively month.
Bello, assured the workers of a robust and cordial working relationship with them, adding that prompt payment of their salaries would be sustained and improved upon.
He commended the people for finding him worthy for re-election and assured them that he would intensify efforts in tackling insecurity, corruption in the new year.
The governor also promised to improve infrastructure and other milestone projects that would make life more meaningful for the people.
He said the cardinal goal of his administration was to make the state an emerging giant in agriculture and socio economic development.
Bello, who said he had no reason to fail the people called on them to partner with his administration to provide prosperity for them and open up the frontiers of government to render selfless service.
The governor also promised continued fairness in the distribution of resources and appointment, to continue to make youths and women cardinal objective of his administration.
He said that his administration improved the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N350m to N1.4b, and blocked leakages and corruption.
The governor, who sent the names of commissioner- nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation,promised to remain transparent and accountable in the discharge of his duties to the people.
On information, Bello who said he would upgrade the Bureau of Information Services to a full fledged ministry to give the media sector a pride of place, said his first term administration gave facelift to the state radio, and graphics newspaper.
The Governor,who said agriculture would be given the desired support; to make the state a food hub, said rice, cassava, said the state would in the new tenure build the largest ethanol industry.
On security, Bello promised to reduce communal crises in some parts of the state to enable farmers practise their vocation and make gains.
Bello, the fourth democratically elected governor since the state was carved out of Kwara and Benue states called on the people to join hands with him in building a united and prosperous state.
The National Chairman of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, Governors of Plateau, Ekiti, Edo Ondo, Kebbi among others as well as top government functionaries attended the occasion.
As Kogi state commences another political dispensation, the people expressed optimism that the concept of cordial relationship between the state government and the governed will come to play to ensure the realisation of building the Kogi in consonance with the dream of its founding fathers on August 27,1991.
Political analysts, however, stressed the need for the state government to fulfill its promises to the people.
Ahmed is the Editor-in-Chief of Duaglobal news.com based in Lokoja.
