The death on November 22 of Abubakar Audu, who was until then the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may have been a blessing in disguise. It has opened a new chapter for the people of the state.
It has been described as a hand of fate that changed the political equation in a state created on August 27, 1991from parts of Benue State and Kwara States.
Since the creation of the state, all the three duly elected civilian governors( Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada) had come from Igala, a major ethnic group that had dominated the two others- Ebira, and Okun (aYoruba Group).
It is believed that had Audu won the election and was alive to preside over the state again, power shift in the near future would have been a mirage.
As soon as the announcement was made by Emmanuel Kucha, INEC’s returning officer, declaring Bello as the governor-elect of Kogi, the atmosphere became electric in Okene, as indigenes took over the streets.
As soon as the announcement was made by Emmanuel Kucha, INEC’s returning officer, declaring Bello as the governor-elect of Kogi, the atmosphere became electric in Okene, as indigenes took over the streets.
Bello scored 247, 752 votes, while Idris Wada of PDP got 204, 877 votes. Some of the jubilant said they were excited that one of them had finally emerged as the governor of the state.
Isa Mohammed, a barber was quoted to have said that he was happy that the power rotation they had long agitated for had come to them on a platter of gold.
Isa Mohammed, a barber was quoted to have said that he was happy that the power rotation they had long agitated for had come to them on a platter of gold.
“It is a divine arrangement and an act of God that it happened at this point in time. We are grateful to God for making this shift of power possible and for considering the Ebira,” Mohammed said.
Ibrahim Jimoh, also said that the emergence of Bello had brought liberation to the “marginalised’’ tribes in the state.
BussinessDay reliably gathered that although nobody can ordinarily roll out the drums to celebrate Audu’s death, the people of Ebira may have seen what transpired in the state as a clear divine deliverance, akin to the miraculous deliverance of the Biblical Israelites from the hands of Egyptian servitude.
Over the years, the people of Ebira had mounted campaign for power shift; the more they tried, the more they lost hope. This is because, in a normal contest without conscious agreement to cede power to Ebira, the ethnic group cannot taste it because of what observers described as their inability to match Igala’s level of connections in political circles and financial endowments.
The sudden divine and miraculous deliverance as it were, was responsible for the gush of ecstasy that greeted the pronouncement, last Monday, of Yahaya Bello as the winner of the election by the INEC.
The sudden divine and miraculous deliverance as it were, was responsible for the gush of ecstasy that greeted the pronouncement, last Monday, of Yahaya Bello as the winner of the election by the INEC.
Bello, popularly known as ‘Fair Plus’ by his admirers owing to the success of his powerful business brand, was born in a sleepy community of Agassa in Okene Kogi State to the family of Bello Ipemida Ochi and Hajia Hawa Bello Oziohu. He is the last of six children.
When he is sworn in on January 27, 2016, Yahaya Bello will make history as the youngest governor ever in Nigeria. He turned 40 last June.
He started his early education in 1984 at LGEA Primary School, Agassa In Okene LGA. The greatness in him started manifesting early in his life when he was made the class prefect from primary two, the position he held till he was made the school Head Boy in class six due to the leadership qualities identified in him by his peers and teachers.
In 1989 he enrolled for College at Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene. His quest for qualitative education saw him changing schools five times until he finally settled for Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State.
In 1989 he enrolled for College at Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene. His quest for qualitative education saw him changing schools five times until he finally settled for Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State.
After his secondary education in Suleija, the young Bello headed for his higher education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he studied Accountancy.
Out of ABU, Bello was lucky to do his mandatory one year national service and got retained at the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission.
Out of ABU, Bello was lucky to do his mandatory one year national service and got retained at the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission.
With his brilliance and self development through various professional trainings, Bello excelled at the commission and rose to enviable heights.
When he went into business, he rose from one bus to build one of Nigeria’s most successful transport businesses. Fair Plus Transport started with an 18-seater bus, said to have been procured through a bank loan. But within a short period of time, the funding bank discovered Bello was a great manager of resources and someone who it could bank on.
When he went into business, he rose from one bus to build one of Nigeria’s most successful transport businesses. Fair Plus Transport started with an 18-seater bus, said to have been procured through a bank loan. But within a short period of time, the funding bank discovered Bello was a great manager of resources and someone who it could bank on.
With the introduction of modern business management into the business, Fair Plus rose to become a giant in the industry.
But what strikes quite a number of people about him is his humility despite his business success.
But what strikes quite a number of people about him is his humility despite his business success.
A positive thinker, Bello never lost hope that it is doable. He never bought into voices of pessimism. He believed it was time to rescue the state from gloom.
He believed the redemption of Kogi lies in his generation.
He believed the redemption of Kogi lies in his generation.
He injected innovations into politics. For instance, prior to the August 29 primaries, he assembled his Ward and Local Government Coordinators to enlighten them about his dreams for Kogi State.
He charged the coordinators to be fearless and approach their task with all sense of responsibility.
“The future of Kogi lies on your shoulders. You now have a golden opportunity to reject a failed status quo and join me to build a new Kogi that will be capable of meeting the needs of its people”, he said.
“The future of Kogi lies on your shoulders. You now have a golden opportunity to reject a failed status quo and join me to build a new Kogi that will be capable of meeting the needs of its people”, he said.
“As you are aware, Kogi is not for sale. As your governor, I will give you jobs, put your roads in shape, revamp your education and healthcare and empower you to empower others,” he assured.
This practice is quite alien to the politics of the state where the highest bidders always win. Coming second in the contest, he was the first to rise up to congratulate the late Audu in the magnificent Confluence Stadium, venue of the primaries.
This practice is quite alien to the politics of the state where the highest bidders always win. Coming second in the contest, he was the first to rise up to congratulate the late Audu in the magnificent Confluence Stadium, venue of the primaries.
While hugging the late Audu, the former governor made a statement that was prophetic: “Don’t worry ‘Fair Plus’, I am handing over to you in 2019”.
Sadly, the Ogbonicha political General didn’t wait till 2019 to hand over to his beloved political son. He left the stage like a big masquerade when the ovation was loudest, leaving the stage for Bello to continue the struggle. What a dramatic turn of events!
Sadly, the Ogbonicha political General didn’t wait till 2019 to hand over to his beloved political son. He left the stage like a big masquerade when the ovation was loudest, leaving the stage for Bello to continue the struggle. What a dramatic turn of events!
James Faleke, whose status is unknown in the ensuing drama (as he is in the court challenging his substitution by the APC and seeking to be declared the duly elected governor) at the time of going to press, hails from Okun, aYoruba-speaking part of the state.
Zebulon Agomuo
