The governorship election in Kogi state slated for next month 16 November, People Democratic Party PDP is more favour to win the election based on the situation on ground in the state.
Currently All Progressives Congress APC is the ruling party in the State under the leadership of Gov. Yahaya Bello who hails from the central senatorial district.
Since APC took over the state it has been one problem to another. There was never a day that passed without Kogi being on the news including the assumption of office by Gov. Yahaya Bello which many believes was a complete miscarriage of just against the people over the sudden death of its flag bearer, late Prince Abubakar Audu.
But as the state prepare for next month election, the major issues against Gov. Yahaya Bello of the APC is his lacklustre performance, lack of salary payment, absence of governance.
In the last three and half years of Gov. Bello’s administration, he has no major achievement on ground to show across the state including his home town Okene. In fact the road between Lokoja the state capital and Okene is one of the most deplorable road in the state at the moment compare to his predecessors who did one groundbreaking projects to the other. Late Prince Audu built the state university, commissioners quarters and many others. Former governor Ibrahim Idris built the ever busy specialist Hospital, Greater lokoja water and constructed many roads across the state while former Gov. Wada Built diagnostic centre, International Terminus Motor Park, constructed many roads within the state capital and across the state just within one single term. But the present administration is yet to commission a single project despite huge sum of money that accrued to the state in the last three years included Paris club refund and 50 billion bailout fund.
Today, Gov. Yahaya Bello have the worst case of salary issue in the country. At a point he was owing the LG workers in the state over 38 months and only 3 months out of it was paid after the released of 30 billion naira July this year. Presently too, the state civil servants are being owed over 6-8 months, this categories of workers were those who went through the lingering screening exercise without end but later cleared without payment backup.
In the last three years, the state hasn’t got a clear direction as to where the state is heading to. Gov. Yahaya Bello’s cabinet remain the poorest State executive in the country.
Appointment were giving on the basis of friendship with total disregard to merits, qualifications and experience. All this have contributed to the state retard ness in the last 3 years.
And in next month election all these will come to the front burner.
Already, Gov. Bello is the most unpopular governor in the history of the state who needs more than anything to win the next month election
The Eastern senatorial district is already luck down by the PDP even though it’s flag bearer hails from there. So also the Western district where the PDP deputy comes from.
Some government officials hinted that if they are to go by normal election, APC does not stand any chance of win 5 LGAs in November.
A respected retired general in the state didn’t hide his disappointment over Pres. Buhari continue silence on the misrule in Kogi state by his party and favourite son. The general said any attempt to denied the people of their God giving right to change the situation it will be met with stiff opposition.
Also many observers believes that Gov. Bello is one of the many Pres. Buhari mess in the country.
As it is today, and many feelers across the state, it’s going to be an herculean task for the ruling party to return in Kogi in the next month election. PDP democratic may likely return to power in the state next year.
Simon Gbenga Bolaji,
Public Affairs Analyst
Written From Lokoja