Recently, the Student Union Government (SUG) of the prestigious Federal Polytechnic, Idah, in Kogi State honoured one of their own, Austin Usman Okai. It was a homecoming for Comrade Okai who has been in the eye of the storm since the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under governor Yahaya Bello, took it upon itself to rule Kogi State with an iron fist.
Comrade Usman Okai Austin and SUG President Of Federal Polytechnic, Idah during the presentation of the award
I have always been of the opinion that recognition would come but after hard work. Okai has been consistent in tackling bad governance, enthronement of thuggery, poverty and misery in Kogi State, occasioned by the lack of direction in his home state of Kogi and Nigeria at large.
For those who may not know, Austin has paid tremendous dues in the interest of Kogi state. He has been harassed , beaten, locked up and dragged to court on countless occasions. On one occasion in 2019, rumours started flying around social media that he was dead in jail. Being a long time friend, I put a call through to one of his own friends and a personal acquaintance, Elvis, who confirmed that he went to see Austin in detention. They were together at the time of the phone call.
Such is one of the stories of times when your heart skipped one or two beats on hearing how the man narrowly escaped death by the whiskers.
The Kogi State political terrain is quite primitive. It is thoroughly vindictive, ravenous and sinister. The governors are emperors but emperor Bello is outstanding. He brooks no opposition, criticism, dissenting opinion or anything that is not to make him look mighty. He has caged the media, the youths have all become ‘honourables’ waiting for handouts from the government and are largely jobless. The major occupations for youths in Kogi now are hypocrisy, sycophancy, praise singing and thuggery.
Youths are ready to burn down their own village if the emperor says so. That is the plight of Kogi state at the moment. Your heart is in your mouth as you travel to your own home town. During the build up to the 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, a youth leader threatenedthose returning home to vote to either come home for Bello or forget about the journey. I was horrified that people could stoop to such a low in their bid to please their master.
It is against such an anarchic system that weaponizes poverty, mediocrity, brigandage and littleness that Austin stood. Unlike the other unstable comrades whose rudder is directed by stomach infrastructure, he has stood his grounds, insisting by words or actions that it is either good governance or not. To the able comrade, it is there is no midpoint in these things. He always said to me that sitting on the fence is cowardice. It is betrayal.
Usman Okai Austin and the Students Union Government leaders of the FPI
True to his nature, he has remained on the side of the people.Like Dr Martin Luther, he always has a dream for a better Nigeria. But to have a better Nigeria begins from a better Kogi State where youths are not loitering and wasting away, where youths are not lining the roads chanting ‘Up chair!’ while the governor throws money from an opened roof of his car.
I believe this is one of the many awards to come. It is also to set the pace for the youths that hard work, honesty, consistency and truth bring recognition and reward at the end. The people, whose interests you defend , are watching and they would speak at the right time.
It is on this note that I say a mighty congratulations for an award well deserved to Comrade Austin Okai.
Alex Agbo
Writer, columnist and researcher is based in Lagos.