Yahaya Bello, the travails of a wasted political patrionage

It is no longer news that the the youngest governor in Nigeria today, the governor of Kogi state, His excellency Gov Yahaya Bello is swimming in the most murky political waters of his career or dancing a dance that a superstitious African man will unashamedly refer to as SURUGEDE. The elections in his state is scheduled for November and Yahaya Bellow is engaged in an unforeseen political fight from right within his party, The all progressives congress (APC). Many of the influential decision makers in the party including its national leader, Asiwaju Tinubu are said to have vowed that Yahaya Bello, the 'unelected' governor of Kogi will never be handed the ticket of the ruling party for what they described as a woeful performance.

It was in Chinue Achebe's world record book (THINGS FALL APART) that an elder warned Okonkwo who was becoming too boisterous and disrespectful that 'if a benevolent spirit cracks a palm-karnel for anybody, he or she should not forget to be humble'. Bello most have been loathsome of books not to have red this most celebrated book. He would have behaved differently.

The above is the very case that is about bringing a supposedly thriving political career to a shameful and abrupt end. Bello forgot his roots. He never looked back to his humble beginning. He forgot one very important fact, that he inherited the mandate of an enigma, a leader per excellence who the people adore and dread like a god, he forgot the glaring unconstitutionality in his emergence. He forgot that his party would demand prudence and quality governance from him just like the people would do. He forgot that workers too needs salaries. How do they cope with 22 months unpaid salary? he forgot that the youths who are buoyed by the emergence of a 42 year old as governor would demand excellent performance to prove their abilities and further challenge their non inclusion in Nigeria's mainstream politics. He forgot that to whom much is given much is expected of.

My elders would have reminded him now that he whom the gods want to kill they first make mad if he were from my ancient traditional village. Bello in a clear case of a recalcitrant animal being led to the slaughter became a law onto himself. He ruled Kogi with the kind of tyrannic fists that Pinochet would be scared today to wield against the soviet union. He singlehandedly banned ASUU, a respected organization from Kogi state university, as if that was not enough, he went on to build a mansion that stands tall in the midst of very lowly houses belonging to his poverty-stricken Okene kinsmen. His spending spree and extravagance can only draw us back to the very gory and ignoble days of Jean Bodden Bokassa who spent hundreds of millions of dollars in a ceremony to install himself as the life president of Central African Republic in the 1970-80s. He even in a despotic move to control all levels and tiers of government moved against the judiciary. He forgot he is from a minority tribe and that only good governance and extraordinary performance would endear him to the people. Now that money and thuggery has become far-fetched, what next?

the tears Bello shed on national tiv during his inauguration as the governor of Kogi and his recent behaviour are in conspicuous contrast and it goes a long way to telling the stories and personalities of Nigerian politicians. It is a locus classics of their lies, deception and irresponsibility.

he built people's hopes for a let down and brought Kogi state to a pariah region. We thank APC should for not reinforcing failure. Like the story of Olawele's God's are not to blame, he brought this Waterloo upon himself by wasting the unsual political patronage he got on a platter of gold.