Kogi 2015: Bello Yahaya is the man with The Blueprint by Alfred Omolewa


The 2015 general election was a watershed in so many ways. One of the most unappreciated difference from past elections was the difficulty many incumbent governors faced in trying to retain power and the emergence of younger leaders and lawmakers at the state and federal levels. Besides the President, very few the age of 65 won any election. It seems the global trend of younger people taking over the mantle of leadership is now amongst us.
The use of social media and modern campaigning techniques coupled with detailed and world class research were also noted features of the last election. In fact, the massive loss experienced by the former ruling party has been attributed to its inability or refusal to embrace the new ways of interacting with voters. The use of the famed Permanent Voters’ Card and the Card Readers also lent a lot of credibility to the process and ensured it was very difficult for election riggers. It would seem that the perceived increased integrity of the election process is now attracting younger technocrats to the political field, where they had always known they could make an impact but stayed away from a process that would tarnish them. Young people are now proud to be called politicians.
One of such young people is the 40-year old aspirant for the gubernatorial seat of Kogi State, Bello Yahaya. The young man is coming into the race to test his mettle against seasoned and battle-tested individuals but he is doing it with no fear. In his party, the All Progressives Congress, are 28 aspirants vying to clinch the right to represent the party against the ruling and failed Peoples Democratic Party. Amongst his fellow contenders is a former governor, a former acting governor, former senators, former speakers of the Kogi House of Assembly and other career politicians. Yet, he exhibits no doubt about his own ability to deliver on his campaign promises nor does he habour any uncertainty about his chances to beat all his elders at this game. A Young Turk in the proper sense is what Yahaya is!
The qualities that make Yahaya ready to lead his most-maligned state to excellence are numerable. From as early as Class Two, he has had responsibilities thrown on his shoulders and had always carried them out satisfactorily. He was chosen to be the Class Prefect, a position he held until Class Six when he got picked to be the school Head Boy. His class mates remember him doing the job with style and purpose. He then blew through secondary school, passing his first attempt at SSCE in 1994 with flying colours. Then, it was on to the famous Ahmadu Bello University for his degree in accounting, followed by a quick fire Masters in the same discipline. Unsatisfied with these, he had with the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in 2002. By 2002, he was a fellow of the ANAN.
Mr Yahaya’s career began in 2001 when he was posted to the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for his national. He did so well at his duty that he was offered an appointment in the same office as Revenue Officer II. His commitment to high standards of work and dedication was obvious and he was soon promoted to the position of Accountant. Soon enough, he was transferred to head the Makurdi Zonal office Account
Department. He risen to the post of Assistant Chief Accountant.

Like most successful individuals of his generation, Yahaya became restless. He knew there was a something bigger out there. He hungered to try his hands on new things, unsure of success but undaunted nonetheless. He took the plunge and invested in the Nigerian Stock Market. His portfolio paid off massively and in a very short while, the young man was in control of millions. He had made his fortune and could have retired. No way! He re-invested his money well and it worked for him. His keen mind knew just what potential asset would turn to gold and his timing was always right. He had the Midas touch.

Being a man rooted in religion and blessed with insight, Yahaya knew his blessings were not for him alone. He went back home and spread his wealth around. He touched poor people in his community of Okene, sponsoring hundreds of young ones to school at all levels. Seeing the direction his country was threading, he backed a group that was committed to making the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket a reality at the federal level. He sponsored the group massively and their dreams came true. Not once did he ask for anything in return. Until his people came calling…

Yahaya looks like he has taken the call to serve his state very seriously. Knowing what he would be up against, he commissioned a group of experts to put together The Blueprint, a localised adaptation of the Buhari Roadmap. Drawing inspiration from the well-thought out manifesto of the APC and the insights from the deep research that he had ordered before, The Blueprint is a complete, logical and practical document that highlights the challenges of governance and followership in the state, but dwells more on hands-on solutions. Yahaya’s document takes into cognisance the special position Kogi state holds in the country. The Blueprint shows a determination to take full advantage of the tourism prospects and the major rivers that pass through Lokoja, the state capital, to create jobs.

Being well aware of the dwindling fortunes of oil, The Blueprint contains a plan to make Kogi state a hub for skilled labour. There is also a plan to raise the standard of education in the state significantly while building one of the biggest hospitals in the nation via Public Private Partnership. There is also an ambitious plan to amplify agricultural efforts to ensure jobs for 100, 000 Kogi people. Fair wealth distribution in a state where there has been disproportionate sharing of resources is another point The Blueprint hopes to achieve.

Armed with the zest of youth and directed by the wisdom of his mentors like President Buhari, Yahaya feels he is on the right track. His knowledge of financial and human resources management would be an asset for the state. His self-assuredness may just be what the doctor ordered for a people that has witnessed the most uninspiring leadership since creation in 1992. His connections in the business world would attract massive investment to the state and significantly raise much-needed internally-generated revenue.

In his letter of intent, read what the young man had to say; “It is very evident and sad that, upon almost twenty-four years of creation of Kogi State; the same number of years it took to turn the great city of Dubai in United Arab Emirate from desert to Mecca and modern masterpiece of the World, our State is still ranked among the poorest and least developed States in Nigeria largely due to misadministration and poor leadership that has characterized its major part of its existence.

“However, as a young, visionary, detribalized and focused Kogite with high penchant for societal and human transformation, I feel very appalled and concerned with the prevailing dismal state of affairs in Kogi State, despite the enormous human and natural endowment at the disposal of the State.”

As delegates go to pick their choice next Saturday, it would do them much good to go with a young a man of ideas and ability. Kogi can be much more than it is. Let the young have their turn. After all, it is their future that’s at stake.

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Bello Yahaya!