Opinion: Of Kogi’s mystery deaths and Wada’s critics
Editor’s note: Chief communications officer to the former governor of Kogi state, Captain Idris Wada, Mr Phrank Shaibu writes on the quick succession of deaths of prominent politicians in Kogi state.
Shaibu also addresses some of the criticisms that has been aimed against Captain Wada by some political elements in the state.
Former governor of Kogi state, Captain Idris Wada
Five months have passed since the infamous and controversial inconclusive Kogi governorship election, yet the cracks that emerged on the Kogi political sphere are far from being mended.
While the election tribunal is busy hearing the cases of dissatisfied contestants in the said election and judgement awaited, there have been many thought-provoking situations and commentaries that have created many obvious holes in Kogi politics.
READ ALSO: Crisis in Kogi state as APC disowns Governor Yahaya Bello
First, is on what is perceived by many as dubious legality of misdeeds of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which ironically thrust Kogi’s exceptional peaceful governorship election in this political era of Buhari’s administration into an issue of confusion and near disorder.
Second, is that the political problems of Kogi state have widened with the sudden death of three of its major politicians, Prince Abubakar Audu, James Ocholi and Rotimi Obadofin in quick succession.
Indeed, the death of these men in an era of Kogi’s inconclusive governorship election and its baggage of mysteries have left many Kogi voters deeply disillusioned, thus making the prospect of Kogi politics intensely worrisome as they await the decision of the electoral tribunal.
The third issue is that the Kogi people have not demonstrated genuine desire to fiercely and boldly confront the sad point of political impunity and sleaze which have hampered their political growth and overall development of their state.
Yes, at times, without regular salaries for workers, the situation may look very gloom but let us not forget that even beyond Wada’s administration, payment of salaries of an over-bloated state civil service work force has remained a very difficult task to surmount especially in the absence of bail out funds which was offered to many states that shared similar problems.
It will make enormous sense for any good analyst to assess Wada’s performance based on the nature of revenue received,perhaps this will provide some vindication for his administration especially given that of all past governors of Kogi state, he stands out as the most determined leader Kogi has produced. Indeed, what others before Wada thought was not impossible was what he achieved in terms of greater teamwork and even spread of development across the state.
So, If we must salvage Kogi’s politics and development, Wada’s style of compassion, honesty, humility and offer of opportunity for all will not amount to asking too much from Kogi politicians. I am talking of the innocuous, easily forgotten initiatives and temperament of a man whose tenure made the state more united, peaceful and irrevocably hoisted on a path of identifiable progress and development.
In fact, Wada’s peace and freedom from the usual harassment of embezzlement and corruption which greets governors when their successor is from another party is a testament to the kind of administration he conducted while in office. Most likely, that could have been the reason why the Kogi election was never a do or die affair by the then incumbent Governor.
In any case, as Idris Wada awaits the verdict of the election tribunal while living in a house he built over fifteen years ago, may his self-denial, contentment and sacrifice find a valuable space in the documentation of Kogi’s unfolding history. Certainly, any society that means well should advise its leaders to draw lessons from Wada’s exemplary conduct of honesty and dignity in public office.
The post Opinion: Of Kogi’s mystery deaths and Wada’s critics appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.