As Yahaya Bello completed his two terms of 8 years as the Governor of Kogi State, his actions and inactions will continue to dominate the political space in the state. Although his achievements in office will also remain as controversial as his mien and lifestyle.

While his supporters see him as an architect of modern Kogi State, who laid a solid foundation that has redefined the economy and social status of the state, his critics believe that he mismanaged the resources and his achievements in office could not justify the amount of money accrued to the state during his tenure.

But many in the state believe that Bello who handed over to his successor Alhaji Usman Olododo on Saturday left the state better than he met it with projects and other indices of development that ranked Kogi higher than other states not only in North Central but other states in Nigeria while he governed the state.
For the former governor to ensure that his All Progressives Congress (APC) continues to occupy the government house is a testimony that cannot be easily wished away.

A chartered accountant turned politician who assumed office at the age of 40 in 2016 following the death of Alhaji Audu Abubakar, who died before the result of the election was finally declared, he had a clear picture of what he wanted to achieve in office and was not distracted to meet his goals despite harsh criticisms from the opposition.

He said: “We inherited, but we also refused to glorify impossibilities. We assembled a multidisciplinary team of consultants to develop our New Direction Blueprint as a governance roadmap to help focus our efforts in executing the promises we made to Kogites. Put simply, we met great problems, but we also mobilised great courage and inventiveness to solve them together. We tackled our challenges with stoicism and the heart of a Lion. For the first time since Kogi State was created, we programmed equity into the spread of government appointments and projects
“Merit, fairness and justice determined the selection and placement of persons who worked with us, and when it came to projects, we have tried to spread the love proportionately between our three Senatorial Districts. Tribe, religion and class are no longer the determinants of who or where gets what. They play no role except as a measure of proportionality, and only in the pursuit of inclusivity.

“To me, Kogi State is a metaphor for our nation. We are the intersection at the heart of Nigeria where compatriots from different parts of Nigeria meet every day on their journey of life, share a meal or a short rest and travel together to mutual destinations. Our aspiration is a Nigeria where we can all meet in our rich diversity, unite in our nationhood and travel together towards our shared greatness,” he said.

Many will not forget in a hurry how he tackled insecurity in the state immediately after he was sworn in as the governor of the state. Bello went against kidnap kingpins in the state who were earlier seen as untouchable. He demolished their hideout where they were carrying out their nefarious activities and constructed Army Forward Operational Base in Okene to curb the several criminal activities going on in the senatorial district and commissioned in July 2017.

Apart from motivation for security agencies in the frontline, with logistic and other support, the Kogi Government in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force also established two Mobile Police Squadron Bases along Obajana-Kabba road and in Okene.

He also facilitated the location of a Naval Base in Lokoja, established to ensure adequate security of the waterways in the confluence state.
He personally commissioned the Nigeria Navy Ship Lugard and Navy Barracks.

In recognition of his outstanding performance in the security sector, he was honoured with several prestigious awards from around Nigeria and beyond.

After ensuring that the state is secured for business activities, the former governor went on to develop many legacy projects that have positively impacted the state. The Bello administration invested in infrastructure development across the state. He constructed the first rice milling factory in Ejiba in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, believed to be first of its kind in the North Central with the capacity to mill more than 1,000 bags of 50kg of high quality rice per day and provided job for about over 2,000 indigenes of the state.

It will also be on record that Bello saw to the construction of Ikeja-Ogugu Ette, Shintaku– Gboloko Road to Dekina, Ankpa Township Road, 0.7km, Agasa-Ukpogoro Road/ 8.5km, Ogaminana/Ebogogo/ Total Road, Kabba Township Road, / Iyamoye/Ife Olukotun Ponyo, Jege, Ejuku Ijowa roads.
He also did not leave Kogi West behind as he rehabilitated Kabba township road down to Iyamoye, Ife Olukotun Ponyo, Jege, Ejuku and Ijowa roads in Kogi West senatorial district which amount to 77km in its distance.

To ensure food security, Bello implemented various agricultural initiatives to boost food production and create employment opportunities for the teaming youth. These initiatives include the distribution of fertilisers and improved seedlings to farmers, as well as the establishment of farm settlements. He procured and distributed agricultural equipment across the 21 local government areas of the state. They include tractors, ridgers, harrows, ploughs and power tillers. Others are boom sprayers, combined harvesters, planters among others.

He also created cluster value system through Agro Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) where group of youth and women farmers are provided with implement, incentives and cash to engage in farming in their respective communities and the establishment of the ‘Cluster Agricultural Settlement Scheme’ (CASS).

Apart from training and empowering youths in livestock initiative, aqua culture (fish farming), cassava plantation among others, Bello also initited a greenhouse vegetable agricultural programme in Osara in the Central Senatorial axis of the state.

While most of the projects have Public Private Partnership (PPP) components, the administration also supported local farmers, youths and women with necessary tools for crop farming and animal husbandry.

To ensure that the residents of the state are in good health, the former governor renovated and equipped several healthcare facilities, provided free medical services to vulnerable groups, and initiated programs to combat diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS.
And to fix the infrastructural deficit that was left behind by the previous administration, Bello took a decisive action to establish a world class reference hospital that is at par with any standard hospital in the world with the capacity to handle complicated medical and surgical cases in the state as well as promote medical tourism in the state.

To his credit, he renovated and remodeled of Kogi State Specialist Hospital Lokoja; he constructed an an Ultra-Modern Administrative Complex with two (2) Suspended Floors; Construction of Psychiatric Department; Complete Renovation and Remodeling of the whole Hospital; Construction of two (2) New Ultra-Modern General Hospitals in Eganyi Ajaokuta Local among others.

The Bello administration made marks by improving the quality of education in Kogi State. This includes the construction and renovation of schools, provision of educational materials, and the training and recruitment of teachers. Many ultra-modern educational facilities were constructed all over the state. The establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara which has since absorbed students to study their courses of choice.

The teaching hospital and Prince Abubakar Audu University have been well equipped to deliver on sound education and higher learning. Thousands of teachers are undergoing recruitment exercises for proper placement into the facilities across the state.

One of his latest records in education is the establishment of State University across the three Senatorial districts of Kogi State, the latest among them is the Kogi State University Kabba.

Indeed, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambasador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, said that Bello’s exceptional achievements had re-jigged Kogi’s economy. He commended the out-going Governor for his exceptional achievements in the state.

Abubakar, in a commendation letter he personally signed and addressed to Governor Bello, congratulated him on his notable strides since he assumed office as Kogi Governor in 2016, saying his various infrastructural projects had opened up the state as one of Nigeria’s main trade routes.

While congratulating the Governor and the Kogi State chapter of the APC for winning the just concluded governorship election in the state, the NIA boss noted that the governor was leaving the North Central state more prosperous, developed and transformed.

He listed some infrastructural projects, renovation of the Okene Reference hospital and the establishment of Omi Rice Farm as some of the achievements of the Bello administration.
Abubakar, in the letter, titled, “Acknowledging Your Remarkable Achievements as Governor,” explained how Governor Bello’s enhanced public services and facilities added value to agricultural production and rejigged Kogi’s economy.

“As your tenure as the Governor of Kogi State draws to a close, I write to congratulate you and acknowledge the notable achievements of your administration during your two tenures as Governor since you assumed office in 2016. I would also like to congratulate you and the Kogi State chapter of the APC for winning the just concluded Gubernatorial elections.

During your time as Governor of Kogi State, the various infrastructural projects undertaken by your administration have significantly improved the state’s connectivity and accessibility as one of Nigeria’s main trade routes from the West and South to Northern parts of the country.

“The renovation of the Okene Reference hospital is a testament to your dedication to enhancing public services and facilities. Similarly, the establishment of Omi Rice Farm, one of the largest in Nigeria, is a clear demonstration of your administration’s commitment to adding value to agricultural production.

“As you conclude your tenure and begin another chapter in your political career, I wish you success in your future endeavours.”