Kogi @ 31: The Journey So Far

Kogi State was created on the 27th of August 1991, during the military government of General Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida. Since then, we have had four military Governors, and four civilian Governors, including one in an Acting capacity.

Thirty-one years in the life of a nation, individual, or any institution for that matter or even a state like Kogi, may not have gotten to the promised land, however, a 30-year-old person is an adult anywhere in the world, and can be held responsible and accountable for his or her actions. Therefore, the 30 years of existence of Kogi State calls for sober reflection, evaluation and stock taking.

While we congratulate the people of the state, at least, for the peaceful co-existence, despite the misrule, misplaced priorities, lack of inclusiveness of the people in governance and above all, fantastic corruption, it is a disappointment that a state like Kogi, whose citizens are making huge contributions in Nigeria, and globally, could not boast of a development plan that could last for 10 – 15 years, that is SMART complaint (Specific, Measurable, Achievable and within a Time frame).

Each successful government in Kogi State comes out with individual plans without a blueprint to serve as a guide for any incoming government.

As of today, 31 years on, Kogi state is the only state in the federation without its state-owned television in this 22nd century with a malfunctioning radio station.

Kogi State today lack 2 hours of portable water in a day, while sometimes there is no water supply in a week, even in the State capital, Lokoja. No part of the state enjoys portable water, despite the God-given confluence of the 2 great Rivers Niger and Benue located in Lokoja, the State capital.

The roads across the state are nowhere near international standards, as potholes are the major characteristics of all roads in the state. Even roads within the city centre, the seat of government are dotted with huge portholes.

Several abandoned projects litter the state, with no valid reason given for this abandonment, as contracts were given without due process and mostly it is based on political relationships and considerations. Some nearly completed projects within the state capital are left to rot away despite avowed economic value to the state.

This is a state that has produced three Attorney Generals of the Federation and Ministers of Justices, also produced two National Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and produced Chairman Nigeria Medical Association NMA. The state has within some time and clime produced a Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of defence staff, an Inspector General of Police respectively.

In the academic circle, the state has produced no fewer than 300 Professors locally, nationally and Internationally. The state also produced a Minister of Police Affairs, Minister of Industry, Minister of State for Health, Minister of Health, Minister of State for Labour, and currently Minister of State for FCT, several Ambassadors, Senior Military and Security Personnel etc.

Despite all these human resources, the state is the least developed amongst all the states in the federation. It lacks a meaningful presence of industries except for the privately owned cement factory which seems not to have any impact on the infrastructural development of the State.

We, therefore, ask the question: What is the problem of those who have been privileged to lead the state? Is it a lack of vision? Or the required ideas. Can we be proud of the level of development currently witnessed in the State, despite the huge human and financial resources available to State, particularly under this current government

The current administration, with the youngest governor, seems to also be making the same mistakes as its predecessors, as the government came into power without a blueprint and could not tell the people its direction upon inauguration.

How could a government have stayed five (5) and half years without building and commissioning one bedroom apartment or any single road, despite the government having received not less than 400 billion Naira? Which include the bailout funds, Statutory Allocations, Paris Club Refund and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). This does not include revenue received by the 21 L.G.A under the current government.

We challenge this government to tell the people the numbers of housing unit(s) built and commissioned, the cost and their location across the State; the numbers of roads constructed, commissioned and their locations and the costs in monitory terms in the last 5 years.

Even the street lights in Lokoja, the state capital, were refurbished by this government, as several of them have been destroyed without replacement.

We, therefore, call on all government institutions and the 3 tiers of government to re-examine whether they have lived up to the expectations of the people despite the huge resources that have gone to them.

It is worrisome and shameful that the Kogi State House of Assembly does not boast of a functional website, more than 20 years of existence. This cannot be acceptable in this era of ICT where the world is becoming a global village. Even the road leading to the Assembly hosts several important institutions, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Head of Judiciary in the State, the Federal High Court, Zone 8 Headquarter of the Nigeria Police Command (NPF), Department of State Security Services (DSS), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the 25,000 capacity Confluence Stadium, State Headquarters of The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) etc, is in an embarrassing situation.

31 years of creation, many laws passed by the State Assembly have not been gazetted and published.

However, despite the gloomy situation we have found ourselves in the hands of our leaders and representatives, several opportunities are still available to change the situation and the narratives.

We call on the present administration not to continue making the mistakes of the past where they had failed to separate governance from politics and had failed to form an inclusive government.

We call on the present governor and government in the state to put in place machinery for development plans for both short, medium and long terms. The government should organize conferences to look at available resources in the state, both human and materials, that would be used for the development of the state which will outlive the present government, particularly on housing, mining, marine, industrial layout, tourism etc., particularly the development of Mount Patti that can generate huge revenue for the state.

Kogi State needs development and the citizens should be concerned about the current level of development which is an embarrassment to the people of the State 31 years after.

As we work towards 2023 general elections that will produce new leaders and representatives across the board, we call for prioritizing Anti-Corruption and Accountability that will improve the development of the State beyond the unfortunate underdevelopment we find ourselves in the State.

Hirrraaaaaay, Kogi is 31!!!