THE NEED FOR POLITICAL MATURITY IN KOGI STATE; KOGI WEST IN PERSPECTIVE.
By Shae Bebeyi.
The race to LORD LUGARD HOUSE in Lokoja, Kogi State is effervescently trending.
The Governor, His Excellency Yahaya Bello, whose contributions can not be underestimated to the development of the State. In a forum where he addressed the Party faithfuls and cabinet members stated clearly that: “The system will produce his successor.” The implication is that, nobody is expected to be the next Governor outside his structure or system.
The sole aim of succession planning is to get the best man for the job. The system of Gov. YAHAYA BELLO has been able to build a political entity – the system that will produce the next Governor and no man will come from outside and think and jump into this ship. “Where were they when we were trying to build the Ship?” He asked.
Truly, a Leader’ prowess is to know how to define reality, the least is to say ‘ Thank you’ and ignite the light and protect it, move it forward into the World, and be fully confident that it will connect light to light and set the State aglow for transformation.
Successful Leaders do always have foresights, appreciate the fact that they will lead their Organization or State forever, they also possibly have the power to choose and support the best successor. They have ability to mentor, coach, and support their successor and align their current talent development with the State and future leadership needs, which should be a masterstroke.
In a polarized political environment, politics is expected to be built on the cooperation of like-minded, networking, and advocates of democratic cohesion. Any major political calculation has implications well
beyond political circles; hence the need and call for caution.
The vote is said to be the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying terrible walls, which imprison men; because they are different from other men.
Hence, every citizen of this State should be guaranteed that their vote matters. Voting is a right best exercised by people who take the time to learn about the issues of democracy and this is the act of building a community as well as building a State.
Anti-democracy also is said to be a virus that exists, and pro-democracy is the antibody to that virus. One needs to be vigilant, and have to be vigilant; and to become vigilant is to stay on top – this is democracy.
The beauty of democracy is the ability to work together, creating a just, sustainable and better World.
In Kogi State, it’s time to exercise the democratic processes helping to choose wisely and safeguarding the democracy itself.
The Kogi West people may be aggrieved over APC or PDP’s failure to the principle of zoning the governorship ticket to them. Kogi West is the only zone yet to produce the Executive since the State was created. The ruling Party or PDP should not worsen, overlook, or undermine the people of Kogi West by doing anything contrary.
The Governor should not be surprised or be disenchanted with anti-party activities if only he fails to help to do the right thing – respecting or giving credence to the principle of the zoning system which Kogi West is agitating for.
The system Governor Bello has built, we believe; is in line with equity, equality, fairness, a common sense of purpose and shared destiny as well as a collective imagination of togetherness and inclusion; which the modern democracy of course alludes to.
The coming to the fore of Governor Bello is no doubt building a tangible and intangible threads that hold a political entity together and which is providing a platform for the economic, social and political advancement of the entity, for the benefit of all, hence the adherence to the principle of zoning and Kogi West in perspective will have a positive effect on our democracy.
