Hon Ahmed Attah is the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi East zone. In this interview with Uji Illiyasu Abdullahi, he bares his mind on the politics of Kogi state, the next gubernatorial election in the state and the decamping of some bigwigs into the APC, among sundry issues.
As the zonal chairman of the APC in Kogi East, can you tell us how it has been for you in the zone in the last four years?
Wonderful! Our people have never been better. We can tell you with all sense of gratitude that this administration is God sent. We have for long prayed and sought divine intervention on the leadership problem in our state and I can tell you without mincing words that the saying that a leader is a dealer in hope is being symbolised in Kogi state. Now, the state being discarded by many as a result of the many self-inflicted problems heightened by inept leadership is now being courted by all. Now Kogi state is called hope because of the kind of leadership being provided by our governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
What was the problem of your state before the advent of the Bello government?
Just as the late Chinua Achebe said about our dear country, Nigeria, the problem of Kogi state is that of leadership; a leadership that would fight the symmetric and asymmetric warfare of the people. We are glad today that Kogi state is on the rise again because we have found the type of leadership we desire to propel us to development and growth.
Do you mean, the state leadership problem is protracted?
It should stare you in the face that it is a statement of fact that we have all along witnessed the quagmire that has stifled our development as a people and that is the quagmire of leadership and it was our albatross till the advent of the Bello administration. Our state is not just by historical happenstance. Kogi state was created by the efforts of men and women of vision who believed in the fact that our state has the potential of being among the league of developed state in this country if our leadership is honest and committed. It is also true that Kogi state was created by men of great vision and resolve who toiled endlessly in building our state through conscious statecraft; men who believed that state building is always work in progress, a dynamic process in conscious need of nurturing and reinventions. But not long after the creation of the state, optimism gave way to pessimism, no thanks to the inept and opportunistic, rent seeking leadership that held sway in the state. The very good vision and solid foundation laid by our founding fathers was destroyed. Today, our pessimism is being turned into optimism by the conscious act of our present governor who has nurtured our state back to the route of development. This optimism is practical because the state and my zone are now witnessing development in all its physicality; you can see and touch. Our governor got it right from the very beginning of his administration by acknowledging that state building never stops and government is a continuum and he has imbibed the vision of our founding fathers as a guide.
What are the major developmental projects that you can proudly say you have attracted to your zone?
Oh! Many. Today, we have been able to attract countless of developmental projects to the people of the zone, projects that are not on paper, projects that you can see and touch in line with the development in its physicality mantra of the action governor of the state. The road networks in the zone have been rehabilitated, many reconstructed. Today, the zone can boast of having one of the best road networks in the state. Hospitals are being built and today the health sector in the zone has never had it so good. The governor has also reformed the education sector to be in tune with the state developmental needs. All sectors have been touched and this to the glory of God.
What is your take on re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari?
I want to use this medium and opportunity to congratulate our loveable president, the change proponent, the man of integrity and good conscience, the corruption killer and, most especially, the best leader Africa ever had of his success in the 2019 presidential election. We know even before the elections that our president is on the verge of being re-elected for a second term to continue his change mantra in the next level. It is a well deserved victory for President Buhari and a victory for us the common folks. I am proud also that our democracy is evolving and our people’s choices are based on integrity and performance. Make no mistake about it, our people knows good leader if they see one. I am proud that our governor delivered our state to the president.
What is the significance of Governor Yahaya Bello delivering Kogi state to the president?
A lot. It means that the state and her people are still behind the president of our country and they appreciate his leadership style. Secondly, it means that our state is an APC state completely, a confidence vote we needed at this time to take to the next phase of election in the state by November, I mean the gubernatorial election in the state. Our people by this vote for the president, have assured us that our victory is sure. We shall prevail and conquer.
We have it on good authority that you also delivered your zone 100 percent for the APC in the just concluded elections. How true?
I want to assure and remind you that under my leadership and prior to this election, Kogi East zone has been a home of the APC. We are humble by the support of our people who have shown that at all times they are supportive and willing to appreciate the good works our party is doing and we can do more, God willing.
What is the impact of the chief of staff to the governor, Edward Onoja, to the successes in the state and the presidential elections?
Chief Edward Onoja as the chief of staff to our governor is instrumentality of the successes recorded in this administration. If there is any politician yet that has a grasps of the politics of Kogi state and its developmental needs, it is Chief Onoja; a politician that believes that the unique thing about our state is her people’s cultural and religious divide and how it can be harnessed for its development; a politician that believes in the major principle that can be put into practice in developing economy like ours. There is never enough of anything to satisfy those who want it. Onoja believes in Kogi state. He has discussed the lessons of economics with our amiable governor because of what they have achieved by using their political philosophies that when people come together, it becomes a family, it becomes a bond. They believe that all segments of the society are important and it is different than bringing in something by yourself. His politics revolves around the one for all, and all for one Areamic concept and philosophy. He has used this concept to unite our people behind the governor and this has translated to peace and with peace, the development we are witnessing right now.
The 2019 gubernatorial election in Kogi state is around the corner. Who is the party and candidate to beat?
Governor Yahaya Bello and the APC; I do not think there is any doubt about this. Our people are united in one voice in asking our governor to continue his good works. Let nobody deceive you, our governor’s victory in the next election is already known and it is a landslide victory. You can take this to the bank.
What of the tribal politics angle, we heard a lot of politicians especially from your area are ganging up against Bello?
This is a democracy and we respect the rights of everybody to take a shot at contesting any elections of their choice. We in Kogi state at this juncture of our development know a good leader when we see one. Governor Bello has paid his dues by leading the state in the right direction and he shall win. We have outgrown tribal politics in Kogi state. We in the APC are not taking anything for granted as we approach the elections. We acknowledge the fact that many gladiators are gunning for the seat of the governor of Kogi state – pretenders and rent seeking politicians, stooges of dissatisfied godfathers who see Kogi politics as business. We know some have began to strategise negatively on how to wrest power from the APC. We are not over confident but working assiduously to improve the living standards of our people. Our governor was recently endorsed by critical stakeholders for the election and the people of our dear state for his wonderful performance as governor. Governor Bello is unbeatable in Kogi state and you can take this to the bank.
Analysts are of the view that the issue of salaries of civil servants and pensioners would be an albatross for the APC. How true is this?
Not anymore. It is a view peddled by disgruntled politicians in the state who in the past were responsible for the inability of government to pay salaries to our workers. Our civil servants who have hitherto been disenchanted by the inability of government to pay initially are now happy and supportive of the governor because he have worked hard enough to clear the issues of salaries by showing leadership in swallowing the bitter pills by clearing Kogi Augean stable for development.
Have you heard of the slogan ENEMUNEME and what does it mean?
I am not the proponent of that slogan but it depicts the appreciative countenances of our people to the can do spirit of the governor. It means another person or tribe is doing very well for us and we should support him irrespective of the tribe he speaks. With Bello tribal politics is dead in Kogi state.
Congratulations on the decamping of major gladiators from other parties to your party, APC?
It is a confirmation of the fact that there is no opposition to the APC in our state.APC is the party to beat. Thank you.
