Ex-Gov Idris’ new template for Kogi By Musa Wada

Today in Nigeria not many political parties are crisis-free.
But to the credit of one man and his political sagacity peace has reigned in the PDP in Kogi state when other parties including the ruling APC are crisis-ridden.
That man is former Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.
This feat is possible because of the life of this political czar and mobilizer.
Idris is born leader of men and reasons, a man with an impeccable character, and man for all seasons and fatherly disposition to all.
Principles, opportunity and responsibility have always been the philosophical mirror of Ibro, as fondly called by friends and associates, in and out of government.
His motive in politics and social life is love of the people.
He has offered three-point strategies for the development and progress of Kogi state as PDP’s manifesto appeared hackneyed.
The philosophy includes fiscal discipline to cut poverty and spur growth, investments in education and skill to prepare our people for the new economy, and new markets for our people’s growth.
Ibro believes that Kogi state needs a comprehensive set of initiatives to make work, good beginning, good schools, and good jobs.
The former governor believes character defines the world we live in.
Our government’s welfare programmes, schools and everything else in our live are shaped and directed according to our character.
It is said that we cannot legislate morality but in fact every law in our state and country is a reflection of our values and morality.
A decline in morals in our state has produced a decline in the character of our society.
Ibro believes if we are to succeed in our drive to reinvent our state, we must reinvent our moral compass as a people.
Development hinges on the men and women we choose to formulate public policies.
Idris believes one can live a God centred life of high moral character and elect leaders with high moral standard for the good of society.
He believes that in the politics, character should be one of the major issues because our character makes the difference work and the people in leadership.
For people who have met him you would be struck by the amount of details he carries on his head.
Idris is good on the big pictures, but backs them up always with phenomenal details.
He was a people’s person, terrific at illustrating policy points by talking about real people, real places.
If he made a long intervention, he found a way of addressing part of it to all the different people.
This is a great talent for the politician that he is.
He engages you and makes you feel warmly disposed towards him.
He has succeeded in chronicling Kogi state’s struggles and the people’s fight against cynicism and defeat on their developmental journey.
He believes hope and progress rhyme.
He believes Kogi state stands today between hope and history at the edge of a moment when these two forces are one, when we can embrace the dawn of a new era of development, drawing strength and guidance from our past filled with confidence that in this new era of possibility, our best is yet to come.
Ibro had an interesting line about how achievements were less important than definition in the information age.
He believes there is no point saying what you have done, but keep saying what you are going to do and have a clear direction.
This he wants to imbibe on our state’s politicians so that the people can make choices.
Ibro knows how to manage change as he strives at all times to get his messages across directly to our people.
Ibro has always been hugely impressive on strategy.
We all gain when we give, we reap what we sow.
that is the heart of Ibro’s new covenant with the people of Kogi.
They are the virtues by which we can fulfil ourselves and our Godgiven potential, the virtues by which we can live out the eternal promise of Kogi state.
This is what Ibro believes in.
We need to forge a new covenant that will repair the damaged bond between the people and their government.
Government has a responsibility to make its people forge ahead because the people do not only have a right to rise as far and high as their talents and determination can take them.
Ibro believes PDP needs real change, change in our national life and change in Kogi state because people have lost faith in government.
We must forge a new social contract to meet the challenges of the time.
Ibrahim Idris believes that the new PDP must not lose track of why it is a political party.
It must now be a veritable tool for the people’s hope and opportunity.
PDP in Kogi state should now give hope before it creates opportunity.
He insists that we must as Kogites make hope our friends because for long our people have been misled and their economic situation worsened.
We must also keep faith with the middle class and create more of it because it is scary to be a little person.
The eyes of our children are on us, if we do our jobs, and give hope to the people, PDP will return to power.
PDP must represent real hope for change and change we must; a departure from trickle down economy, from get and spend economy to invest and grow economy.
We must challenge our people to change, and they must be allowed to make choices for leadership.
Although the former governor’s son is aspiring for the governorship of Kogi state, which is a democratic right, he promises a level playing field for all.
Imposition has created great damage to our party and state and Ibro believes and vowed it would never again be a norm of the PDP in Kogi state under his leadership.
We must say to the APC in our state that they have had their chance and it did not work.
It is time for real change in Kogi state.
We want to bring real change to Kogi state, we must all decide first, we must have the courage to change for hope and a better tomorrow.
Change for change is not enough as that mystery index must not go right through the roof.
Ibro is ready to be father to all.
Wada writes from Abuja.
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