Today, it is a well known fact that the problem with Kogi state is leadership. The leader Kogi state deserves has become an issue for debate among Kogites as it is now glaring even to the discerning mind that leadership has been the bane of this once promising and endowed state.
The leader Kogi state urgently deserves is a leader that is free from the toga of god-fatherism which pervades the political landscape of the state and a landmine its democratic evolution. This culture has literally caused the fall of so many candidates who would have been great leaders in many areas of Kogi’s life. The idea that an aspiring candidate’s popularity, acceptability and public goodwill can never take him to victory until he is anointed and backed by a politically influential godfather has always been a fatal blow to the concept of good governance in Kogi state. It has many negative effects on the leadership system of the state.
One of the consequences of this phenomenon in Kogi state, which is borne out of an incurable penchant for all time relevance in the affairs of a particular domain, is that it denies the people of Kogi state the right to elect candidates of their choice. Secondly, those so-called anointed candidates can never have political will to subscribe to the whims and caprices of the masses in flagrant violation of the selfish interests of their political godfathers. So they must perpetually remain subservient to their bosses through the privilege of public offices at the detriment of the electorate. Thirdly, the dividends of democratic rule are decimated by the political greed of a few. Fourthly, the culture of imposing candidates by their godfathers obstructs credible electoral processes in Kogi state which eventually produces puppets who add no value to the state’s socio-economic and political development.
This menace of political god-fatherism is one factor that hampers the advancement of the democratization process in Kogi state, particularly at the grassroots. The 2015 election is an example in Kogi state and could be excused to some extent due to the Buhari Tsunami that swept away the political fortunes of the then ruling party, PDP, in Kogi state. But despite that, imposition of unpopular candidates contributed to the fall and victory of both PDP and APC in many states with the former worse hit by the phenomenon. We have come to the realization that Nigerians and Kogi state people in particular are becoming wiser and more politically sophisticated. They will no longer remain in that tagged docility to allow self-appointed god-fathers of certain individuals to impose on them candidates who do not appeal to them in 2019.
The mass awareness in Kogi state hopefully will be evident in the way they react to the menace of imposition in 2019. That is sufficient warning to those deluded by the mirage that they will forever continue to install their puppets in the corridors of power with no regard to people’s right to choose who would steer their affairs.
Kogi state needs a leader that will fight the symmetric and asymmetric warfare of its people. The leaders Kogi state has previously produced have wasted the state’s resources fighting for the elite. Today, Kogi state needs a leader who is on top of all situations. Today in Nigeria, things seem difficult and out of place and the need for an innovative leader at this time of the state’s development can never be over-emphasized. Today, the developed climes of the world do not depend on solely on allocations from the federation account for survival because of the innovative tendencies and know-how of their leadership.
Japan and South Korea do not have oil but they rank among the developed countries of the world because of their leadership’s abilities and tendencies. We need in Kogi state a leader that will be able to institutionalize development; a leader that will formulate policies and have the ability to educate the people to translate these policies into reality. Kogi state needs a charismatic leader that the people can follow willingly without coercion. And this can only happen if the people believe in the leadership of the state and the cause for which the leadership stands for. Kogi state does not need a bossy leader, but an exemplary leader; a leader that is focused, disciplined, frugal and accountable to the people. That kind of leadership is the Alhaji Kabiru Saraha type of leadership, and that is what Kogi needs. Considering that leadership positions and wealth are being used by privileged persons to garner affluence without recourse to the downtrodden segments in society, the source of worry to Kabiru Saraha, a self-made man, is how to raise indigent children and adult and make them responsible citizens of society and future leaders. He believes that his wealth is a missionary journey and work in life meant to touch the lives of humanity.
He first thought the best way to achieve this life-long ambition and legacy is to secure better tomorrow for the upcoming youths of the downtrodden through provision of education which he always described as light and a potential machinery for development. Kabiru Saraha made many indigent students and children in Kogi state and so many part of the country heave a sigh of relief as he has consciously built a solid educational foundation with a difference for youths and children in Kogi state and beyond. Over 2000 students are already on scholarship studying and acquiring creative and qualitative education free of charge with three square meals daily. His exemplary leadership qualities need to be commended.
Musa writes from Abuja
