Kogi Central: Would Our 24 Years of Fate Have Spanned 35 If There Was No Yahaya Bello 11 Years Ago?
...Let’s Ponder
By Prince Suleiman Adinoyi
History reminds us that Kogi State was created in 1991, with the first mantle of leadership handed over to our Igala brethren through what was widely regarded as a gentleman’s arrangement. Whether that arrangement was right or wrong is a matter for another discussion. What remains undeniable, however, is that the political fate of the other two senatorial districts, particularly Kogi Central, remained largely unchanged until 2015.
Governments came and went, yet Kogi Central often found itself with limited representation at the highest levels of government. At various times, the district received a commissioner here, a few special advisers there, while major elective positions remained largely beyond its reach.
More troubling was the perception that political decisions affecting Kogi Central were sometimes made outside the district, with influential actors determining who should occupy elective positions, regardless of the wishes of the people.
These circumstances contributed to years of political setbacks and crises. Political disagreements sometimes became clannish disputes and, at certain points, even took on religious dimensions. Kogi Central became associated with insecurity and political instability, while the image of the Ebira people, whose traditional values are deeply rooted in good character, was unfairly affected by the political turbulence around them.
During those years, many people struggled for political relevance, while many souls were lost. Youths, elders, men and women all paid different prices as political battles intensified.
Yet, even in the midst of these challenges, one of the few major political opportunities within reach of Kogi Central remained the Senate seat. I remember a time when, having been left with very little political space, the Senate seemed like the closest thing to a governorship position available to the district.
The battle for the Senate was intense. It was largely dominated by established political gladiators, while many young people had little or no confidence that they could aspire to significant political positions.
Senate, House of Representatives, State Assembly and Local Government Chairmanship positions appeared to be reserved for those who had already mastered the political terrain.
Then came Yahaya Bello in 2015.
His emergence as a governorship aspirant was, to many political actors and analysts in Kogi Central and beyond, almost unimaginable. Some described him as too young. Others called him a gambler or a dreamer. Some questioned his political pedigree and even asked, “Who was his father in Kogi Central or Kogi State?”
There were also those who mocked the idea by saying, “He thinks governorship is SUG!”
But beyond the doubts and criticisms, a significant number of young people believed differently. We saw in Yahaya Bello an opportunity for a generational and political shift.
I am proud to say that I was among those young people.
I was part of that history. I believed in the possibility of breaking the existing political pattern and opening the door for a new generation to participate more boldly in Kogi politics.
By the grace of God, Yahaya Bello eventually became Governor of Kogi State.
His emergence changed the political conversation in the state. For eight years, he occupied the centre of Kogi’s political landscape and eventually produced a successor in Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Regardless of how individuals assess his administration, Yahaya Bello remains one of the most consequential political figures in the history of Kogi State.
His rise opened new possibilities for many Kogites, particularly young people. For Kogi Central, it offered a new perspective on political participation and demonstrated that political leadership was not necessarily the exclusive preserve of a few established political families or gladiators.
Today, more young people are willing to contest elections. More people openly express political ambitions. More individuals believe they can compete for elective positions and develop strategies for achieving their political goals.
This, in my view, is part of what I describe as the Yahaya Bello Effect.
His political journey may have appeared divinely orchestrated to many of his supporters, but that does not mean he is beyond criticism. No human being is perfect. Yahaya Bello, like every other political leader, had strengths, weaknesses, successes and shortcomings.
A balanced assessment would therefore acknowledge that he may not have scored 100 percent in every aspect of leadership, but his political impact on Kogi State, particularly in changing perceptions about youth participation and political possibility, remains significant.
Politics is a constantly changing arena. Those who lose often struggle to regain relevance, while those who win naturally consolidate their influence.
This brings me back to Kogi Central.
Let us reflect on where we were in 2015. Let us also reflect on the political journey from 1991 to 2015.
Then ask ourselves:
What if there had been no Yahaya Bello?
What if the political situation between 1991 and 2015 had continued unchanged?
What if our Igala brethren had continued to dominate the governorship until today?
Would the 24-year political fate of Kogi Central have stretched into 35 years?
Would many young people in Kogi Central have found the courage to dream of becoming governors, senators, representatives, commissioners and other political office holders?
Would we have witnessed the level of political participation, confidence and competition that exists today?
What would our political landscape look like?
These are questions worth pondering.
Whatever one's assessment of Yahaya Bello may be, it is difficult to discuss the political history of contemporary Kogi State without acknowledging the significance of his emergence in 2015.
For many people in Kogi Central, his emergence represented more than the rise of an individual. It represented a break from an established political pattern and the opening of a new political chapter.
So, let us reflect carefully on the journey.
What would Kogi Central look like today if the political events of 2015 had taken a different direction?
And when people compare Yahaya Bello with other political figures, what exactly is the basis of that comparison?
History will continue to judge every leader by his actions, achievements, shortcomings and impact.
But one thing remains clear to me: Yahaya Bello occupies a unique chapter in the political history of Kogi State, particularly in the story of Kogi Central.
That is why, for many of us, his political journey remains a story worth remembering and reflecting upon.many of us, his political journey remains a story worth remembering and reflecting upon.