Governor Yahaya Bello remains one of the most controversial, yet outspoken leaders in Nigeria, who has expressed his undaunted love and genuine intentions towards his people in Kogi State. He has many times turned down contentious policies by the Federal Government that may portend some danger to his people.
He remains one politician who has enjoyed enormous goodwill, which heralded his coming to power. He equally leveraged on the momentum through quality performance as Governor, so far.
Bello, 45 years, Kogi State Executive Governor who contested and won elections on the platform of All Progressives Congress in 2015 has been seen as a favoured politician. Coming from when he was chosen as the replacement for the late Abubakar Audu who originally won the election in 2015 but died before the result was declared. On 16 November 2019, Bello was re-elected after he defeated the PDP opposition by over 200,000 votes. Yahaya Bello is the only Nigerian governor to be born after the Nigerian Civil War, thus, making him the youngest governor in Nigeria. Born, June 18, 1975 in Okene, Kogi State, he is the youngest of six children. He attended Local Government Education Authority (Nigeria) (LGEA) Primary School, Agassa in Okene LGA beginning in 1984.
Not to sound immodest or patronising, Governor Yahaya Bello is a man, blessed with the rare traits of leadership; having been in leadership positions since his younger years. He was named as a class prefect of class two and was made the school Head Boy in class six. He attended high school at Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene and obtained his Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination (JSSCE) and Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) certificates from Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State in 1994. Bello studied at Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria in 1995 and obtained an accounting degree from Northern Nigeria’s premier university, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1999. Yahaya Bello further enrolled for a Master’s program in Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria where he obtained Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2002. Bello became a chartered fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in 2004.
Mr. Bello’s youthful, vibrant and agile status has been an added advantage to his ability to steer the ship of his State with all the vigour and energy it deserves. Unlike his predecessors, age has not weakened his ability to discharge his constitutional responsibilities. His emergence as Governor of Kogi State definitely aligns with the silent agitation of the Nigerian youths.
It cannot be over-flogged that, Nigeria needs a vibrant youth like Mr. Yahaya Bello, hence the agitation of many clamouring for Mr Bello to declare his interest to be the next occupant of Aso Rock.
A United Nations body, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, recently commended Mr. Yahaya Bello for facilitating the election of women as deputy chairpersons of all the local councils in the state. He is said to be one of the most gender-sensitive Governors in terms of distribution of appointments and political offices. It was during his term in office that a woman was appointed for the first time ever in the state as Secretary to the State Government: Folashade Ayoade. The state’s Head of Service is also a woman.
Mr Bello is also the first governor in the state to appoint a female chief press secretary during his first term in office. Interestingly, his Aide-de-Camp is a woman too. The vice-chairpersons in all the 21 local governments in the state are females.
According to reports, in a commendation letter dated January 26 sent to the governor, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Comfort Lamptey, described his insistence on women vice-chairmen as a ”bold effort” on the part of the state government.
Ms Lamptey, in her letter, asked the governor for a meeting with him on how the body could help Kogi State in promoting issues that have to do with the female gender.
Governor Bello is one of the most proactive Governors who took the bull by the horn and nipped the issue of insecurity in his state on the board. A year or two into his administration, the volume of crimes and criminalities in the state was said to have reduced. Through his ingenuity, he has shown kidnappers and cultists hell in the state. He stemmed the tide of insecurity in Kogi state, a feat that earned him the award of the Best Governor of the Year on Security in 2016. The Northern Governors’ Forum chose him to head the forum’s security committee because of his achievements in the sector in Kogi.
Mr Bello has done well as a governor in terms of improved security, infrastructural development, workers’ welfare among others, in Kogi State. Staff members who prefer their names not mentioned testified that the state government has improved in salary payment in recent times.
Governor Bello has also reiterated many times that health and education remain a priority for his administration. He has equally made funds available to ensure that the state’s health and education institutions are among the best in Nigeria.
Recently, his administration committed to source for over N2 billion, estimated to facilitate the establishment of the College of Medicine, adding that the funds would be committed to the project which is far more important than the Covid-19 expenditure.
Governor Bello is a lover of sport and fitness, especially boxing. He recently made the news after he showed amazing football skills in the presence of some football legends in Kogi State.
The Super Eagles legends, include Austin Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Tijani Babangida, Ifeanyi Udeze, Taribo West and Augustine Eguavoen, who had a glorious reunion at the Government House in Lokoja when they visited the Governor, who was happy to see the former internationals.
The 45-year-old Governor was known as a good footballer during his days in the University jogging the ball in a brilliant style in the presence of his visitors.
