Date Published: 07/27/09
That Kogi may be great again (Part 1)
By Onuche Aguda
onucheaguda@yahoo.com
Historical antecedents are valuable components of culture which goes a long way to shape our present and the future.
The past in juxtaposition of the present is the future in that what we make of chances and opportunities that availed itself are the determinants for progress or failure in every society inhabited by mortals.
Development and underdevelopment are birds of the same feather, we tend to ascribe the latter to a unique endeavor, but the plain truth is that it’s the simplest of endeavors in human existence, if not for the level of decadence in the society and praise singing which have become synonymous with the political class in the country, the aforementioned would have been carried out effortlessly.
The implication of praise singing in political circles is evident in Nigeria today, state and federal levels not spared. We must move out of the antediluvian age we have found ourselves to embrace the age of modernity and change, borrowing from the Americans in the aftermath of the Obama victory.
This piece is but an exposition of a state tagged the confluence state. A state strategically located in the north central part of Nigeria with proximity to the federal capital territory. Development and Underdevelopment are sentences craving for relevance in the state, with some school of thoughts readily available with postulations and theories. The historical journey into democracy in Kogi state began in January 1992 to November 1993 and may 1999 to 2003. These years saw Prince Abubakar Audu at the helms of affairs churning out popular and unpopular policies; some affected the citizenry positively, while some were off the hook.
However we must give praise to Prince Abubakar Audu for he put a smile on the faces of the people and Kogi state was reckoned with in the scheme of affairs in the country, not trying to take sides as some reading this piece might think. We were better off in those days. Some school of thought will readily avail that though prince was a blessing to Kogi state, but he was too autocratic and arrogant. Being arrogant is not a peculiar to an individual the world over, it’s an attribute that is associated with political power and wealth. To be honest I would have done worse should I be the governor especially in those days when power was completely interesting as we were just entering the institution of democracy.
Going down memory lane, we had our challenges as a people, most especially in the educational sector, where thousands of youths besiege other states in search of admission that was often elusive, elusive in the sense that our population usually out numbers the allotted catchment area spot for Kogi students, we wanted to study and free our generation from illiteracy that was the trademark of the previous generation of Kogities.
Borrowing from the words of Paul Ado Suberu” On page C4 of the Sunday Republic, August 9, 1992, he wrote: “Kogi State’s land, therefore, remained a fertile woman whose womb can only conceive and beget children for the advancement of other states at the expense of the land that nursed her to adulthood”. Has this changed?
No human being is totally all-in-all to self. Government is a continuous one. One goes and another comes to build on the achievements of its predecessors. In fairness to Abubakar Audu, he started in a positive way to bring Kogi State to a reasonable standard. He built in virgin Lokoja, the state capital, 304 units of residential houses and 28 units of prototype office blocks.
Within 20 months in office, before the in-house-coup of General Sanni Abacha on November 17, 1993, Audu had laid the foundation of Kogi State University at Ayingba. On his return in 1999, under the Nigerian People’ Party, Kogi State stands next to Benue State in the old Northern Region to get its own state university.
The above mentioned became necessary as I thought I was the only one seeing Kogi state from this light. What manner of blessing can you give to me yet ignoring education?
The Idris led administration on the other hand cannot be described an outright failure in the sense that on assumption of power he had genuine intentions for the state. He wanted to serve the people as he was excited about the whole process. Idris forgot something fundamental in the world of Kogi politics. Self interest is the order of the day. He was hijacked and manipulated to see things from their perspective, and guess what? He became gullible and a veritable tool to carry out their whims and caprices.
The citizenry were at the receiving end; Thugs were embraced and rewarded handsomely. You dare not speak up for you will receive a barge of insults from his media aides. “Bitterness has blocked your brain’” you are suffering from amnesia, a stupid miscreant and many derogatory words you will get from lugguard house should you show concern about the scheme of things in your darling state.
Though I have not met Idris in person, I know he is such a nice man. He listens and really cares about the ordinary igala man on the street, I make bold to say that his undoing are the aides around him. From the advisers to assistants, I believe he is so scared to confide in anybody his fears.
For if Idris were to be arrogant, he would have fared better in governing the state, because as it stands, arrogance is a good attribute in Kogi state for you to get things done properly.
Back to Prince, his level of arrogance was misconstrued I believe, we were told of tales of how people around him sit on the floor while he alone sits on the chair, how he ruled with such iron fist that nobody dare misbehave, how he gets things done with a snap of the fingers, most especially in federal circles, and that was how he was able to bring the former president to Ayingba to lay the foundation for the now prestigious Kogi state university, he also brought the former first lady to commission the hostels.
I remember vividly, I was a rookie Jambite then as I rushed to catch a glimpse of the much talked about Prince, for the first time in my life I saw the former first lady. All these kept ringing a bell in my head as to who the man called Prince Abubakar Audu was. I am not from Ogbonicha as someone reading this piece might think, am not doing any hatchet job as it’s the norm in lugguard house now, but am simply reminiscing about what my life would have been should Kogi state university remained a dream. Would I have met my lecturers that brought out the writing skills in me? Would I have met my friends that molded my character? All these and many more are what I have sat down and analyzed before coming out with this piece.
The banking industry, the telecommunications and Oil and gas industries have traces and inputs of Kogi state university. Left right and centre we are representing well. In the scheme of things we are reckoned with. But it was a glorified secondary school that churned these intellects that would have wasted or toed a different path.
The path to greatness lies in an underlying idea, an idea that comes inform of a push or rather a bold step. That push, step or idea manifests in all aspects of human endeavors.
The path that seems unpopular was what the prince towed. No amount of roads or infrastructures would amount or equal the establishment of Kogi state university. I beg for my emphasis on education and the youths of Kogi state. If you reading this piece will not agree with me, then try ignorance! To be continued!
