…on consolidation and continuity.
By Otori Ozigi
There is no gainsaying that this is not the best of time for anybody to lead Kogi State as the Executive Governor, for obvious reasons.
First, the state is presently trapped in the miasma of political and ethnic fault lines, occasioned by the politics of bitterness and acrimony that characterized the last gubernatorial election in the state.
Paradoxically,this is the first herculean task before the newly inaugurated government of Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman.
He would need to pull up his sleeves and bring back unity, togetherness and patriotic disposition of the various ethnic groups in the polity.
He should not give in to any elements or forces of distractions as he grapples with the full challenges of governance in the days ahead.
Since the bulk of his cabinet members is comprised of experienced and tested hands, inherited from the immediate past government of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza, Bello, this would have immediate positive impact on the wheel of leadership, abniso.
The governor should quickly assign them to their relevant and appropriate ministries,with a matching order to deliver quality and purposeful leadership at their various duty posts.
There should be an existential system in place that would measure the aggregate performance of each commissioner,at least, on a quarterly basis.
Any of them found wanting,should be shown the way out of office because Kogi State is blessed with tested technocrats and accomplished professionals,who would be too willing to add value to good governance in the state,if given the opportunity to serve.
The commissioners should be told in plain language that they are being given the opportunity to serve and impact on the society and not to engage themselves in competitive primitive accumulation of wealth at the detriment of the masses of the state.
The general mood in the state today is that of total despondency and excruciating hardship by the generality of the populace, occasioned by the harsh economic situation in the country.
Kogi State is in dire need of a government that can pull people out of this pervasive poverty and give them a sense of a renewed hope for a better tomorrow.
The government of Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman should think outside the box to put in place economic measures that would make life more meaningful to the generality of Kogites,in the years ahead.
His government should embrace fiscal accountability and transparency in the utilization of the meagr resources of the state.
In view of this,it would be necessary for the government to seek ways to diversify the economy of the state so that the state would not rely totally on the monthly allocations from the federation account committee, FAC.
One of such measures is the full utilization of the opportunities that exists in agriculture sector and also by harnessing tourism potentials in the state.
Another area that calls for proper attention is the urgent need to widen the taxes net in the state.There are other multiple sources of taxation and revenue generation that are still lying untapped in the state.
The state internal revenue service, KGIRS, should be strengthened to enable the service improve on its IGR performance in the years ahead.
On the whole, the years ahead calls for judicious use of resources, diligence, dedication and unwavering perseverance by the governor and his cabinet members in the task of building a virile and prosperous Kogi State, for the utmost benefits of all Kogites.
May God help the government of Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman to succeed.
Otori Ozigi, a veteran journalist and PR Consultant,writes from Okene.
