Governor Ododo: Yahaya Bello’s Greatest Gift of to Kogi is Flourishing.

By Abdul Mohammed Lawal.

One of the biggest tests of a leader is leaving behind a system that keeps working after their term. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State understood this and made it his mission to mentor future leaders who could continue his work. His efforts led to the rise of Ahmed Usman Ododo as governor, showing how good planning can secure a brighter future for the state.

Even though many didn’t see Ododo as the obvious choice, his performance so far has shown that Bello made the right decision. I was inspired to write this article to explore how Yahaya Bello’s leadership and planning gave Kogi State this gift, how Ododo has used what he learned, and the good results the state is seeing today.

Governor Yahaya Bello believed that good leadership means preparing for the future. From his first term, he made it clear that his successor would come from the system he built. He gave everyone in his team, from the grassroots to the top, a fair chance to grow and prove themselves as capable leaders.

This was different from what happened in the past. For example, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, a former governor of Kogi State, struggled to find a worthy successor from his team. Instead, he chose outsiders with no political experience during the two different 2011 PDP gubernatorial primaries. This decision created problems and slowed the state’s development. Bello wanted to avoid such mistakes.

Bello’s planning paid off when Ahmed Usman Ododo emerged as governor. Ododo had worked closely with Bello and understood his style of leadership. His rise wasn’t about being popular but about being capable and ready to lead. This is similar to what happened in Borno State. Governor Babagana Zulum, who was also chosen from within the system, has led Borno successfully, even through tough times. This shows that when a leader is well-prepared, it helps improve governance.

Bello’s aim was simple: Kogi needed a leader who could continue the progress and take the state to greater heights.

Ahmed Usman Ododo is proof that Bello’s plan has worked. Ododo learned a lot about leadership, making decisions, and running a government from his very active role in the “New Direction” administration. He studied what worked well, what didn’t, and used these lessons to guide his actions as governor. He saw Bello’s focus on building roads, creating jobs, and keeping the state safe, and he has continued in the same direction.

Unlike many new leaders who struggle to settle into their roles, Ododo hit the ground running. Because of his experience in Bello’s government, Ododo was ready to lead from his first day in office. He knew what the state needed and started working immediately to deliver results, and this is the defining story of ongoing policies and projects.

By learning from the past; both the good and bad, Ododo has avoided common leadership mistakes and is focused on making Kogi better. His first year in office has been one of the most successful in the state’s history, showing how well Bello’s mentoring worked. This has been a beautiful time where supposed critics easily turned into admirers.

In his first year as governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has achieved important things that are already making a difference in Kogi State. Despite some earlier doubts, he has shown that he is capable and committed to improving the state. It’s a blessing to recount some of these milestones.

One of his main achievements has been in building and improving roads. Ododo has worked to expand important road projects that were started before, as well as begin new ones to connect rural areas with cities. This has made travel easier and helped the economy by making it simpler to move goods and services around the state. The past year has seen over 20 road projects across the state, with most of them finished or near completion.

In healthcare, his government has improved hospitals and health centres, especially in rural areas. This has allowed more people to access better medical care. The most important of the health initiatives has been the continuous funding of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and the recent approval for the remodeling of 63 of them across Kogi State. This is in addition to the expansion of the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme (KGHIS) to cover more vulnerable Kogites, including people living with special needs.

In education, Ododo has improved school buildings and provided support to teachers in the form of training and work incentives. The State’s free education policy from primary to secondary schools has been sustained, with the government paying for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) for all Kogites. This is in addition to the continued infrastructural development across state-owned tertiary institutions. His aim is to make sure that all children in Kogi have access to good education, no matter where they live.

Additionally, Ododo has made sure that he has made employee welfare a continuous priority. Government workers are paid on time and he has approved a N10,000 harmonization allowance for pensioners, which has helped to restore trust in the government. He has also launched numerous programs to create jobs for young people, giving them the skills they need to build a better future.

These achievements show the greatness that Ododo is not just continuing what Bello started, but is also making his own impact. His first year in office tells the story of a leader that is focused on building a better future for everyone. What a beautiful story this has been!

This brings me back to the concept of succession planning that is often ignored in Nigerian politics, but it is important for making sure a state continues to grow even after a leader leaves. Governor Yahaya Bello’s decision to prepare Ahmed Usman Ododo as his successor shows the value of choosing a leader who understands the state’s needs and can build on what has already been done.

Ododo knows that good leadership means being fair, listening to people, and focusing on results, and he doesn’t joke with those lessons. In him, Bello successfully avoided the problems that often happen when new leaders don’t know the state well. This smooth change has helped Ododo continue important projects and bring new ideas that benefit the people of Kogi.

Kogi’s experience shows that succession planning is not just helpful, but necessary. By preparing Ododo, who understands the state’s challenges, Bello made sure Kogi would keep moving forward. Ododo’s success shows how important it is to have future leaders ready for the job.

To those who are still asking: what has Ododo done in Kogi State aside from paying salaries? I stand to boldly state that Yahaya Bello’s greatest gift to Kogi State, Ahmed Usman Ododo, is thriving in the business of governance. His leadership shows that when a leader plans for the future, it benefits everyone.

Ododo continues to lead and Kogi’s future looks brighter. Thank you, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the gift of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.