Yahaya Bello’s Kogi: Safest State in Nigeria?
By Nafisat Bello
The great struggles of the twentieth century between liberty and totalitarianism ended with a decisive victory for the forces of freedom and a single sustainable model for national success: freedom, democracy, and free enterprise.
And In the twenty-first century, only nations that share a commitment to protecting basic human rights and guaranteeing political and economic freedom will be able to unleash the potential of their people and assure their future prosperity.
People everywhere want to be able to speak freely; choose who will govern them; worship as they please; educate their children, male and female; own property; and enjoy the benefits of their labour. These values of freedom are right and true for every person, in every society and the duty of protecting these values against their enemies is the common calling of freedom-loving people across the globe and across the ages.
The need for security was the basis of the social contract between the citizens and the state, with that being said, security should be a fundamental right and entitlement of every citizen in which people willingly surrendered their rights to the government who oversees the survival of all.
Moreso, security is vital for national cohesion, peace and sustainable development. Insecurity is simply the breach of peace and security; whether historical, religious, ethnic, regional, civil, social, economic, and political, that contributes to recurring conflicts, and leads to destruction of lives and property.
For many years, Nigeria has been faced with series of major security challenges. The country used to be a haven for most people including the foreigners but now has become a hotspot, that the United States and a few other countries have had to issue a red-flag, warning its citizens against travelling to some parts of the country.
Until Governor Yahaya Bello came in January 2016, Kogi state was not left out of the general insecurity that affected a lot of states in the north central and other parts of the country.
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The political environment was so tense and toxic as people were divided along ethnic and religious lines and this, alongside youth employment, fueled the insecurity in the state.
Governor Bello knew he had his job cut out for him. He started by enhancing the involvement of the youth in the fight against insecurity. He also used traditional rulers, religious leaders and opinion moulders to forge a united front among the different ethnic groups and religions in the state.
He provided over 200 utility vehicles for patrol and procured sophisticated gadgets for the Operation Total Freedom established by his administration, to stamp out all manners of criminality in the State.
The governor also recruited about 5,000 young men and women across the 21 local government areas to collaborate with security agents on how to secure their respective domains from criminals.
Intelligence gathering and nipping potential threats in the bud became the focus of the administration’s security policy and this brought a lot of results.
As a matter of policy, Governor Bello empowers women and youth a lot. He has given them a sense of belonging by empowering them politically and economically. Youth restiveness has declined drastically in the state.
The rampant kidnapping and armed robbery incidents that occur in other states are therefore absent in Kogi state as people travel on the highways more freely now than before.
Basking in the euphoria of his massive success in the area of security, the governor told State House correspondents recently that due to the measures he introduced, Kogi state has transformed from the most dangerous place in Nigeria to the safest state in the country.
He said this after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the President commended him and security agents for the efforts they put in to make the state safe and secure.
“As you all know, Kogi state, as of the time I assumed office, used to be the most dangerous crime state. But today, with the special grace of God, Kogi is now the safest state as far as Nigeria is concerned,” Bello said.
Again, Bello’s style of evolving home-grown solutions and using local ways in getting things done instead of relying on the Federal Government, is up for recommendation for other states to emulate.
