The Gonif Of Kogi
By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju
He does not look like an outright crook but he plays the game. He does not understand the symbolism of his age in a country where the young are denied of opportunities. He is very clever. So clever, he can con rats out of their holes. The Gonif of Kogi chooses whose salary to pay and whose salary to withhold, under his bogus ghost worker verification that has lasted forever. He has left old, retired workers despondent, hungry, without paying their pension under whatever pretense. Yahaya Bello operates at the shadowy borders of impropriety and illegality to the delight of Abuja. He is their golden boy installed in the North Central for equally shadowy political reasons.
I am ashamed of this young man. I am ashamed that Kogi under a younger man has become a morass of lies, grift and disdainful optics. While workers are killing themselves because they can't feed their families and pensioners dropping dead without life-sustaining annuities from the toil of their youth; the governor built himself a palatial house and invited everyone to the house warming. The optics did not matter to him. He is the governor and he can do whatever he wants.
We wanted women in positions. Patricia Etteh, Diezani and the Goodluck harem, taught us vital lessons. We wanted the youth for a change; Yahaya Bello, the Gonif of Kogi has landed us many royal slaps! Be careful what you wish for. Some youths are bigger and better defalcators. They are more sneaky, with more sleaze.
Comments