Since the administration of Adamu Atta, the first Executive Governor of the old Kwara State between 1979 and 1983, the Ebira people of present-day Kogi State have lived with the nostalgic memories of an era when one of their own occupied the highest political office in the state. Following the creation of Kogi State in 1991, that aspiration appeared to drift farther away, leaving generations of Ebira people with the painful feeling of political exclusion and an unfulfilled dream of once again producing a governor.
For decades, the aspiration remained alive but unrealised. It became a generational longing, a dream repeatedly confronted by political realities that seemed insurmountable. Many among the Ebira believed they had become spectators in the political affairs of their own state. Their voices were often subdued, their hopes deferred, and their quest for equitable political representation continually frustrated.
The people understood the meaning of political marginalisation because they lived through it. They witnessed years in which opportunities appeared beyond their reach, despite their contributions to the development and stability of Kogi State. They remember the difficult political journey they travelled, the obstacles they encountered, and the many disappointments that defined that era.
It was against this backdrop that Yahaya Bello announced his intention to contest the governorship election in 2015. His declaration was greeted with widespread scepticism. Political analysts and established actors reminded him of history: no Ebira son had ever secured the governorship ticket of a major ruling party in Kogi State. Many dismissed his ambition as unrealistic. Others considered him too young, inexperienced and politically insignificant to challenge the established order. Yet Bello refused to surrender to history.
He entered the APC governorship primary not as a man pleading for sympathy but as a determined believer carrying the collective aspirations of his people. With remarkable courage, he confronted political heavyweights and defied every expectation. Though relatively unknown at the time, he shocked the political establishment by finishing second behind the late Prince Abubakar Audu, one of the state’s most influential political figures. That performance alone transformed him into a symbol of hope for many Ebira people.
Kogi’s political landscape had long been dominated by seasoned politicians who dismissed Bello as a political novice. Some mockingly described him as a “Youth Corps Member” who lacked the experience, maturity and political network required to govern a complex state like Kogi.
But Bello’s determination proved stronger than the doubts surrounding him.
Although he did not emerge victorious at the primary election, he demonstrated resilience, discipline and uncommon loyalty to his party by committing himself wholeheartedly to the APC campaign. He invested his time, political capital and resources in ensuring the party’s victory, never imagining that destiny was preparing a different script for him.
The events that eventually led to his emergence as Governor of Kogi State have since become part of Nigeria’s political history. Rather than revisit those well-known circumstances, it is more important to reflect on what his emergence represented to Kogi State generally and to the Ebira nation particularly.
For Ebira people, Bello’s emergence ended decades of political exclusion. It restored confidence that competence, determination and courage could overcome entrenched political barriers. It was viewed not merely as a personal triumph but as the fulfilment of a collective aspiration that had endured for generations.
It is this historical significance, perhaps more than any political slogan, that explains why people across Kogi Central are urging him to represent them in the Senate.
However, history alone is not the foundation of the current support for Yahaya Bello. While symbolism matters, the people also evaluate leadership by its tangible impact. It is the combination of historical significance and what many supporters consider measurable achievements in office that forms the basis of their confidence in him.
The foremost responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and property. Indeed, Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
Before Bello assumed office in 2016, Kogi State faced significant security challenges. Terrorist activities, attacks on churches, security formations and public institutions created widespread fear. Boko Haram cells involved in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices were reportedly uncovered in parts of the state between 2011 and 2012. Several police stations came under attack, while the Department of State Services office in Lokoja was attacked on September 25, 2015, leading to fatalities and the escape of terror suspects. Among the most tragic incidents was the attack on the Deeper Life Bible Church in Okene on June 8, 2012, during which nineteen worshippers lost their lives. Numerous violent incidents also occurred across Okene and neighbouring communities. Between 2011 and 2015, several bank robberies were recorded across Kogi Central, while recurring communal conflicts destroyed homes, businesses and livelihoods.
Many families, including mine, suffered directly from these conflicts. Houses were burnt, ancestral communities were deserted, and thousands lived under the constant threat of violence. For years, Okene became synonymous with insecurity. Ebira people argue that his administration substantially improved this situation through sustained security interventions, stronger collaboration with security agencies and decisive government action.
As peace returned to Ebiraland, commercial activities expanded remarkably. Investors regained confidence, while many Ebira entrepreneurs who had relocated outside the state began returning home to establish businesses. Markets flourished, economic activities increased and the commercial landscape of Kogi Central experienced significant growth.
The establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital has further transformed Okene into an emerging healthcare destination, attracting patients from different parts of Nigeria for specialised medical services. Beyond healthcare delivery, the institution has stimulated economic growth through employment opportunities, hospitality services and increased commercial activity.
Similarly, the establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, alongside Kogi State University, Kabba, created thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities. Academic institutions naturally stimulate economic ecosystems, attracting housing development, transportation services, retail businesses and other investments that benefit surrounding communities.
Infrastructure development also featured prominently during Bello’s administration. Across Kogi State, roads were constructed and rehabilitated, healthcare facilities upgraded, rural electrification expanded, water projects executed and primary healthcare services strengthened. Supporters point to these interventions as evidence of a government that prioritised development beyond political rhetoric.
These are the reasons the people in Kogi Central believe Yahaya Bello deserves another opportunity to serve, this time in the Senate. Their support is not based solely on ethnic sentiment or emotional attachment to history. Rather, they see him as a leader who first broke a long-standing political barrier for the Ebira people and then sought to justify that historic mandate through governance that, in their view, delivered visible improvements in security, infrastructure, education and healthcare.
For Ebira people, Bello’s governorship restored more than political representation. It restored confidence, dignity and a renewed belief that they are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian federation. They believe he changed the narrative of a people who once felt politically marginalised and ensured that the Ebira voice became more prominent in the affairs of Kogi State and, indeed, Nigeria.
This explains why calls for him to contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat continue to resonate across the district. To Anebira, asking him to represent them in the National Assembly is not simply another political project; it is their way of expressing gratitude to a leader whom they believe altered the political trajectory of their people.
Outside Kogi Central, public commentary often suggests that the 2027 senatorial election will be a contest among candidates from different political parties. That perception is understandable in any democratic society where every qualified citizen has the constitutional right to contest elective office.
Within Kogi Central, however, the people argue that the political reality is markedly different. They maintain that the loudest conversations about a competitive race are taking place outside the district rather than among the electorate who will ultimately decide the outcome. Across communities, traditional institutions, youth groups, women, professionals and grassroots supporters, there is a widely held belief among the people that Yahaya Bello has already earned their confidence through his years in office.
For these supporters, the forthcoming election is viewed less as a conventional political contest and more as an opportunity to reward leadership they believe transformed their communities. They see it as a chance to reaffirm their appreciation for a man who, in their estimation, broke a generational political barrier, restored hope to a previously marginalised people and delivered governance that left enduring developmental footprints across Kogi Central and Kogi State.
Indeed, the growing call for Yahaya Bello’s election to the Senate is beyond the boundaries of Kogi Central. There are endorsements and expressions of confidence from political figures outside the district as evidence that his appeal is not confined to his immediate constituency. Among them is the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, who recently described Bello as a leader with demonstrable experience in tackling insecurity. According to Faleke, at a time when insecurity has become one of Nigeria’s most pressing national challenges, Yahaya Bello’s experience in confronting security threats as governor would be an asset in the National Assembly. He expressed the view that, if elected Senator, Bello would work in concert with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen legislative support for the nation’s security architecture and contribute meaningfully to the fight against insecurity across the country.
Whether measured by the historical significance of his emergence as governor or by what the people of Kogi Central in particular and the state in general regard as his achievements in office, people in Kogi Central believe Yahaya Bello has earned the privilege of representing them in the Senate. In their eyes, this is not merely another election; it is the continuation of a political journey that began with the restoration of a people’s pride and the fulfilment of a generations-old aspiration.
– Asipita Abdulazeez, PhD
Lugbe Federal Housing, Abuja, FCT.
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