A look at the tortuous journey for the agitation leading to the creation of Kogi State and the pace of development has made many to erroneously say the dreams of the founding fathers are far from being met.
This is as a result of several unfulfilled expectations,making several many indigenes hold negative opinion about the State and its successive administrations, including the one in the saddle.
While many may have reasons for their unpleasant comments and opinion about where the State ought to have been but has not,majority others however do so only for political reasons.
What is however important is the fact that indigenes of the State who are in majority and who have followed development since the coming of the Capt Idris Wada's administration,have had genuine reason to show appreciation each time a review is made of where the state is and what the present administration has been able to put in place.
Governance in Kogi State for now is no longer business as usual. A scientific approach that is result,excellence and merit oriented is what is now practice in the State.
Kogi State is one among the least State on the revenue accruing index in the federation.
No doubt, the State is big in terms of untapped natural and mineral resources.
The inability of successive administrations, hinged on several leadership factors to harness this potentials, as well as a follower ship that has not been cooperative,is said to have contributed largely to the under development of the State.
Without mincing words,that the pace of development of the State is slow,is a carry over problem that was inherited and could not have being caused by the present administration in the State.
But more importantly, the new thinking and the assurances displayed by the Wada administration that presently sits in the saddle at the helm of affairs,shows that all hope is however not lost.
It is a sigh of relief that in its close to two years in office,Capt Idris Wada's purposeful and focus administration,even though relatively young, is commendable and said to be on the right track.
The journey of governance for the current administration has not been easy, has also been arguably tough and mixed.
There is however a great consensus and convergence of opinion especially now as can be seen by the bold identity of creative leadership and enterprise that is at work by the Wada's administration.
The core objective of the Wada administration is geared towards bringing back the once lost glory of where the State ought to be.
Aside the fact that the present administration is limited by lack of funds to carry out much of developmental project as it will want, the lack in proper developmental road map, among other challenges before Capt Wada took over the reins of affairs in the State,was one major problem of the State.
Up until the current administration,the level of development achieved by successive administrations out side that of the party in power,has been greatly influenced by spontaneous demand to meet widening gaps.
Previous administrations had battled with the dire challenge of development without a blueprint,this has remained a huge challenge for development to take place.
So far what little other administrations were able to achieve,Capt Wada,the people say have more than doubled them.
In a space of challenging eighteen months in office, Capt Wada had to battle with numerous distracting litigation, a monumental evil flood disaster that ravaged the State, an auto crash that almost claimed the life of the Governor in the later part of 2012, absence,collapsed and decayed infrastructures, as well as an over bloated wage bill amidst dwindling resources are some of the few challenges.
Capt. Wada is today however being praised for promoting good governance. Through transparency,accountability and the disclosure of revenue accruing to the State and Local Governments and how they are spent.
Running an all inclusive government,with an open door policy where issues are addressed in the peoples interest has been the high point of the Wada's administration.
Wada had shown determination to rewrite the Kogi story. On assumption of office in January, 2012, he raised a think-tank Committee comprising illustrious sons and daughters of the State.
Their mandate was to prepare a development blueprint, which was to serve as the road map for his government.
While it has been tough adhering to the spirit and letter of the blueprint in the face of fresh challenges, it is safe to submit that the administration is not too far away from the blueprint.
With the signing of about 12 memoranda of understanding running into billions of Naira,the attraction of foreign partners into the state's economy is anchored on the political will of Capt Wada as a result of the creation of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Refusing to solely rely on oil revenue,the State under Capt Wada has continued to invest in Agriculture and Tourism.
Endowed with vast arable land,Capt Wada has placed Agriculture in its front burner,little wonder,the State has now taken its rightful place in the production of Cassava,Cashew and Rice.
The present administration has through the relevant State agencies initiated and adopted strategies to properly harness and develop all tourist sites to make them attractive to tourists as the nations marks its centenary next year.
Kogi State under Capt Idris Wada may not yet be the ideal State as the State still grapples with the problems of funding, poor and decayed infrastructures,absence of industries and a clear cut urbanization policy among other several indicators befitting of a one time nations capital.
But with the rate of development as is currently being embarked upon by the Wada's administration,it is only a matter of time before change sweeps through the entire landscape of the State,making it the envy of other states of the federation.
And like its new official appellation," Confluence of Resources and possibilities". The odds definitely are in favor of the Wada administration in Kogi State as it is on the verge of getting it right,through its Agricultural and industrial revolution as an investors' haven.
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