A musician, researcher, forecaster, Diyo Ozi Niger of blessed memory was the first person who predicted the leadership qualities of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the incumbent governor of Kogi state. From 2005 to 2007, the governor was popularly called Yahaya Makurdi by members of Aneku Ewu Obanyi in Oziwaya and the Egbirans of Kogi state generally.
Diyo Ozi Niger predicted that Yahaya Makurdi is a worthy ambassador of Egbira. He said he was proud of him then because he would serve Okene and Kogi state diligently. The prediction of Diyo has become a reality in Egbiraland; his legacy can’t be overlooked.
Diyo Ozi Niger, should therefore be immortalised by naming a road in Kogi central senatorial district and Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, after him.
From Total station Okene to Secretariat should be named as Yahaya Makurdi, while Idicha road to Azad palace or Reference Hospital should be named Diyo Ozi Niger road for purposes of history.
Yahaya Bello is the best governor on security. On becoming governor in January 2016, he swung into action by tackling the insecurity in the state. Thereafter, he embarked on civil service reform, which got rid of ghost workers. Thus, the governor was able to bring equity in the civil service, which had created disunity among Kogites.
On revenue generation, as predicted by the late Diyo, Governor Bello improved on the state’s revenue and built a revenue house that the previous governments thought wasn’t possible, making the state more accountable.
It was on this performance that the then revenue chairman, Alhaji Oseni Yakubu, was anointed to contest for ninth senate and won, thanks to Yahaya Bello.
Governor Bello, who has recorded tremendous achievements in Kogi state, no doubt, can lead the country as the first youth from the North-central zone.
Egbirans shouldn’t forget Diyo Ozi Niger who predicted and motivated Yahaya Bello to venture into politics and subsequently becoming a two-term governor of Kogi state from 2016 to 2024.
Yahaya Bello’s anointed, the Governor-elect Ododo Ahmed Usman, will take over the mantle of leadership of Kogi state next month to continue with the task of developing the state.
The Atteshenwu Youth Association, Malali (AYAM), Kaduna state has since inception 28 years ago been following the trend of events of our leaders. We are glad to have Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as the fourth executive governor of Kogi state.
The outgoing governor of Kogi state, an Egbiraman, we are proud to have you, as an asset to the entire Egbira nation. You are the best governor the state has ever had since its creation 32 years ago.
The chairman of AYAM, Malam Abdulrahman Salihu Omadivi, has been very active in the politics of both Kaduna and Kogi states. He is a strong supporter of the outgoing and the incoming governors of Kogi state.
However, this write up is basically a clarion call for the immortalisation of the late Diyo Ozi Niger who predicted the reign of Yahaya Makurdi (Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello) as governor for eight years.
