I see myself becoming the Governor of Kogi State and immediately I assume office, I will pursue a three point agenda namely, anti-corruption war, revamping the economy of the state and fighting insecurity.
Anti-corruption War.
Corruption is the greatest problem of my State. Other problems stem from corruption. There was a particular morning that I was sitting down in front of my house and I saw children roaming up and down the street with nowhere in particular to go. On their hands are plates they are using to beg for food. "Children in the street", a song by late Reggae Artist, Lucky Dube struck my mind. Lucky Dube talked about why the parents brought them to this world without a plan to take care of them and I think further to the role of the government in providing education for these children. I read in the news yearly how billions of naira is budgeted for providing education for school age children but it all ends on paper while the fund is disbursed into private pockets.
People are dying of easily treated diseases because they lack access to basic Medicare. Primary healthcare system is dead in practice but very much alive in budgetary allocation. Roads are bad, claiming many lives every year due to accidents. I know of a particular road that appears in my state budget every year but it was never done. The money ends in private pockets. The list is endless.
I will devise a mechanism to monitor the budget preparation and as well the implementation. I will monitor the process to make the system rigid for fund misappropriation. Every naira must be accounted for. I will step on toes when doing this because corruption is a thriving enterprise that is so popular that you become an outcast in most cases if you detest it as a leader. Some powerful associates would want you out of the seat if you don’t allow them to perpetrate their intentions. I know this and I will make up my mind to do one term of four years. The fear of losing reelection makes many leaders bend the rule to accommodate some people with corrupt interests who may be instrumental to one's reelection. I see myself cleaning the system and having a Kogi State where the people's money works for them.
Revamping the economy.
The economy of a corrupt system can't see the necessary ventilation to live healthy. In addition to the fact that when the above menace is fought to a standstill, the economy becomes more robust, I will drive economic development through industrialization. A consuming economy is heading to a doom. Industrialization helps reduce unemployment. I will make sure funds are provided to advance agriculture and provision of infrastructure to aid industrialization. I will make sure the capital expenditure of the budget is more than the recurrent expenditure. Revenue from tax will be better managed so that taxpayers will see what their money is being used for and will be encouraged and willing to pay tax promptly. This will go a long way to provide funds for developmental programmes.
Fighting insecurity
Insecurity of lives and properties is a major monster mitigating against a peaceful living in my state presently. When corruption is eradicated and the economy revamped, more idle hands will be engaged thereby reducing the risk of having more jobless youths taking up crimes. I will provide necessary assistance to the police in the area of intelligence gathering so that criminalities can be nipped in the bud on time. One thing that I believe can bring the much needed peace in a society in justice. A society that lacks justice will definitely lack peace. I will invest appropriately in the judiciary to dispense justice without fear or favour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe that doing the three items above will give rise to a prosperous State where the gap between the rich and the poor isn't too wide. When I read about some developed world, how basic amenities are provided and wealth fairly distributed, I become sad for what is obtainable in Nigeria. A man can be a billionaire (acquired from the government) while millions of people around him can't afford to eat twice in a day. This is not normal. Once these measures are taken, investment in education, health, security, employment and other pressing needs will be made easy.
At the end of my tenure, I will retire to my village to live with the people that voted me to power to lead them for four years. I hope to see my name outlive my existence positively.
Well, coming back to my reality right now, I can't even afford to buy the form to contest for the gubernatorial seat. I am daydreaming. That uncommon governor that I wish I could become for the benefit of my people.