The director general, Research and Development in Kogi State, Barr. Moses Okezie-Okafor has hailed the state governor, Yahaya Bello, on the inauguration of steering and technical committees to develop a 32-year development plan for the state.
Okezie who was interviewed by newsmen at the inauguration venue in Lokoja yesterday described the governor as ‘a visionary strategist who understands that a great future does not come by trial and error but is designed and built by patriotic forerunners for those who come after’.
Bello during his speech at the event said his plan was to set a trajectory for Kogi State which will lead to greatness. ‘The Kogi that I see emerging over the 32 years of this Development Plan is one that has a strong and self-sufficient economy, the highest standards of living obtainable anywhere in Nigeria, with abundant socioeconomic opportunities for all residents and citizens.’
The governor clarified that the plan will ‘provide for new venture creation, the development of industrial hubs where foreign direct investments and local enterprises will flourish.’ He added that ‘it must stipulate for improved networks of housing, roads, bridges, telecommunications and electricity infrastructure across the entire state, adjust for the effects of climate change while promoting incremental improvements in education and healthcare, human capital development, security, agriculture and diversity management.’
Barr. Okezie, who is the head of the Kogi State policy think-tank, the New Direction Blueprint Team and a member of the Steering Committee for the 32-year development plan believes it could become Governor Bello’s greatest legacy. ‘It has the potential to accelerate the momentum of unprecedented development set by his government across the next 4 administrations in the state’, he said.
However, when asked, he admitted that the governor’s successors have a role to play in the success of the plan. ‘As of today, His Excellency has already made his name by his massive achievements in office and has nothing to lose. This development plan, I believe, will help his successors more as it will put good governance on autopilot for them but that is if they choose to adopt and run with it. If they don’t, that is their choice. Governor Yahaya Bello has done his best for them.’
