Death Rumours : Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is, by God's grace, full of life, vigour and verve-Edward Onoja.

If anyone is entitled to a little rest, I would say it is my boss, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. The last two years have been a non-stop roller-coaster of politicking events for His Excellency and those of us on his team. The itinerary he set and led us to follow was tight. It often became overloaded with unscheduled and unavoidable meetings, travels, campaigns, in fact, all the trademark activities of the politician in a season of politics.




Nevertheless, His Excellency confronted each day with youthful force and accomplished each task with energetic excellence. 

We threw ourselves into the mobilisation efforts for the APC even before the November 2014 National Convention in Lagos. 

When that was done, His Excellency marshalled us all over Kogi and beyond campaigning for APC's victory in the 2015 Presidential Elections. 

Under the aegis of His Excellency's strike-force, the Kogi Youth Arise Group (KYAG) for Buhari and Osinbajo we touched every part of our state preaching the Gospel of Change. 

The campaigning to deliver Kogi State for the APC kept every KYAG foot-soldier as well as our leader, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, physically on the move and actively in the field until the May 29th, 2015 swearing-in of President Muhammadu Buhari. 

Immediately after that we turned our attention to the Kogi State Gubernatorial Elections, 2015. By sheer dint of hardwork especially serious contact with the grassroots, His Excellency placed second at the APC's August 29th 2015 Primaries. 

After the Primaries we were thrown into an epic struggle for justice and to win the elections from which we went straight into the November 21st, 2015 and December 5th, 2015 General and Supplementary Elections. 

Following His Excellency's election came the Transition process with His Excellency simultaneously shouldering responsibilities thrown up by the Transition Committee and the Inauguration Committee. 

All of this led straight to the Historic and Record breaking January 27th Swearing-In Ceremony and the herculean efforts to chart Kogi's New Direction away from over 13 years of no direction. 

His Excellency waded through 17 particularly acrimonious suits which were made even harder by members of his own party and won all. 17 needless court cases which travelled through The High Court, The Tribunal, The Court of Appeal and finally, the Supreme Court. 

The point is that after a full 24 months with each second action parked, having taken no breaks or vacations, any person would be ready and entitled to a little rest and privacy. We in Kogi State welcome the 2 weeks' vacation taken by His Excellency to rest and strategise.

We want to believe that when news of the death in action of Lt. Col. Abu Ali, a gallant warrior and scourge of Boko Haram, a Scion of the Royal House of Bassa Nge Kingdom in Kogi State broke, some people misinterpreted the statewide, nay nationwide, outpouring of grief and erroneously concluded that something has happened to His Excellency.

We want to believe it was all a honest mistake that got out of hand. But just in case there are actually people wicked enough to have started, relished or celebrated news of His Excellency's death, or the death of any member of his team, we will not curse them back. _Wickedness is its own punishment._ We send their prayers back to them, multiplied a thousand-fold. 

For the records, and to reassure people of goodwill everywhere, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is, by God's grace, full of life, vigour and verve and totally focused on delivering his New Direction Agenda for Kogi State. He resumes work on 12th November, 2016 when his vacation ends.

Edward Onoja