Our interview in KOGI AFFAIRS IT’S POSSIBLE TO HAVE GOOD REPRESENTATION AND SOUND ADVOCACY WITH THE YOUTH IN KOGI ASSEMBLY – Victor Kabba Bello Victor Kabba Bello is a vibrant youth who is fired by patriotism to venture into partisan politics. Now he is taking a plunge, in response to inner personal conviction and encouragement of many who believe in him, to vie for the Kabba/Bunu Constituency seat in Kogi State House of Assembly come 2015. In this interview with Kogi Affairs reporter on – line, Victor Kabba Bello, an apostle of generational change gives an insight into his background, aspiration and vision. Excerpt of the question and answer session are reproduced hereunder. Question: Please give us a brief insight into your biography. Answer: My name is Victor Babatunde Bello, but I have recently changed it to Victor Kabba Bello because I love Kabba so much and would want the name to be known the world over. Since by the grace of God, I will be known far and wide, I wish to use my name to promote the name of my community. It has a way of prompting me to be good and aspire to higher heights so that my name, and that of my community would be known for good reasons and mighty accomplishments. That is by the way. I was born to the family of Late Victor Ayodele Bello in Okepadi, Kabba on 30th July 1975 I am happily married to a lady from Okedayo and we are blessed with two lovely boys. I had my primary school education at ABU Staff School Zaria after which I proceeded to St. Barnabas Secondary School, Kabba. I also attended Government Secondary School Aiyegunle Gbedda, Unity Secondary School, Kiama (Kwara State) and finally completed my secondary school education at Okoro Gbedde High School. Yes, I attended four secondary schools. This is because my beloved father of blessed memory was an educationist who was always on the move as he progressed in his career. He was at various time Vice Principal, Principal, District Education Secretary, Executive Secretary and eventually the Director of Personnel Management (DPM) of Kabba/Bunu Local Government. I was moving with him as he desired. I must remark that moving around with him has paid off. It has influenced my perception of life positively. Today I am completely free from sentiments, I see everyone in the light of his positive attributes and as a positive change agent. Furthermore I have a wider circle of friends and schoolmates, many of who believe in me so much that I cannot afford to let them down by doing anything stupid. I therefore strive to be on the noble path of dignifying attitude at all times. Let me return to my educational background. I went back to ABU Zaria for a Diploma and in later a degree in Library and Information Science and graduated in 2005. I am now in Strayer University, Dallas USA for a Post Graduate Course in information Technology. Question: what informed your choice of Library and Information Science for your degree programme? Answer: I had also been a book person while growing up. What do you expect of the son of an educationist of the pedigree of Victor Bello senior. My father would read newspapers and forget about his meals. He would read a particular book until he had red-jacked it. I grew up loving books thereby. That was one side of it. On the other hand, I opted out of my desire to study political science the day I saw Professor Matthew Idowu Ajibero, a professor of Library Science with my godfather Professor Zakari Mohammed, the Ahmadu Bello University Librarian in Zaria. I also had the privilege of staying with Late Professor Andrew Leo, who was killed in the early years of Boko Haram menace, in Kano. He was a Librarian of repute. All these people made me fall for Library and Information Science and as to why I am pursuing a poor graduate course in Information Technology, I must tell you that that is the direction I am looking at for greater relevance in this technology driven world. Please note that information is power; add information and technology, then you are complete and ready to fly. Question: You were recently rumoured to be nursing elective political ambition… Answer: (cuts in) it is not a rumour well, if it was a rumour, now I am confirming to you that I have bowed to my inner conviction and external pressure through and has put my hat in the ring in the struggle for the seat of Kabba/Bunu Constituency in Kogi State House of Assembly, come 2015. I have had far and wide consultations following persuasion and pressures from my peers and even elders who believe in my capacity and ability to effect some positive changes using my network of friends, associations, connections, knowledge and tremendous goodwill. I have considered the grave marginalization of Kabba in the political arena. The conclusion of my painstaking study is that Kabba has not been productive, politically. As a student of history, I know the predominate position of Kabba as provincial Headquarters We had influence and control over a large expanse beyond the present Kogi State. In Okun, of course we are supposed to be number one. But alas, we are nowhere politically, let’s not deceive ourselves. Our neighbours have used our clannish consciousness and divisive tendencies to their advantage. We really need to get down to the drawing board and address the issue of political relevance of Kabba. Question: What do you see as the way out? Answer: I do not wish to mention names but I must state here that many of our leaders of older generation have been rather self-serving rather than being patriotic. They have used the name and place of the community to advance their personal agenda and ego. The time has come for a generational change, if, and now that our elders seem to have failed us. Question: What have you done in your place as a youth and where do you come in, moving the community forward politically or otherwise? Answer: I was a volunteer teacher in the summer school arrangement of our Prof in the USA. Within my little means I have paid the WEAC/NECO and JAMB fees of many students and other youth support endeavors. I have been very good to my people and having decided to stop recycling the same set of people, they are saying they want a positive change and I am saying IT IS POSSIBLE. We will get there. It is high time, we the under 40s are allowed to contribute our quota, putting in what he have learnt within and outside Nigeria that can move Kabba/Bunu forward. I am offering myself to serve the good people of Kabba/Bunu in the State House of Assembly where vibrancy and diplomacy, courage and sincerity of the purpose would be required. I am a widely travelled energetic young man. I definitely have fine, modern scientific ideas to contribute to the entrenchments of good government in Kogi State. If given the opportunity to represent my people, I will be dutiful and selfless, pursuing the interest of Kabba/Bunu constituency, putting the people first, demanding and expanding there rights and getting results by positioning myself in such a manner that Kabba/Bunu will matter in the scheme of things and given its fair share of our common wealth. I am preaching generational change in our area because it pays. It is long overdue. If we look around us we would see young energetic people taking charge and making a success of it. My appeal is for Kabba to take its place, stand its ground and support patriots like me to further enlarge our coast and drive the process of sustainable multi-sectoral socio-economic advancement using the instrumentality of the state legislature come 2015. Indeed, it is possible. All I need is support is support and encouragement as I offer myself for sacrificial service.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:09:19 +0000
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