What’s Next for Yahaya Bello, Retirement or Another Appointment?

Progression is the natural order of life, and so is entropy. Against the moving train that is the life of Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, there are debates as to what route the train will take. Will it stop at political retirement or is there an appointment waiting by the next bend?

The era of Bello in Kogi has come to an end. Named the GYB era, it was characterised by many narratives, some painting the man as the greatest devilish governor in the history of wicked state governors, and others portraying him as a misunderstood revolutionary. Strangers to Kogi’s politics tend to champion the latter narrative.

Regarding his perception nationwide, debates are ongoing as to what path he will take if he is in the position to make the decision. Will Bello retire from all things political, perhaps take up a business venture and show the corporate world what untethered confidence can accomplish? Or will he bend the knee to get an appointment, continuing where he stopped and stretching his influence across Nigeria?

Many social commentators hold the view that Bello will not retire. As the impassioned loyalty of his successor, Usman Ododo has shown, Bello may remain a relevant pillar in Kogi’s politics for many years to come. But this means that Bello may not be able to climb out of the prison of the past, a prison that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are happy to make tangible and realistic.

But another group of commentators believe that Bello will leave the political scene, especially since EFCC appears intent on throwing him behind bars. Assuming he can escape their grasp, he may choose to do something different with his life.

 All in all, nobody knows what Bello will do next. Assuming he can decide it himself, rather than have EFCC decide it for him, he may prefer a political appointment to retirement.