By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO

After two months recuperation in Abuja following a fatal accident that claimed the life of his aide-de-camp, Governor Idris Wada returned to Kogi State last Tuesday.

AFter a lengthy absence from the state arising from a fatal accident that killed two close aides, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi returned home

The accident that happened along Lokoja-Ayangba road on December 28, 2012 left the governor’s Aide-de-Camp dead with the governor and the driver receiving major fractures. How the governor escaped was nothing but miraculous.

It was an absence that as is normal in Kogi State, reverberated with political insinuations. While some in the opposition ranks flayed the long absence of the governor, the mainstream of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the deputy governor, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi displayed an unwavering commitment to the Wada agenda that would have shocked many power mongers.

Gov Wada

One of those that drummed the beat of discord remarkably, was the Centre for Human Rights and Conflicts Resolution (CHRCR), which cautioned the governor to handover power to his deputy pending his recovery.

Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Alhaji Hardy Ametuo on his part said the governor’s absence also slowed the running of government as he noted that some cabinet members whom literally went to sleep in the absence of the governor.

But the absence was one that many would not have noticed given the media savvy of the deputy governor and his aides.

Mr. Awoniyi’s aides in their press statements repeatedly kept on bringing up the name and spirit of the governor during his absence and would normally declare that Awoniyi was representing Wada at one occasion or the other.

Cabinet Reshuffle: While away, there were rumours that the governor would announce changes in the staffing of the administration following reservations from some associates over the conduct of some of the appointees.

Those who held this opinion hinged their belief on the fact that most of the appointees where chosen by his godfather, the immediate past governor of the State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.

Given the general impression that the Ibro boys as they are known were not exceptional in the delivery of democracy dividends, there were suggestions that after nine years that they should be changed.

Wada returns: It was indeed a significant outpouring of emotion last Tuesday when the governor returned with dances and cheers from his major associates.

The governor entered the state around 4:30pm into the jubilant hands of the Deputy Governor, top government functionaries, organised labour, party stalwarts, friends and well wishers and teeming supporters. He later addressed the crowd at the Government House.

Holding a crutch by his left hand side, the governor said he was back to continue with his transformational agenda expressing that he regularly thought of the state all the while he was away.

While away: Before the accident, Governor Wada had presented the 2013 budget to the state House of Assembly who passed it in his absence but now that he’s back, the lawmakers may quickly present it to him to append his signature as the citizens of the states are eager for the implementation of the budget. Another notable action of the House while the governor was away was the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi said that the return of his boss would indeed hasten the execution of the year’s budget.

While stressing that the state should expect a ‘faster pace of work on the transformational agenda’ he emphasised that the accident has not hindered governance in the state.

“The Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi and the SSG, Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede took the right steps in the governance of the State. Don’t forget that Wada was also working from Abuja since there is capacity to do that from the Liaison offices outside the State.

Also, workers’ salaries were paid as at when due, so the noise that governance is absent in the state is a mal-statement. The only thing is that, his return to the State will bring a faster execution of his first budget,” Edi said.

Besides giving his assent to the pending bills, many stakeholders are equally anxious that Captain Wada should quickly complete many of the uncompleted projects still on ground. Many of the projects initiated from the Idris regime are begging for completion and pointers to that, would indeed be the real significance of the Captain’s return.

It would only add to the positive laurel won by the governor who deviated from the custom of normal public officers who on the slightest medical excuse go abroad for treatment.

By obtaining his treatment in Nigeria, the governor has truly demonstrated an unusual patriotism that many in government should emulate.