House of Representatives member James Faleke has said he will rescue Kogi State from bad administration in 2019.
Speaking in Ekirin-Adde, Ijumu Local Government Area, during his birthday celebration, the lawmaker lamented that Kogi has witnessed such bad governance.
“I can tell you that since the present administration came on board, each local government has collected a minimum of N2.1 billion monthly, between January and December. But unfortunately, our people are still in abject poverty.
“Unfortunately, our infrastructures are in complete decay; salary has become a mirage. Kogi happens to be the first state where a level-16 civil servant committed suicide; so many of our people have died since this administration came on board,” he noted.
Faleke said although he belongs to the same party as Governor Yahaya Bello, he would not be quiet about the ‘maladministration’ in Kogi.
His words: “We are saying the government must change for the better if it wants to continue to be in office, because it is only by the will of the people, and when these people are not happy, it becomes a problem.
“I have heard Governor Bello compare himself to President Muhammadu Buhari, and I have said it openly, and I am saying it again, that President Buhari, in character, behaviour, in his observance of religious ethics, in his conduct, relationship with people, is the complete opposite of Bello.
“When the President was the chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), he had every opportunity to own petrol stations all over the country, but he did not have one filling station; that is a man of character.
“Throughout his stay as PTF boss, and as former military Head of State, he only owned a three-bedroom bungalow; he never lived a lavished life. So, if anybody says he is emulating the president, that person must be of good conduct; must behave like the president, in terms of salary payment.
“When the President came on board, he challenged all the governors to pay salaries. Kogi got N20 billion, as the first tranche but unfortunately, till today, our people are still in abject poverty, and Kogi happens to be a civil service state.
“Hence, when workers are not paid, traders would not have any business because their businesses depend on workers’ salary to survive.
“This has a multiplier effect in the negative perspective, but I assure you that change will come. I implore you not to be afraid. We hear they have bought guns for their vigilance members to intimidate people during election, but God who made it possible for those guns to be manufactured will silence them.
“I tell you on the election day, it will be your ballot paper and voter card; these things will decide your future. If you want the situation to remain the same, the card is in your hand, and if you want to change for the future, the card is also in your hand.”