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Tag: Gov. Yahaya Bello

  • Bello: those accusing me of failure don’t visit Kogi

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello on Wednesday became the first aspirant to pick the governorship nomination and expression of interest form to contest the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary.

    He, however, said those accusing him of non-performance do not visit Kogi State.

    Bello also said his accusers will be shocked when President Muhammadu Buhari comes to commission a number of projects in the state within the next few weeks.

    Speaking with reporters after collecting his nomination form at the APC secretariat, Bello said those accusing him of not delivering on his campaign promises were those who never visit the state.

    Bello said his developmental projects are quite visible for the people of the state to see, saying “my developmental footprints can be felt, seen, touched and smelt by all”.

    The governor also dismissed the position of 20 APC aspirants in the state who claimed that the party has been factionalised.

    According to him, the APC under him remained one.

    Bello said it was criminal for anyone to have gone to court to depose to an affidavit to continue a case that had been withdrawn by the former party chairman.

    Read Also: APC to hold Kogi, Bayelsa primaries August 29

    “Hadi Ametuo was the leader of his own group. I don’t want to call it a faction because there were never factions in Kogi APC. But, his own group felt aggrieved that they were never carried along in the scheme of things. For us as a party to go into the elections and win overwhelmingly, we have to bring everybody on board.

    “The issue of Kogi State APC being in court has been withdrawn. Anybody that is parading himself to say that there is a case in court, I will rather advise such person not to tow the path of criminality because you cannot depose to an affidavit in the absence of the right person, who is supposed to do so. Kogi State is not known for criminality. APC is not known for criminality.”

    Bello advised those who are aggrieved with him to close ranks and join him to deliver the state to the APC during the governorship elections.

    He said; “When you talk of anybody accusing me of not delivering on our mandate or dividends of democracy to the people of Kogi State, they are probably those who are living outside Kogi State. If they are actually living in Kogi State, if they cannot see it, they will feel it, because if I start to list all that I have achieved in Kogi State, I do not think 24 hours will be enough for me. But I can say it that Kogi State used to be a haven for criminality, kidnapping, armed robbery, thuggery and the rest – these things are becoming things of the past. That is number one.

    “Number two, if you talk of infrastructure, it litters everywhere across the three senatorial districts. In weeks ahead, Mr. President will be in Kogi State to commission projects. Again, one other very important achievement is the unity that you see today. The issue of marginalisation has become a thing of the past because we are running an all-inclusive government. Any person that is parading that we did nothing, that person is a diaspora person.”

    The former APC chairman, whose faction went to court to challenge the emergence of the present leadership, Ametuo, faulted other aspirants who had kicked against the use of the indirect method of primaries, accusing them of impersonation.

    Ametuo said he had personally deposed to an affidavit and instituted a case against the governor’s recognised Alhaji Abdullahi Bello-led Kogi State APC, adding that he has withdrawn the case from court to allow for a landslide victory for the party in the coming elections.

  • Excitement as Kogi students get bursary payment

    It was a celebration galore in the Ayingba campus of the Kogi State University as the indigenous students of the state on Wednesday received bursary alerts.

    A student who got a bank alert of about N11, 000 confirmed the state government has commenced bursary payment.

    It be recalled that the Kogi state government as part of its “New direction government” promised all indigenous students in the state a fixed sum for their bursary allowances.

    Owing to some hitches, the government delayed the process which led to some students making known their displeasure over the state government inability to stick to the agreed date set for the payment.

    Read Also: Why we are not paying salaries regularly – Kogi Govt

    Our reporter also confirmed the payment from some students on one of the whatsapp group platforms where those who have received theirs shared their excitement.

    The government urged students to exercise patience as the payments will be done batch by batch owing to the large number of students who registered for the scheme.

     

  • We’re on the trail of killers of unionist, two others – Bello

    We’re on the trail of killers of unionist, two others – Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, on Friday, ordered security operatives to fish out the killers of Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub, chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union of Secondary School, Science and Technology Education Board (STEB) branch in the state and his friend, Mallam Ibrahim Otaru, murdered in the farmer’s Okene home on Wednesday night.

    The governor in a statement on Friday said that from the information available, the murder was premeditated.

    He expressed sadness over the killing of the three persons, including one Abdulganiyu Aduki, an artisan who was killed around on Tuesday, at Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area, also in the Central Senatorial district.

    Aduki’s wife and daughter were also shot during the incident and are currently hospitalised due to their injuries.

    Yakub’s murdered drew the ire of the organized labour in the state, leading to the call off on-going talks on salary issues with the government.

    “Law enforcement is already on their trail and I have put the full support of my administration at their disposal. I promise Kogites that we will leave no stone unturned till we find and decisively put these cowardly criminals out of business in the manners prescribed by law”, vowed Bello.

    The statement read: “Our hearts go out to the family of Abdulganiyu Aduki, an artisan who was killed around 7:30 pm on Tuesday, 31st October 2017 at Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area. His wife and daughter were also shot during the incident and are currently hospitalised due to their injuries. We condole with them for their dead and join them to pray for the full and quick recovery of the injured.

    “We also commiserate with those left behind by Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub and his friend, Mallam Ibrahim Otaru, who was gunned down at the home of the former in Ozuwaya, Bariki Ward of Okene Local Government Area around 7 pm on Wednesday, 1st November 2017.

    “From the information available to us, the brazen manner in which these cruel killings were carried out indicate they are premeditated assassinations executed for the express purpose of taking the lives of the deceased persons. There was also a clear intention to kill any hapless person who happens to be present at the time of the attack.

    “As soon as I was briefed on this dastardly incident, I directed the Police and other security agencies to track down the killers. Law enforcement is already on their trail and I have put the full support of my administration at their disposal. I promise Kogites that we will leave no stone unturned till we find and decisively put these cowardly criminals out of business in the manners prescribed by law.

    “Our people must be safe in every part of Kogi State, especially in their homes. This has remained our preoccupation in government. Kogites will bear us witness that in the nearly two years we have been in office we have taken Kogi State from being one of the leading theatres of kidnapping, armed robbery, thuggery and violent crimes in the nation to her current status as one of the safest states to live and do business in Nigeria.

    “My administration, therefore, considers these attacks as an enemy action directed at unsettling the peace and security which we have returned to our people at a great cost and nearly superhuman efforts. We are already fighting back strongly for our people. Kogites can rest assured that no one will be allowed to take us back to the past.

    “Over and beyond the general tight security measures we have always maintained all over Kogi State, we also paid closer attention to the Kogi Central Senatorial District in the provision of security infrastructure.

    “This is because of known security challenges plaguing the zone for many years now. The presence of Boko Haram returnees and other hardline elements is a particularly worrisome phenomenon.

    “My administration also established a Nigerian Army Forward Operations Base at Achoze in Okene Local Government Area some months ago which is doing a great job in helping to police the area more efficiently and effectively.

    “Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub was a well-known community leader, an Islamic cleric, a school teacher, and a labour leader.

    “In fact, he was one of the leaders who worked closely with government and the Security Agencies to stem the tide of insecurity in Kogi Central, particularly the Okene axis.

    “Those who know him well inform us that he lived an honourable life. No one must be allowed to dishonour him, even in death.

    “I am particularly worried about utterances credited to the leadership of organised labour in Kogi State in the media suggesting that Mallam’s death may not be unconnected with his roles as a labour leader opposed to government. Simply put, they have insinuated that this government may have something to do with his death.

    “They have also gone ahead to posit that their lives are not safe as labour leaders. I am aghast at this manner of thinking. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the leadership of labour knows this”.

  • Gov. Bello urges parents to bring up children to abhor crime

    Gov. Bello urges parents to bring up children to abhor crime

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has tasked parents and guardians to bring up their children and wards in a manner that they would abhor crime.

    Bello gave the charge on Thursday in Lokoja, when members of Ozi-Ogu clan from the Central Senatorial District paid him a visit.

    He said that government would not spare anyone involved in crime, vowing that efforts to rid Kogi of criminals would know no sacred cows.

    The governor said that government was committed to absolute peace and total freedom of movement, especially on the highways, and warned against armed robbery, kidnapping and other crimes.

    “Before we came on board, cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other social vices were very high, with youths at the centre of all.

    “I want parents to always advise their wards on the implication of involving in any criminal act. Parents should also endeavour to take the education of their children very serious,” he said.

    Leader of the group, Dr. Yahaya Ogirima, had earlier commended the governor for tackling security issues, noting that the era when people suffered in the hands kidnappers, who demanded high ransom, had gone for good.

    He promised that the Ozi-Ogu clan would continue to support the governor to achieve his policies and programmes toward a better Kogi.

  • APC will not dissolve Kogi Excos

    APC will not dissolve Kogi Excos

    The National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured leaders of the party in Kogi state that it has no plan to dissolve the state chapter of the party or any organ of the party in the state.

    Speaking with newsmen at the end of their meeting with the leadership of the party at the part national secretariat, leaders of the party in Kogi state led by Senator Alex Kadiri and Dino Melaye said they have received the assurance of the party that the dissolution of the state leadership was not part of three agenda of the meeting of the NWC.

    Speaking on behalf of the Kogi APC leaders, Senator Alex Kadiri said “We met with the national chairman and his team and we agreed “that the national working committee will not tamper with the APC in Kogi State. That is very very important to us. We got an affirmation from the Chairman that that is not in their agenda for their (NWC) meeting on Wednesday

    “The executive of the APC at all levels in Kogi State will not be dissolved because there is a procedure for the dissolution of the party executives at the State level even at the national level. 

    “We also disabuse our minds vis-a-vis the mind of the national chairman over the fact that people have accused some persons of moving funds from Kogi to Abuja. We do not have facts to give you on this. The chairman has assured us that his hands are clean on this matter and we believe him. 

    “That the Tony Momoh led reconciliation committee have actually submitted their report and the report will be considered by the national working committee at their meeting because APC members in the State are anxiously waiting for the outcome of that report. 

    “It is that report that has made the leaders of APC to be calm and not to do anything that will disrupt the party. And it is not our intention to destroy this party. But we have always said this that politics is a game of interest and relevance. If your interest is not being protected and people do not find you relevant, then there’s no point being there. 

    “And we are satisfied with the position of the national chairman that he will never do anything to frustrate the leaders of the APC in Kogi State. And I can assure you that on our part, all the serving senators in APC, personified by Dino Melaye,  all the former senators from Kogi State including Senator Ohiare, Abdul Abubakar and myself are all behind senator Dino Melaye in this fight. 

    “We believe that his fight is just, we believe that it is not right for APC to fold its hands and see the only APC Senator left in Kogi State to be taken out of the Senate chambers. We believe that we must fight to keep our senator in the national assembly. 

    “We also believe that the process of recall being orchestrated are all based on falsehood. Dead persons names are there, people who do not have PVC to vote were there and i hope you remember that total votes cast for all those who ran for senate for Kogi West in the last election came to about 133,000, but those who claim to have signed petition to withdraw Dino from the national Assembly are around 188,000. It is an exercise in futility. He has done us proud and we will stand by him.”

    Meanwhile, the party has, however, said it has not taken any decision as regards the chairman of the Kano state APC chapter, Alh. Umar Haruna Doguwa. 

    In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) said though it aware of the crisis rocking the state chapter but no decision has been taken. 

    “We wish to state that in respect of Kano, no such decision has been taken by the NWC. Although, we are aware of issues in the Kano State chapter, efforts to find lasting solutions to the problem are ongoing. In view of this, the statusquo is maintained until the ongoing process is completed. 

    “Party members, stakeholders, leaders and indeed the general public are advised to disregard the false reports.” 

  • Kogi Gov reiterates commitment to reduction in maternal, child mortality

    Kogi Gov reiterates commitment to reduction in maternal, child mortality

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Monday assured the people of the state of his commitment to ensure considerable reduction in maternal, newborn and child mortality rate in the state.

    The governor gave the commitment in Lokoja at the inauguration of Maternal, Newborn, Child Health Week (MNCHW), free healthcare services for women and children between six and 59 years.

    Bello, who was represented the governor at the occasion by Mrs folashade Ayoade, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) promised to improve maternal and child health care services.

    His administration, he said, would ensure increased quality of life for the people.

    “By the grace of God, we have been delivering on our promises to the people and we are determined to do more in collaboration with our development partners.

    “This administration will continue to support maternal, newborn and child health to make tremendous impacts on women and children; we implore the people to take full advantage of this intervention package,” Bello said.

    The governor enjoined health workers to be diligent in their duties for the success of the government programmes.

    He called on mothers to devoted time to breastfeed their children, stressing that “a child that is well breastfed will live a super healthy life.”

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna, commended the governor for demonstrating the political and financial commitments to the health sector.

    He said that the Bello-led administration had put Kogi Ministry of Health side by side with other Ministries of Health across the country.

    According to him, MNCHW is a week-long, high impact and low cost strategy aimed at delivering health dividends to women and children in the country, adding that Kogi has keyed into MNCHW since the inception of its New Direction Administration.

    Haruna said that the government, under “Bello Health Intervention (BHI)” programme has provided Free Medical Outreach targeted at about 50, 000 patients and concluded with resounding success.

    “Free paediatric drugs were distributed to health facilities and 10s of Kogi indigenes were sponsored for advanced medical attention, home and abroad.

    “Preparations are at the concluding phase for the official grand launch of the Saving One Million Lives Programme and the Healthcare plus programmes, among others.

    “Our immediate and long term health development plans and targets are fully on course as stipulated in the New Direction Blueprint for the health sector,” Haruna said.

    Dr Ahmed Attah, Special Adviser to the governor on Health Matters, said, the state government had prioritised health sector more than all previous governments in Kogi.”

    Mr Bolarinwa Ogundusi, the state Nutrition Officer/MNCHW Focal Person, said MNCHW stemmed from the need to boost coverage of high impact interventions for mother, newborn and child survival.

    He said that 651, 095 children in the state had received vitamin A supplement this year.

    “The intervention for this round includes vitamin A supplementation; immunisations; focus antenatal care; health education; HIV testing/counseling; family planning services, among others,” Ogundusi said.

    In his remarks, the Administrator of Lokoja, Local Government Area, Shiru Lawal, also commended the governor for his steadfastness in the provision of quality healthcare services to people of the state.

    He said that the exercise would make the state to contribute immensely to the reduction in number of children under five years that died yearly in Nigeria from preventable childhood diseases.

    The state branch Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Godwin Tijani, praised Bello for the achievements of his administration in the health sector, especially in manpower.

    He said: “As an association, we are assuring health ministry that NMA is always ready to give the needed support to the government, to ensure progress in the health sector

    “We are ready to partner with you anytime and any day.”

  • Journalists: Be professional, patriotic -Bello

    Journalists: Be professional, patriotic -Bello

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has called on journalists to display high sense of professionalism, patriotism and discipline in their calling and avoid hate speeches and reports that tend to divide the nation.

    Bello made the call at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner with media executives and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), on Friday night in Lokoja.

    According to the governor, some reports in the media of late tend to polarize the nation.

    He urged that reports that tend to sabotage unity of the nation or divide the people and undermine the corporate existence of the country should be avoided to pave way for advancement and development of the country.

    “Avoid misrepresentation of facts and limit report of those things that tend to divide us even if it is true.

    “Continue to do your best; I am aware of the menace of social media which has overwhelmed the conventional media.

    “On governance, we had to take a bold step and put our political interests on the line to ensure that the right things are done. I am not unmindful of the circumstances that brought me in,’’ he said.

    On the recent staff verification and salary issues, the governor maintained that no genuine worker of the state would be shortchanged, adding that the backlogs of salary arrears were being cleared.

    He promised to create an environment more conducive for interaction to enable government to right the wrongs of the past, identify weaknesses and strengthen them for overall development of the state.

    Speaking earlier, the state Council Chairman of NUJ, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Adeiza commended the governor for his courage and commitment to effecting necessary changes in various areas of the state economy.

    He commended Bello for the positive changes effected at the state-owned Graphic Newspaper and the Broadcasting Corporation (Radio-Kogi).

    Adeiza assured the governor of the continued cooperation of the NUJ, and urged him to create the enabling environment and provide support for journalists covering the state to discharge their duties effectively.

  • Staff screening: Kogi to prosecute workers with fake certificates

    Staff screening: Kogi to prosecute workers with fake certificates

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Tuesday received the final report of the staff screening exercise, with a vow to retrieve salaries and allowances collected over the years by workers with fake certificates.

    He also said that workers that gained employment into the state civil service with fake certificates would be prosecuted.

    The governor, however, said that workers found guilty of altering their birth dates would be pardoned.

    Bello, who commended the committee that carried out the exercise, said that issues relating to the 14-months verification exercise had finally been laid to rest with the submission of the report.

    The governor promised to implement the recommendations in the report, and described the exercise as one of the “surgical operations” his administration had to embark upon toward effective service delivery.

    Earlier, Mr John Ayuba, Chairman of the staff screening and verification appeal committee, had said that the committee was initially expected to attend to 32,753 workers, but ended up with 39,144

    Ayuba, Director of Studies at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), said that the committee identified 44 problems that were common to workers that appeared before it.

    He listed the problems to include fake certificates, irregular promotion and appointments, disregard for civil service rules, inappropriate qualifications for people already in high places, among others.

    The Chairman cited the case of some civil servants with primary school leaving certificates, who rose to become directors, and described the situation as strange.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the Kogi chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Onu Edoka, said that the report was inconclusive as teachers and pensioners, who formed the bulk of complainants, were not captured .

    He pleaded with the governor to temper justice with mercy in the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report.

  • Minister calls for improved surveillance on nation’s highways

    Minister calls for improved surveillance on nation’s highways

    National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Tuesday in Abuja, called for improved surveillance by relevant agencies on highways to stem rate of accidents.

    He made the call in a condolence letter to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on the death of Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, on behalf of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    The chairman said that the circumstances that led to Adinoyi-Ojo’s death were a painful reminder of the need for improved policing of the nation’s highways. 

    He said that such policies were necessary to rid the roads of insecurity and incidents that had led to avoidable human casualties and loss of properties on the nation’s highways.

    Odigie-Oyegun said that the party’s leadership received the news of the tragic death of Adinoyi-Ojo with grief.

    He condoled with the Government and people of Kogi and the immediate family of Adinoyi-Ojo, adding that he was a veteran journalist and a frontline member of the APC.

    “The death of Adinoyi-Ojo who was a governorship aspirant in the APC’s last Kogi primary election has left us with a great void and deep feeling of grief.

    “He was a versatile, brilliant and celebrated member of the media intelligentsia, literary community and academia who made indelible marks in the various fields locally and internationally.

    “Nigeria and indeed the international community has lost an illustrious son,’’ he said.

    He added that in the course of the deceased’s professional, national and international service, he brought great honour and pride to Nigeria.

    The chairman added that Adinoyi-Ojo had a meritorious and unblemished record of service in the media, saying that his articles, biographies and other literary works remained a collector’s item and reference point.

    “Prayers and fond memories are what we have to remember our dearly departed, please accept my sincere condolences,’’ he stated.

    He prayed God Almighty to give the late Adinoyi-Ojo eternal rest, and his family, particularly his three children, the fortitude to bear the pain.

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