The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kOGI GOVERNOR

  • Bello should declare asset – Kogi rights activist

    Bello should declare asset – Kogi rights activist

    The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has been told to immediately declare his asset in line with his promise of modeling his administration after that of President Mohammadu Buhari.

    Bello had during his inauguration on Wednesday at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja pledged to maintain zero-tolerance for corruption.

    Mr. Idris Miliki Abdul, the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) Lokoja, in a statement issued Thursday in Lokoja called on Bello to stay true to his promise to stamp out corruption in the state by first declaring his asset
    publicly.

    He also called on the governor to probe his predecessor, who he described as the worst governor that the state ever had.

    He stated that Kogi being replete with uncompleted projects, it will be in the interest of the people of the state for the new governor to setup a judicial panel of enquiry to investigate the last administration.

    His words: “In his acceptance speech during his inauguration, it was clearly stated that he would not tolerate corruption, the cankerworm that is currently ravaging the nation and Kogi State in particular.

    “Furthermore, he promised to build his administration around the same principle he shared with the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhamadu Buhari in his effort to stamp out corruption in Nigeria. It is noted that the president and his vice have declared their assets publicly.

    “As a young governor of a state like Kogi, it will enhance confidence, credibility and above all trust from the people of Kogi State and Nigeria if the new governor can declare his asset that we make us to know his worth in both materials and resources. We therefore call on him to declare his asset without further delay.

    “Since 2003 when Alhaji Ibrahim Idris took over the mantle of leadership as a governor of the state and the immediate past rejected administration led by Capt. Idris Wada, the worst governor in the history of the state, the state has been characterized with
    uncompleted projects and inflated contracts, huge and fake wage bills and huge debts of imaginable proportion, it will be in the interest of the people of Kogi State for the new governor to set up a judicial panel of inquiry with people of proven integrity to ascertain the level of indebtedness in the state, both internal and external. To investigate the actual amount paid to contractors as it affects various abandoned and on-going projects in the state.”

  • Kogi Governor Wada didn’t kill Iyayi, says aide

    Kogi Governor Wada didn’t kill Iyayi, says aide

    The Kogi State government has debunked the allegation that Governor Idris Wada was responsible for the death of former Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President Prof Festus Iyayi.

    Wada’s Chief Press Secretary Richard Elesho said Iyayi’s death was a loss to the academic community, the labour union and Nigeria.

    Elesho said the timing of the accident was painful and tragic, when viewed against the role the late academic played in uplifting the educational system.

    He said Iyayi’s death, as many others on Nigerian roads, was caused by bad road and reckless driving.

    Elesho said: “It’s unfortunate that accidents kill more Nigerians after malaria. Nigeria is ranked 191 of 192 countries with unsafe roads and with 162 deaths per 100,000 from accidents.

    “According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, over 1.3 million people are killed annually in road accidents, with over 50 million people injured.

    “Prof Iyayi’s death, painful as it was, is regrettable and has delayed the resumption of students.

    “Most writers have painted Governor Wada in bad light, tagging him a killer, murderer and hired assassin.

    “They said the accident occurred because of over speeding, recklessness and wrong overtaking by the convoy.

    “This is sad. Those who know Capt. Wada know that the governor abhors violence.

    “His training as a pilot commands no contrary view. Aviators like doctors are trained to protect life.

    “Yes, the death of the revered academic occurred sadly through the escort vehicle in the governor’s convoy. But the accident occurred after other vehicles in the convoy, including the governor’s, had entered Lokoja.

    “The ill-fated escort vehicle was said to be trailing behind after it developed a fault.

    “Even then, government did not deny that the escort was part of the governor’s convoy.

    “Wada didn’t supervise the death of Iyayi as being erroneously painted by the media.

    “The governor got to know of the accident long after it occurred. He was overwhelmed when by the news, which further compounded his sense of loss. And promptly he set aside other state duties to rush to the hospital.

    “The role played by the media in announcing the death was not out of place. What is worrisome is the manner most writers skewed the accident and involvement of the governor, who was made to look as if he fled the scene. “

  • Kogi Gov ‘critically’ injured in crash, ADC dies

    Kogi Gov ‘critically’ injured in crash, ADC dies

    Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, was on Friday involved in an auto-crash at Emo-worro village in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state.

    The village is about 12 kilometres from Lokoja, the state capital.

    Eyewitness account said the accident was caused when one of the rear tyres of the governor’s car got burst in motion.

    The governor’s Aide De Camp, ASP, Idris Muhammed, died on the spot.

    He was returning to Lokoja from the Annual Igala Education Summit in Ayangba, his home town.

    A source said the critically injured governor was first admitted at the intensive care unit of the Lokoja Specialist Hospital, but was later moved away enroute Abuja when his condition began to deteriorate.

    Although, reports said Wada was being taken to the National Hospital Abuja, he has not arrived at the hospital at the time of filing this report.

    Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yabagi Bologi, issued an official statement shortly after visiting the governor at the hospital in Lokoja.

    Bologi said Wada was in a “stable condition.”

    He called on the people of the state to go about their normal businesses.

    The statement officially announced the death of the governor’s ADC who was involved in the accident along with the governor.

    The statement reads: “The convoy of the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada has been involved in a ghastly accident.

    “The governor survived the road mishap and is in stable condition. Sadly however, the governor’s Aide de Camp, Idris Mohamed, an Assistant Superintendent of Police died on the spot.

    “The accident occurred Friday afternoon at Emi Woro Village, about 12 kilometres into the state capital, in between Prime Polytechnic and Salem University, in Ajaokuta Local Government.

    “The convoy was returning from an annual Igala Education Summit which the governor declared opened at the state university in Anyigba.”

    A medical personnel at the hospital in Lokoja who spoke in confidence said the governor was “critically injured and at such require more serious medical attention than could not be provided in Lokoja.”

    It is however not clear if any other aide of the governor was involved in the crash.

    Meanwhile, most of his aides have switched off their mobile phones following the accident.