Tag Archives: Kogi State

BREAKING: One case of Lassa Fever confirmed in Kogi State

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This is to inform the General public that there has been a confirmed case of Lassa Fever in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The confirmation was done afterwards a patient (male) who is a resident of Angwan Kura, Lokoja reported at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja, with signs and symptoms suggestive of haemorrhagic fever.

The State Epidemiologists immediately responded by sending the patient’s blood sample to the designated Laboratory at Federal Specialist Hospital Irrua, Edo State for analysis, which came back positive for Lasser fever.

The patient was eventualy transfered to Federal Specialist Hospital Irrua, Edo State for optimal care.

The State Rapid Response Team was summoned by the Hon. commissioner for Health *Dr Saka Haruna Audu* and provisions were made for source/contact tracing and prophylactic treatment for medical personel who had contact with the patient before transfer. All these have been concluded as all those who have had contact with the patient  are currently being closely monitored.


It is important to note that it was discovered that the patient had travelled to Illorin, Kwara State where he had stayed for two weeks. He only developed symptoms of haemorrhagic fever two days after his return. We are therefore uncertain whether he contracted the virus there or here in Lokoja.


All hands are on deck to prevent further spread of the disease as jingles and other means of public enlightenment are currently ongoing.

Any suspected case of Lassa Fever or any one with useful information related to this subject matter should call
08030607102

 

Audu Haruna
PA. To Hon. Commissioner for Health

“Surrender your arms”, Governor Bello issues ultimatum to armed groups in Kogi.

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The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has given seven days ultimatum to those in possession of fire arms and ammunition, in the central senatorial district of the state to surrender them to security agents or face the full wrath of the law.

Gov. Bello who gave the warning in Okene, the Headquarters of Central Senatorial District of Kogi state during a stakeholders meeting on the security challenges in the area, said the security and safety of Ebira land is pivotal to the security of the nation.

He also stressed that the geographical location of the district was enough for the government to take a decisive action in tackling insecurity in the area.

The insecurity challenges that as bedeviled the area which is made up of five Local Government Area is of top discussion.

The hall was filled to the capacity with the elder statesman, traditional ruler from various clan, National House of Assembly members, youths, top government functionaries all from Central Senatorial District are all in attendance.

Governor Bello, in his opening remark welcome the people to the town hall meeting, while he urged them to speak out their mind without fear, he said this will go a long way in saving the land from miscreant.

”Today we are here holding a town hall meeting with respect to security challenges not only in Kogi state,but in Central Senatorial District comprising of five local government, Okene, Okehi, Adavi, Ajaokuta and Ogori-mangogo.

”These senatorial areas are dominantly by Ebira people, If I am not mistaken we are 90 percent of Ebira people in these Senatorial Districts”.

The Governor had recently ordered the demolition of over 15 buildings in Okene that had been identifed as kidnappers den discovered with arms.

“This is the first time the people will come together to brain storm on  how to tackle the insecurity situation which has been a daily event since the creation of the state, while previous government paid no attention.

One of the elder statesman, Dr. Tom Adaba, who spoke to Channels Television  lamented over the incessant criminal activities in the area which had brought disgrace to the land, while he appealed to the Governor not to spear any one in his quest to rid the district of criminal element.

“The governor is making an attempt in wiping them out which is the best thing to do and having started, it is only right and proper that he gets to hear what the people think about it” Dr. Adaba lamented.

Also speaking, the Asema of Ezuka CLAN, Momoh Sani Isa, while thanking the governor for fighting crime in the area, he identified politicians as the problem, he said they formed the habit of arming thugs to unleash terror on their opponent.

“What almost destroyed the effort of the traditional ruler in tackling crime is dirty politics you know when the time come for politicians to campaign most of them don’t even regard the traditional rulers as people because they know, this people have no voice at the top and in an effort to get supporters they will not do what is right at whatever level, Isa added.

The Governor while speaking with newsmen warned politicians in the district who armed thugs to retrieve the weapons and hand them over to the nearest police station, to avoid being caught by the law.

Governor Bello also said there will be no sacred cow in the fight against criminality in the state.

 

Source: Channels TV

NDLEA Parades 14 Drug Suspects In Kogi State

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The Kogi state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested some suspected drug peddlers including a serving police inspector and a dismissed corporal in the Nigerian Army.

The suspects were said to have been nabbed with over 1,083.6 kilograms of cannabis.

While parading them before journalists at the command headquarter in Lokoja, the state capital, the commander of the agency, Mohammed Idris, stated that they were all arrested at different locations in the state by a combined team of the task force.

The police inspector, Abali  Zagi, who was said to be currently serving at the force headquarters in Abuja, explained that he goit involved in the business because he was tempted by the money involved.

The agency however says that the suspects would soon be charged to court upon conclusion of the on-going investigation.

 

Source: Channels TV

Kogi State Government introduces Whistle Blower Policy with immediate effect.

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As part of its probity and accountability mandate, the Bello-led Kogi State Government has promised a cash reward of five hundred thousand naira to any person with useful information that will lead to the arrest of criminals and people who spread false Information capable of disrupting public peace.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mrs Petra Akinti Onyegbule, today in Lokoja said the move is aimed at consolidating the security efforts of the present administration in the State and ensuring peace and harmonious relationship amongst the good people of Kogi.

The statement noted that Governor Yahaya Bello administration is out to ensure the reduction of crime and criminality in the State and to also curb the attitude of some politically sponsored persons who spread false information against the government with a view to causing disquiet and rancour amongst the citizenry.

According to the statement, every information given will be treated with utmost confidentiality and called on the people to comply as the issue of security is the collective responsibility of everyone and vigilance should remain our watchword. The State government therefore enjoins everyone to muster their efforts at sustaining the peace and security currently experienced in the State by their continued cooperation.

“Kogi State is now a haven for Boko Haram” – Governor Bello

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Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Tuesday said that following the losses suffered by Boko Haram in the north-east, its fleeing members had found a haven in his state.

Mr. Bello made the disclosure in Abuja while speaking at the seventh edition of the National Security Seminar entitled: “Consolidating on the Gains of Counter Terrorism Operations in Nigeria.”

He, however, warned that the insurgents had chosen a wrong place because he was ready to collaborate with the military to rout them out of the state.

“Kogi is now a haven for Boko Haram, because many of them have relocated to my state.

“Just last night, four high profile Boko Haram members were arrested in Kogi by the military.

“I want to assure them that they have chosen a wrong place to relocate, because we will never allow them.

“We will work together with the armed forces to consolidate on the victory and gains recorded in the North-East,’’ he said.

The governor commended the military for their efforts at “technically defeating’’ the insurgents in the north-east, and underscored the need to consolidate on the victory to avoid a relapse.

Mr. Bello said the government had actually done a lot in safeguarding lives and property and in reclaiming the territorial integrity of the country.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, said that for the nation to consolidate on the gains of counter terrorism operations, national security agencies must work in synergy.

Mr. Abubakar also appealed to the government to look into and implement several suggestions made by experts at previous security seminars held in the country.

He said it was high time the government developed the political will to implement suggestions proffered by experts to prevent making security seminars mere talk shows.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Temlong, the President, Alumni Association of National Defence College, described terrorism as a global threat that had affected over 65 million globally.

The brigadier general commended the armed forces for the victory recorded against the Boko Haram, but emphasised the need to brace up and consolidate on the exploit in order to put a final end to the threat.

The seminar is jointly organised by the National Defence College of Nigeria, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Alumni Association of National Defence College.

 

Source: NAN

“We need N800bn to re-position Kogi State”, says Yahaya Bello’s administration.

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The administration of Yahya Bello, governor of Kogi state, says about N800 billion is needed to reposition the state.

Kehinde Oloruntoba, commissioner for budget and planning, said this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists after defending his ministry’s budget at the state house of assembly.

He said 30 percent of the money would come from the private sector, 40 percent from donor agencies and multinational corporations, and the remaining 30 percent from internally generated revenue (IGR) and allocations from the federation account.

Oloruntoba said the move would place the state among its developed counterparts in the country.

He attributed lack of development of the state to political office holders in the past administration, but said the government of Bello was poised to transform and reposition the state.

The commissioner said the target of N32 billion IGR given to the state’s board of internal revenue (BIR) was realisable because it had been given necessary working tools and expertise to operate.

“One of the first things Governor Yahaya Bello did on assumption of office was to grant autonomy to BIR, providing it with all the resources to function effectively,” he said.

EXCLUSIVE: How Kogi Ex-Deputy Governor employed SSCE holder as Medical Officer

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Drama ensued at the venue of the Kogi State Staff Screening Appeal today, Monday 30th January, when a lady, Alalonu Vivian Chinyere Salawu, confessed how one-time Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Philip Salawu, approved her appointment as Medical Officer on Grade Level 13 Step 6 despite having only a Secondary School Certificate with four credits. She hails from Imo State.
The gory case failed to escape the eagle eyes of members of the Screening Appeal Committee, who raised eyebrows over the lady’s case.
Immediately the anomaly was discovered, the culprit was referred to the Quality Assurance Team of the Committee for further interrogation. It was before the team that the cat was let out of the bag.
She said: “The former Deputy Governor, Dr Philip Salawu, directed his Personal Assistant to write the application on my behalf and I was asked to sign. Salawu immediately recommended me for employment as Medical Officer, a directive which was immediately carried out by the Permanent Secretary.
“I was taking the salary to the wife of the former Deputy Governor’s wife through her Personal Assistant while they gave me only 15,000 naira every month. When they were about to leave government, Salawu quickly directed I be converted to a Clerical Officer and I was posted out of his office to the Office of the Head of Service.”
Vivian claimed to be married to the younger brother of Grace Salawu, wife of the former Deputy Governor.
Addressing newsmen at the Screening Appeal Centre, a member of the Committee and the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, said the Screening exercise has been quite revealing.
“We need to applaud the previous committee for doing a great job. The Screening Exercise was aimed at saving the service from imminent collapse and to save the lives of the people. Imagine a secondary school certificate holder employed as Medical Officer. They almost killed this state. For her to come to appeal shows the audacity of fraud.
“These are the people castigating government without telling the world the fraud they have been perpetrating. Governor Yahaya Bello is poised to ensure his reforms in the civil service sails through.”
It would be recalled that the State Government decided to give affected workers a window of justice to ventilate their complaints and receive fair hearing.
Cases of certificate forgery, age alteration and unexplained cash inflow into civil servants’ accounts have been discovered at the centre.
A complainant, who gave birth at the centre on Saturday, 28th January, was given a one million naira gift by the Governor to take care of the child. When the Governor announced the donation at the centre and handed over the cash to the beneficiary, jubilation erupted at the centre with shouts of “Adoza.”

Kogi Staff Verification Exercise: Corruption is fighting back – Bello

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Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, has said his government is poised to implement the recommendations of the Staff Verification Committee to further deepen his drive towards a disciplined and efficient civil service in the state.
Speaking through his Director General on Media and Strategy, Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo, at an interactive forum organized by a civil society Group, Equity Forum in Lokoja, the Governor said he expects corruption to fight back  as starling revelations have exposed the rot in the system.
“Popularity secured through the protection of corrupt practices and corrupt individuals can never last. Between such popularity and saving Kogi State from ruins, the Government of Kogi State has chosen the latter,” he said.
“We had wasted billions of state resources on people who did not contribute anything to our economy but used their ill-gotten salaries to develop their places of residence across the nation. Those who are due for retirement falsified their dates of birth to debar our youth from gaining employment. Governor Yahaya Bello has chosen to right the wrongs and save the state from economic perdition.”
The Governor’s spokesman said government is unperturbed by “sponsored media hype against the exercise,” adding that “those who stole billions of naira through the ghost workers scam in Kogi are uncomfortable with government for not only exposing their nefarious acts, but blocking the pipes of thievery.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has written his name in gold for his courage to bed the cabal of ghost workers in Kogi State. It will be foolhardy to think corruption would not fight back, but this administration is capable of dealing with troublemakers. The Governor has challenged affected workers to come forward to prove their cases and anyone who is able to prove his or her case will be paid all outstanding salary arrears. Those who chose violence instead of proving their cases with facts, surely do not have genuine cases. However, established cases of fraud against the government and people of the state shall be prosecuted.”
“Parents should warn their children against allowing themselves to become pawns in the hands of those who have held us down for so long. The Staff Verification Exercise is to the benefit of the people of Kogi State. The people of this state are united behind their Governor as we march forward together towards a New Direction.
“The Governor wishes to assure the people of Kogi State that his administration will continue to empower them through a vibrant economy supported by a motivated and educated citizenry; infrastructural development and schemes that will ameliorate poverty in the society. He is with the people of the state.”

Kogi Government recalls suspended Head of Service, Perm Secs, others.

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Kogi State Government on Thursday recalled the state’s Head of Service, Moses Atakpa, and 102 Permanent Secretaries and Directors it placed on compulsory leave since February.

 

The state acting Head of Service , Hassanat Lawal, said in a statement in Lokoja said that their recall was ordered by the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

 

Mr. Lawal said the recall order also affected local government councils’ treasurers, cashiers, checkers, education secretaries, accountants and other categories of staff that were sent on compulsory leave between February and November.

 

The acting Head of Service, however, said that the recalled senior civil servants would not go back to their previous positions.

 

According to her, all the affected officers will be reporting in her office every day until further notice, but will, in the interim, help the government to formulate policies in strategic areas of governance.

 

Mr. Atakpa, the recalled Head of Service, thanked the governor for recalling him and his colleagues, saying that the action had clearly shown that the present administration was above pettiness and tribalism.

PRESS RELEASE: Governor Yahaya Bello is healthy, news of bad health untrue.

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For more than 2 weeks now, there has been some weird news making the rounds about the health of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. In a bit to get a clearer picture, Omojuwa.Com reached out to the governor to clear the purported news of his failing health. After getting in touch with the governor’s office, we received a press statement clearly defining the current state of the governor’s health.

In a press release signed by the DG Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State, Fanwo Kingsley, the governor is in good health and doing just fine. It also further went to say that the rumour is a machinery of political enemies of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

Below is the press release:

My attention has been drawn to the spurious rumour doing the round that there are concerns over the health of the Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello.

I want to state clearly here for the avoidance of doubt that the rumour lacks any iota of truth. It is a reflection of the depth the enemies of Kogi State have gone in their desperate angst against fate.

To put the record straight, the Governor is hale and hearty, healthy and unwavering in his vigour to make Kogi State the Confluence of Excellence.

I urge all Kogites of goodwill to discountenance the rumour as His Excellency will return from his two weeks break on the 12th of November, 2016.

Let me also thank the good people of Kogi State for their love and sense of solidarity.

Thanks and God bless Kogi State.

Signed: Fanwo Kingsley
DG Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State

Press Release: Kogi State Government Remains Transparent, Focused.

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The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to a spurious, libelous and malicious publication on page 50 of ThisDay newspapers dated 17th August, 2016, in which the paper raised a feeble and fallacious alarm of graft against the Kogi State Government.
Be that as it may, Governor Yahaya Bello has re-positioned the state to come to terms with the tenets of fiscal responsibility and financial discipline. Since January 27, 2016, Kogi State has joined the league of states that have put their feet down on transparency, accountability, prudence and fiscal-tailored financial management.
Therefore, it is farcical and preposterously derogatory for a newspaper that prides itself to be in line with Truth and Reason to write such a tempestuous streak of indefensible innuendos aimed at damaging the integrity of the Government of Kogi State.
The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello has remained the first in the history of the State to publicly declare the income and expenditure of government with copious references to State Government Accounts at different banks. This is the opium of transparency.
Brushing aside the impunity of the pen and disregard for investigative journalism as displayed by ThisDay newspapers, the general public must begin to look at the idiocy of the recycled lies by disgruntled elements, who are bent on thwarting The New Direction Agenda of the present administration.
Shortly before the Lower Tribunal judgement in the election cases instituted against the Governor, the same political elements took to town, through a discredited column in The Nation newspapers known as Palladium. The column was used to propagate the same falsehood against the Governor. The allegations lack truth, sense of responsibility, credibility and logical reasoning.
The judiciary rose to the occasion by toeing the path of law and delivered judgments based on the point of law and justice. The jubilant eruption in Lokoja over the Appellate Tribunal judgments is an indication of the popular acceptance of the People’s Governor. The tetra-kicks by agents of distraction is understandable. But, we shall remain committed to good governance. We have no reason to respond to the allegations as we have set the record straight on many occasions. However, the public must begin to see the character of those who aspired to lead them. It has become crystal clear that they do not love Kogi State.
Few days to the Appellate Tribunal judgments, the group of disgruntled elements whose ambition has hit the rocks also planted fictitious stories in the dailies to paint Kogi State as a corrupt State, despite all the drive of the Governor to develop the State and make it the key to the greatness of the nation. Again, their plans fail. Truth is sacrosanct. Truth is constant.
Now that the cases have gone to the Supreme Court , the detractors have stepped up their falsehood through attempts at mudslinging the Judiciary and the Government of Kogi State.
They should learn from history. The Supreme Court is the judicial hope of any nation. It is manned by people who are prepared to defend the point of law.
It is unfortunate for people who milked our state dry to connive with those who were aspiring to milk it dry to bring the name of the State to ridicule just for political mileage. The people of the State are unmoved by this desperate attacks by crass opportunists who have lost touch with the political state of the State.
At inception, the Governor was called “a toddler” and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward David Onoja, was called “a kindergarten Chief of Staff.” Today, the “toddler” has restored the confidence of the Kogi people in their government. Today, the Governor has been able to save over 1.6 billion naira the “experienced” predecessors were paying to ghost workers monthly.
Today, Governor Yahaya Bello has mobilized contractors to rehabilitate our roads in all of the Senatorial Districts. Today, over 200 utility vehicles have been procured for delivery to security agencies to make Kogi people safe.
The achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello and their own failures have formed a chemistry of hate and a delicate determination of the enemies of the Kogi people to wage a relentless war against the people. Since they are so detached from the people, they have no choice than to use papers whose publishers took part in sharing arms fund, to discredit a government that has taken transparency as a top priority for good governance.
Aside the political desperation to intimidate the Judiciary, it is also instructive to note that the decision of the Kogi State Government to look into why high-class contracts failed in the State has no doubt jolted the incurably corrupt accusers. They have been running from post to post to save their necks from their past maleficence.
Contracts for which billions were paid in Kogi State were never executed. As a leader that abhors corruption, the Governor has directed the setting up of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to unravel how the funds grew wings.
There have been multi-faceted pressure on the Governor to rescind the decision. But, in his characteristic way, Governor Yahaya Bello has decided to stick with the people and protect their Commonwealth. No amount of propaganda and falsehood can derail the good work the Governor is doing in the State.
We make bold to say that every contract awarded by the present administration in the State went through due process. The selling point of our dear party is transparency which is the bulwark of good governance. There cannot be development when resources are siphoned by people who are charged with the responsibility of safeguarding those resources for the common good.
For the umpteenth time, we wish to reiterate the fact that renovation contacts were awarded within Government House in line with the Public Procurement Act. We have been conscious of the fact that our good intentions must be matched by strict adherence to due process.
Those who want to trade the destiny of the State and those mismanaged our rainy days are busy sponsoring spurious allegations against a restoration government. We shall not be dampened by the serial idiocy, but emboldened by the strength of the Kogi people and the solidarity of our people.
Ultimately , Governor Yahaya Bello is running a media-friendly government in line with his unassailable respect for the freedom of speech through a free press. A free press is a veritable vehicle for advancing the frontiers of freedom and development. On the other hand, an irresponsible press is sad reminder of the dark days of khakistocracy. The Governor has no plan to gag the press, but will always demand for explanations when the rules of journalism are blatantly and flagrantly poached. As a government, we will welcome constructive criticism, but we will frown at libelous publications against the State Government.
The onus of proof will always be on those who allege. We urge the media to desist from constituting themselves as pawns in the hands of perfidious politicians who are desperate to malign the person of the Governor. Our respect for the fourth estate of the realm should not be taken for granted. We will clinically curb the trend of sponsored media attack on our state.
The ongoing projects in the State are speaking for the government. We are silencing our detractors with solid performance. A number of approvals have been given by the State Executive Council for more projects to be executed across the state. After four years, our performance would have done enough damage to the sixteen years of locust under the People’s Democratic Party.
With improved security across the State, those who celebrated our security challenge are now shifting ground to peddling falsehood. Governor Yahaya Bello should be judged by his achievements.
The Freedom of Information Act has made it easy for citizens to track the performance and transparency of their government. Our doors are open. Our hands are clean. The people know what their government is doing. God and good are with us.
All we have for the Egalitarian Mission for Africa is pity. They have acted on a report built on falsehood and malice. Now they have become a subject of scorn for their incoherent, false petition.
The people of Kogi State are wise, intelligent and informed. They cannot be hoodwinked by those who had destroyed the State before the advent of the present administration in the State.
We are focused. We are marching forward. We believe in a new Kogi. We are moving towards a New Direction of unity, progress and development.
Signed
Kingsley Fanwo
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Yahaya Bello Fires All Perm Secs, Finance Directors In Kogi

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The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has directed all permanent secretaries and Directors of Finance in the state to proceed on compulsory leave with effect from Tuesday.

 

The Head of Service, Moses Atakpa, who issues the directive on behalf of the governor, asked all the affected officials should hand over the affairs of their various ministries to the personnel director s of the ministries.

 
Also, the state’s Accountant General was relieved of his duty, while his deputy was asked to proceed on a 30-day compulsory leave.

 
At the Local Government level all DGs, education secretaries are to proceed on compulsory leave.

 

Atakpa, however, said all those in acting capacity were excluded from this directive.

 

The Governor explained that the move was aimed at repositioning the state for effective growth.

 

Credit : Punch

Kogi State Deputy Gov. Announced & Sworn In

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Simon Achuba has been sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.

His swearing in took place on Tuesday in Lokoja the capital of the north-central state.

Mr Chuba filled the vacuum in the deputy governorship position after Mr James Faleke refused to be Governor Yahaya Bello’s deputy.

Mr Achuba last year defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and he is a former Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

Mr Faleke wanted the position of the Governor after the governorship candidate in the election, Mr Abubakar Audu, died a day after the governorship election.

The election was declared inconclusive, with a supplementary election scheduled for a later date.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Kogi APC In Dilemma Over Faleke’s Rejection Of Deputy Governorship

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Political kingpins in Kogi State have gone back to the drawing board to reconfigure the state’s political positions following the final decision of the state’s Deputy Governor-elect, Hon. James Faleke to absent himself at next week’s inauguration ceremony.

 

The governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are at a cross roads over the push by stakeholders from the Igala speaking Kogi East district for the office of deputy governor to be zoned to them on the grounds that as the largest senatorial district they cannot be left out of the first two positions in the state.

 

Bello is from Kogi Central while Faleke is from Kogi West.

 

 

Vanguard was reliably informed by sources close to Faleke on the final decision not to partake in the inauguration ceremony scheduled for January 27.

 
“As far as we are concerned, Faleke is not the Deputy Governor-Elect to Alh. Bello, but the late Prince Abubakar Audu who won the governorship election before he died. Faleke is the only person who is qualified to inherit Audu’s votes because the ticket was a joint property.

 

“We are not bothered about plans for inauguration because it has no impact on us. Let them do their inauguration while we pursue our case in court. At the end of the day, the law will determine the rightful occupant of Lugard House,” they said.

 

The sources also informed that Faleke has no plans of disrupting the inauguration, saying, “as a man of peace, our principal has confidence in the judiciary to resolve the Kogi impasse.”

 

Given the determination of Faleke to abstain himself, the party it was gathered has commenced the search for a replacement for the office of deputy governor.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

Groups Accuse Faleke Of Plotting Violence In Kogi

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A social right group, Kogi United for Justice said it has uncovered plan by James Faleke and his supporters to throw Kogi State into chaos ahead of the January 27, 2016 swearing-in ceremony in the state.

 
In a statement made available to press men in Lokoja, Sunday, the group called on security agencies in the state to ensure the safety of people in the state, especially in the capital city of Lokoja.

 
According to the release, huge sums of money have been earmarked for the sponsored crisis.

 
“In as much as we have chosen the path of reconciliation and constructive engagement at appeasing aggrieved parties, we cannot afford to keep mum in the face of planned political terrorism against our dear state.
“Information at our disposal revealed that after succeeding in foisting crisis on the legislative arm of government, Faleke and his loyalists are planning to cause crisis in the state in the guise of violent protests to make the state look unsafe.
“We are of the opinion that the different interests in the Kogi political impasse will trust the judiciary enough to act fearlessly in favour of the law and therefore, it is antithetical to resort to violence to achieve goals. Kogi State belongs to all and we will not sit by to watch those who have no stake in the survival of Kogi destroy our unity and peace.
“Their plan to wage violence on the very people they want to govern is further testimony of their non-committal spirit to the peace, oneness and development of our dear state. We have it on good authority that they have started recruiting thugs from two South Western states who will be used to disturb the peace of the state.
“To cover-up their nefarious plan, they have also designed some self-attack against some leaders in their group, who would then turn round to accuse the people’s Governor-Elect for the attack.
“We hereby urge Faleke to abide by the decision of the party and not set his political home ablaze. We urge Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello to be prepared to hit the ground running and bridge the ethnic, socio-political cum economic gap in the state”.
The statement also urged Faleke to discard the option of violence and attacking eminent leaders of the state in the process of ventilating his grievances, saying, “it is time to mulch our new found unity and aspiration to build a new Kogi State where opportunities abound for development and prosperity”.
In a related development, the Kogi State Coalition of All Progressives Congress APC support groups in the last governorship election in the state, has alleged plans by Hon Abiodun James Faleke supporters to destabilize the state.
The accusation was made in lokoja, the state capital by tthe chairman of the coalition, Comrade Ojene Aliyu.

 
Aliyu alleged that Hon Faleke’s supporters are planning to incite some ethnic groups within the party to frustrate the incoming government of Alh Yahaya Bello, knowing well that he will lose at the tribunal.

 
He added, “Faleke is working against the party, all in a desperate bid to rule the state at all cost.
“We ccommend the Governor-Elect for his maturity. Hehas displayed a rare leadership quality which is second to none as he has repeatedly said he wont join issues with Faleke”, Aliyu said.

 
He also urged the people of the state not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians who want to actualize their ambitions by hook or crook in the state.

 
In the same vein, a social media campaign platform, TF has called on security agencies in the country to put Hon. James Abiodun Faleke under surveillance as his supporters have continued to threaten the peace of the state.

 
The group condemned the defacing of some billboards in Lokoja by people suspected to be Faleke’s supporters and called on the police to investigate the threat by the Faleke Solidarity Forum to occupy Kogi if Faleke was not declared Governor-Elect, saying such threat was an affront to the Nigerian constitution.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

Kogi Assembly Crisis: Lawal Remains Impeached – Factional Speaker

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Mr Godwin Osiyi (PDP-Ogori-Magongo) factional Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, on Monday reaffirmed the position of 17 members that the embattled speaker, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh Lawal remains impeached. Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, Osiyi said that the impeachment, carried out on Dec. 10 during plenary, through the resolution of the 17-member-signatories still stood.

 
He said that contrary to insinuations from different quarters, the impeachment of Lawal (PDP-Okene II) was not influenced by anyone. According to him, the impeachment is premised on six grounds arising from general feeling of discontentment among members. “This includes gross incompetence and lack of capacity and confidence to preside over the proceedings of the 6th Assembly.

 
Lawal’s sins, Osiji added, also include insensitivity to members’ interest and plight and misrepresentation between the Assembly and the Executive for his personal interests and aggrandizement. Others, he said, were mismanagement of Assembly funds and other valuable resources and betrayal of trust members reposed on him.

 
He also listed Lawal’s offence to include high-handedness in the administration of the Assembly “as he operates like a sole administrator.” In his defence, Lawal said that though he was not opposed to the impeachment, it ought to have followed due process. He declared that the manner in which it was conducted contravened the House rules and procedures for impeachment.

 
Lawal alleged that legislators plotting his removal forged the signature of Umar Ahmed Imam (APC) the member representing Lokoja 1 constituency, as one of the 17 members that signed the impeachment notice. Meanwhile, Gov. Idris Wada will on Tuesday, Dec.29 present the 2016 Budget to the state Assembly.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

PHOTONEWS: Faleke Vows To Go To Court As Yahaya Bello Emerges APC Flag Bearer In Kogi

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Abiodun Faleke, the running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu in the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State has vowed to challenge the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pick Yahaya Bello as the replacement for Audu in court.

Abiodun Faleke vows to go to court

Abiodun Faleke vows to go to court

This followed the deadlock at the meeting of the APC held in Abuja on Monday to resolve the Kogi state crisis.

Faleke, who described the meeting as a “mere briefing”, said he would seek legal redress against the nomination of Yahaya Bello as the party’s governorship candidate.

 

Faleke also distanced himself from the supplementary election scheduled to take place on December 5.

 

“We met for more than two hours, but we discovered that the meeting was a mere briefing,” he said.

 

“The party told us that they have nominated Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the substituted Kogi governorship candidate. But we told them that, that was not acceptable.

 

“I have submitted a letter to the party that I will not be paired with Yahaya Bello because, I am governor-elect.

 

“I will not be part of the election, and because I have pulled out it will be null and void.

 

“We are going to challenge the decision of the party in court. I am not a deputy governor to anybody. They party took the decision and just invited us.”

 

See more photos below …

 

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Why I Sacked LGA Chairmen – Gov Wada

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Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi State, has debunked reports that he sacked chairmen of local governments from office for defecting to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that he only obeyed the order of the Appeal Court by reinstating them.

 

Reacting to a statement issued in Lokoja and signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, James Adedoyin, Wada stated that he was only acting on the ruling by the Court of Appeal.

 

He noted that he only reinstated the chairmen and councilors that were removed in December 2014.

 

It would be recalled that a Kogi State High Court sitting in Koton Karfe ruled that the election of May 4, 2013 which brought the chairmen and councilors into office was faulty.

 

Relying on the judgment, Kogi State Government asked the chairmen and councilors to vacate office but the affected officials approached the Appeal Court which set aside the ruling and declared that they resume immediately.

 

But Kogi State Government refused to give effect to the ruling until November 23, 2015.

 

In his defence, Wada wrote on Twitter, “The LGA chairmen and councilors were removed by a Kotun-Karfe court about 11 months ago. The party went to the court of appeal & court order they be returned.

 

“It is a lie that I sacked LGA Chairmen for defecting from the PDP. This story is not true.”

“I only reinstated the LGA Chairmen as directed by the Appeal Court,” he stated.

 

Kogi PDP Slams Buhari, APC For Assigning State ‘Humiliating’ Portfolio

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The Kogi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday took a pot shot at the All Progressives Congress, APC, for allocating the position of junior minister to the state in a “c-grade, if not d-grade” ministry, describing such portfolio as humiliating.

 

The ministerial nominee for the state, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), was assigned the portfolio of Minister of State in the re-configured Ministry of Labour and Employment, which used to be known as Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

 

 

Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Kogi, Bode Ogunmola described as “humiliating and condescending”, the assigning of junior minister to Kogi State in a, “c-grade, if not d-grade” ministry, stressing that Kogi State never had it so bad under successive PDP administrations.

 
He stressed that the APC has demonstrated that the state and its people, cannot have a fair deal under its administration, particularly under an APC governor. Going down memory lane, Ogunmola said: “Under former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Kogi State manned the Police Affairs, Industries, Health and Justice Ministries in that order, following the appointments of Gen David Jemibewon, Chief Kola Jamodu, Prof Eyitayo Lambo and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), respectively.”

 

 

Ogunmola recalled that much as the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration between 2007 and 2011 could not guarantee senior cabinet ranks for Kogi ministers, Chief Gabriel Aduku and Humphrey Abah, they functioned in the, ‘A-Grade’ portfolio as Health, Interior and Police Affairs ministers at various times.

 

Credit : Daily Post

‘Gov Wada must go’ protesters block Abuja-Lokoja Highway

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Workers of Kogi Local Government protesting 21 months of salary arrears and two years of unpaid leave bonuses blocked the Abuja-Lokoja Highway at Kotonkarife area Thursday morning.

Protesters block Abuja-Lokoja road in protest of their salary arrears Photo: Taiwo Adelu/PM News

Protesters block Abuja-Lokoja road in protest of their salary arrears Photo: Taiwo Adelu/PM News

 

 

The workers carried placards with inscriptions “Wada must go”, “Pay us our 21 months salary”, “Wada has used our money for PDP primaries”, ” Buhari must save Kogi from Wada”, “Wada is a thief” and others were displayed as they chanted.

Protesters block Abuja-Lokoja road in protest of their salary arrears Photo: Taiwo Adelu/PM News

Protesters block Abuja-Lokoja road in protest of their salary arrears Photo: Taiwo Adelu/PM News

 

 

The protesting workers vowed to keep the highway blocked, telling travellers to hold Governor Idris Wada of Kogi state responsible.

IMG_20150917_095937 IMG_20150917_095902

 

–PM News

Governor Wada wins Kogi PDP governorship primaries

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The incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has emerged winner of the primaries of the People Democratic Party, ahead of the November 21 governorship election.

According to the results from the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, Wada, who only lost Yagba West Local Government Area to Echocho, emerged victorious in 20 of the 21 local government areas of the state.

His opponents, Alhaji Isah Echocho and Moses Ametuo, finished second and third respectively.

 

Find the full results by local government areas below:

Adavi: Wada – 30, Echocho – 3, Amoto – 0.

Ajaokuta: Wada – 33, Echocho – 5, Amoto – 0.

Ankpa: Wada – 39, Echocho – 0, Amoto – 0.

Bassa: Wada – 19, Echocho – 5, Amoto – 0, Invalid – 4.

Dekina: Wada – 33, Echocho – 3, Amoto – 0.

Ibaji: Wada – 16, Echocho – 8, Amoto – 0.

Idah: Wada – 27, Echocho – 1, Amoto – 0.

Igalamela/Odolu: Wada – 29, Echocho – 0, Amoto – 0.

Ijumu: Wada – 27, Echocho – 17, Amoto – 0.

Kabba/Bunu: Wada – 25, Echocho – 13, Amoto – 0, invalid – 1.

Kogi LGA: Wada – 33, Echocho – 0, Amoto – 0.

Lokoja LGA: Wada – 24, Echocho – 1, Amoto – 0.

Mopamuro: Wada – 28, Echocho – 0, Amoto – 0.

Ofu: Wada – 26, Echocho – 3, Amoto – 0.

Ogori/Magongo: Wada – 27, Echocho – 1, Amoto – 0.

Okehi: Wada – 32, Echocho – 1, Amoto – 0.

Okene: Wada – 27, Echocho – 0, Amoto – 0.

Olamaboro: Wada – 24, Echocho – 0, Amoto – 0.

Omala: Wada – 23, Echocho – 8, Amoto – 0.

Yagba East: Wada – 16, Echocho – 14, Amoto – 0.

Yagba West: Wada – 15, Echocho – 23, Amoto – 0, Invalid – 2.

KogiDecides: Politics Aside Kogi State Deserves Good Governance – @Lanre_Olagunju

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Nigerian politicians most times fail to realize that Nigerians aren’t as concerned about the party in government – be it the People’s Democratic Party or the All Progressives Congress – as much as they are concerned about good governance. Politicians, in many cases, are still mostly conceived to be liars and king of mischief. But in the real sense, good governance doesn’t lie. When a government works, everyone feels the impact. But when a government in power need to write a book, gather local and international Public Relations experts to list out its achievements, then definitely something is wrong.

For the sake of democracy, and more importantly honour for the PDP in Kogi State, I would suggest that the PDP put down a reputable candidate to duly represent her in the forth coming gubernatorial election scheduled for the 21st of November. That’s the first thing the PDP needs to do to at least up its game and strategy towards the next election. Kogi state is in dire need of resuscitation and Capt. Wada, the executive governor of Kogi State, has shown in the last four years that he is far from being up to the task. It will be very foolish of the PDP to agree to Wada’s re-election plans. I mean …what for!

The PDP is well known for relegating its best brains; Nigerians have also mastered the best response to such insensitive act. Just like the PDP suffered predictable defeat at the last general election, PDP in Kogi state will not even have a real chance to compete if Wada is presented for re-election. There is no better way to insult the collective intelligence of the good people of Kogi than to have the PDP approve of Wada’s re-election. The state should have its primaries and give other party members a chance. At least that will warm up the elections a bit, and give the APC a run for its money. If the PDP were to be a party given to critical and honest assessment, the party need not wait till the next elections to test and ascertain Capt. Idris Wada’s popularity. Wada practically has killed the PDP in Kogi and made a mess of  any iota of honour left for the Party.

Aside from PDP’s notoriety for massive rigging and election mal-practices, it’s very difficult to see how Idris Wada hopes to be re-elected.  The public booing Wada received during the inauguration of the new House of Assembly depicts the people’s disgust. The average citizens of Kogi daily lament on how Wada’s leadership has been depressing save for those who of course feed fat at the State’s expense.

In a democratic system, it’s almost impossible to separate smart political ideologies from good governance. The two most influential parties must get rid of all those who have previously governed the state. My disgust for Governor Idris Wada’s administration has nothing to do with his political party as much as it is with the fact that he has failed woefully in delivering the dividend of democracy to his people. Prince Abubakar Audu who has governed in two different occasions, Alhaji Ibrahim idris, Idris Wada – the present governor and others who have governed the state before should be dispensed if Kogi actually wants to experience change. Or are there no fresh and credible minds in Kogi anymore?

However, it’s quite clear that if the APC presents a statue at the next polls against Idris Wada, the statue stands a better chance. In its best interest, the APC shouldn’t give room for the “anointed man” politics. At this stage, this should be buried and forgotten without any hope of resurrection, so Kogi can stand a chance to be governed by the actual choice of the people. People of Kogi must vehemently say no to shabby party primaries.

Wada should consider it quite shameful that supporters of his party have made their intentions publicly known to abandon the party, just like it was done during the general elections, where PDP supporters largely voted for the APC. From all indications, it’s a new beginning in Kogi State, one can only hope that the electorates will exercise their voting right in getting rid of the PDP and other old cargos clamoring for the Luggard House. The collective desire for good governance and change in Kogi must be expressed in the enthusiasm and willingness of the citizens to follow through the elections, voting exercise and also in ensuring that their votes count.  Regardless of political affiliations, at the November 21st election, people of Kogi should look out for the party with a developmental ideology, accompanied with a disciplined and trustworthy personality who can bring such ideas into reality.

I am @Lanre_Olagunju on Twitter

#KogiDecides: What Kogi Needs – @Lanre_Olagunju

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When an institution is faced with constant decline in infrastructural development, the leadership seat of such an institution should be declared vacant. Kogi State which was created in 1991 presently lacks sincere and competent leadership that the state truly deserves. The present administration of Capt. Idris Wada has shown clearly that it doesn’t have what it takes to at least maintain the height of development and infrastructure it met, let alone better the economic fortunes of the state. It will be foolhardy to think, assume or expect that a failed government would suddenly become a result oriented one when given another four years.

As the suspense and political drama gradually heightens towards the gubernatorial election, which is set to hold on the 21st of November, the good people of Kogi need to clearly stay off the shenanigans of ethnicity, religion and “money-must-change-hands-politics”. The fear and risk of losing another opportunity to bring Kogi State to greatness should constantly motivate citizens of Kogi to team up against looters and politicians who have no business occupying the Lugard House.

The present report sheet of Governor Idris Wada for the last four years in office is shameful and nothing to write home about. He has again communicated to Nigerians via his insensitivity and incompetence that the PDP is a congregation of individuals who lack sincerity and result oriented approach to growth and development. Nothing seems to be working in Kogi, most times, salaries are not being paid as at when due. Education is presently in a state of collapse. Roads are in a poor state including the one leading to the government house in Lokoja.

Listening to the cries of the average man in Kogi State, the lamentations of citizens of the state makes it look like only an angel can fix the many challenges of economic and infrastructural degradation that the state swims in presently. But that’s not democracy, and it would be unpatriotic to merely sit back and remain in the pool of helplessness.

Democracy is essentially about the people. So when democracy fails, the people to a large extent have failed. In the case of Kogi State, the real failure is stamping the ticket, – approving a failed politician. If a politician like Wada, in the first place, was all about himself and what he could get, then he hasn’t failed in that regard as far as he his personally concerned. When voters refuse to open their eyes to see, hence get a failed politician in the helm of affair for another 4 years, it’s like approving misery and hopelessness.

Of the many steps towards charting a new course for a suffering State like Kogi, the first on the list is definitely to unseat the PDP. A former governorship aspirant of the PDP recently alleged that Governor Wada hardly visits Lokoja more than once or twice a week, that he would rather remain in Abuja.

In a sane clime, electorates wouldn’t even have to consider the PDP in Kogi State, save for those that benefit from the lack of infrastructural development that the State has presently been popular for. If the PDP top shots in Kogi will be honest, Wada is a disgrace even to his party.

The present economic woes in Kogi State are surmountable only with a dynamic and forward thinking leader. I must make my point clear about unseating the PDP. It doesn’t just end there as a matter of fact; even the opposition camp needs careful scrutiny. For instance, I consider the candidature of former two times Governor Abubakar Audu uncalled for. After two successful attempts to govern the state and several failed attempt to return to power, I think it’s high time someone told Abubakar Audu to chill.

The APC needs to be calculative and must ensure that the best candidate gets the opportunity to carry the party’s flag at the next election. Abubakar Audu by now should be a mentor to young and upcoming politicians in the state who find him worthy.

Political observers in Kogi should question Audu’s allegiance to his party. There seem to be a funny partnership with the incumbent governor. He has been publicly seen praising Governor Idris Wada for taking the state to the next level. What next level exactly? He must be referring to the present level of abject poverty and penury that envelops Kogi State! This same Audu has openly vented his disgust over the gross mismanagement in the present administration,  coming to terms with the fact that the mismanagement of public funds and state resources has lead Kogi State, a state with a population of about 1.3 million people to become the most underdeveloped and backward state in the country. He seems to be an unstable politician. Kogi needs a leader with a clear mind and intelligent brain who is a goal oriented achiever.

I am @Lanre_Olagunju on Twitter

Views expressed above are solely that of the author and not of Omojuwa.com or its associates

Gunmen Demand N60m Ransom Abducted American Missionary

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An American missionary, Rev. Phyllis Sortor, running an elementary school in Nigeria was abducted from her workplace in Kogi State.

The Police said the five kidnappers had tabled N60 million ransom demand. The kidnappers were “unknown gunmen…(who) came into the school premises shooting sporadically to scare away people before taking (the hostage) away into the bush”, the police spokesperson added. He added that the gunmen came through the hill at the back of the school and forcibly pulled her out from her office. “The abductors scaled over the fence with her. They all disappeared through the hill.”

The Free Methodist Church in a statement on its website said it received a report on Monday morning that the Rev. Sortor was kidnapped. The message from Bishop David Kendall said the U.S. Embassy had been notified and the State Department and the FBI were working with local authorities to find and rescue her.

Read More: dailypost.ng

EFCC Presents More Witnesses Against Kogi State Ex-Gov. Abubakar Audu

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A witness in the ongoing trial of former governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, Irile Fidelis, on Thursday, Jan. 29, told a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja, that he knew nothing about a building called NITEL Quarters that was purportedly constructed for the Kogi State government by his company during the tenure of Abubakar Audu as governor of the state. Fidelis, who was the human resource manager of Bulkon Nigeria Limited, while being led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said “I didn’t play any role in the construction of the building called NITEL quarters that people rumoured to be Audu’s property.”

When shown exhibits P144 – P154 containing agreement between the Kogi State government and Bukon Nigeria Limited, the witness identified the documents as belonging to his company and duly signed by the accountant.

“I only knew about these documents in 2006 when EFCC came for investigation in my company,” he said.

Read More: saharareporters.com

Gov Idris Wada and his Second Year of Active Passivity

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Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle mérite—(Joseph-Marie, comte de Maistre. Lettres et Opuscules Inédits vol. 1, letter 53, written on 15 August 1811)

“Every country has the government it deserves” and “In a democracy people get the leaders they deserve.”

The array of events in Nigeria political scenario has given colossal credence to this great quote without it passing through expected logical scrutiny, evidently by the passiveness shown by the average Nigerian despite the subjectivity of Goodluck Jonathan’s non-existent government.

That was just a parenthesis from the onus of this context. In the words of Williams Shakespeare, “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown”, we must commend the uneasiness of Governor Idris Wada ever since his ascension. But, in the words of Socrates, “the unexamined life is not worth living”, hence, an unscrutinised administration is not of worth living. Better the occasional faults of a government that lives in a spirit of listening than the consistent omissions of a government frozen in the ice of its own indifference. (Franklin D. Roosevelt 1882 – 1945)

Moreover, being human makes us subject to erring and hence objects of criticism: which of course is the sinew of democracy. However, it is evident that the reaction of government aligned with the federal government is always binary: namely, 1. the dissident submission is an APC fraught intellection, 2. He is a cynic or scepticism-ist. But the good news is; my submission is devoid of any of these vertebrae. Dissent is what rescues democracy from a quiet death behind closed doors (Lewis H. Lapham)

The foofaraw cliché in 2 years was that the Idris Wada led administration was able to raise the internally generated revenue (IGR) from N180m, to N500m monthly. However, the ostensible percentage deserves applause, we do applaud. But this has demagogically roped this administration, Vis-a –Vis the refusal for payment of salary for well over 10months in some local government.

Moreover, we were never expecting any immediate fireworks from the Lord Luggard House, of course. At least, not from a man whose first taste of political office is for an entire State to be left at his mercy. His early days were propaedeutic period for a man who is still lost in the abyssal euphoria of him steering millions of people, ostensibly larger than the population he ever flew on an aircraft, which we do understand. He was however expected to grow into it; this is well over 800 days, but of lethargy despondence and lassitude.

But, of course he grew into it phenomenally. vehemently into the man the democratic constitution was out to avoid.

Success needs no media assistant to assist her voice. It has an indomitable aura that can be felt from far and wide, and such is the case of failure. Only abecedary aura could be felt so far from Gov. Wada’s administration. Abecedarian-ism, which is the loudest voice of this administration’s intellection should no longer be condoled: this is well over 800days. The credenda of this administration has axiomatically conjugated with so much frippery and crassitude which was evidently characterised by the developmental cretinism that has enveloped the state.

Driving through Kogi state, several question will criss-cross your mind, you won’t help but wonder if it is an independent State or just another vast land under the hegemony of another State in Nigeria. No aura or whiff of administrational epiphany can be felt, like what is evident in some states like Lagos state and the likes of it. No comparison is intended, in that both data- Kogi and Lagos cannot be brought under scientific comparison because of the alluding vast disparity. But albeit, seeking an utopian Eldorado in kogi state, an extent of developmental grandeur devoid of this axiomatic apathy and banality is ambled expected

My wits are devoid of myopism resulting from locational aloofness, but a function of the premises proportional to the fact that I spent the first 26 years of my life in Kogi State. I am not writing because I have pseudo-information, but because I have lived every atom of this content of discuss. I lived in my ancestral state when it was under Kwara and Benue state respectively. I still remember the rhapsody that followed the creation of our beloved State in 1991, before political brutishness became a seer on her brow. Also, before insipid granola became her plate of democracy dividend. I can tell the ebbing denigration between then and now. I can tell the developmental derelictions the state has witnessed between then and now.

The most sardonic of the satirical allegory is the refusal to pay salaries of the primary school education board and local government authorities for well over a long period time in some local governments within the state. The pseudo-benignity the governor has shown this working class is rather pathetic. This is now the predicament of people who endured long queues to register their votes for the sustenance of democracy. These are people whose thumb prints were registered for this present government. These are people whose families’ very existence is dependent of the token of their wages. But now they rather live in nostalgia, helplessly watching hope ebb away on the wings of administrational opprobrium. Now they suffer every extent of denigration in its very true creed.

But, Gov. Idris Wada increased the IGR from N180m to N500m monthly. Yeah, the very cliché that is everyday sang. The statutory allocation for Kogi State is also about N5bn monthly and the entire wages of kogi state hovers around about 2.5billion every month. The former government lived and sustained the state on that monthly N180m IGR. Wages were paid, even though epileptically. There was no consistent and vehement dereliction of salary payment. No extent of defence can be put up to this anomie will fly in the face of logic.

It is about time solicitude is given these poor workers. About time this wages ignominy is panegyrized to the world. About time the whole world knows about this administrative delinquency and developmental quiescence. We shall not denunciate the governor of Edo state for the amorphousity of Kogi state government. The Governor should responsibly accept the culpability of his state. We are leaving the future of our children in jeopardy if we amputate the felicity of the workers of the primary education board. The consistent inconsistency of this government has to stop. It is about time our beloved Governor stepped up to the plate.

Long Live Africa, Long Live Nigeria, Long Live Kogi State

Olukoya Obafemi. @arcfemi

Views Expressed are Solely Author’s.