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Director General on Media and Publicity to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo, in this exclusive interview with Kogireports answered question on local government administration in the state and allegations against the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Edward Onoja.
Excerpts:
There are insinuations that the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Edward Onoja, is breeding thugs ahead of 2019 elections.
This government doesn’t believe in criminality and thuggery is a form of criminality. The Governor is not even thinking about 2019 for now because that will be unfair to the people of Kogi State. Kogites voted for our party in 2015 and we should justify their mandate before thinking of another tenure. This Governor and his government are preoccupied with giving the dividends of governance to the people.
The Chief of Staff has seen roads in his area and other parts of Kogi receiving massive construction and rehabilitation. Hon. Onoja is “breeding” development and not thugs. We do not need thugs. We want to be judged by the number of roads we are able to provide; the number of water schemes we are able to deliver, the number of people we give cheaper and better healthcare and how we are able to provide security, spark industrialization and rebound agriculture. We want to be judged by how we are able to keep our environment clean.
Onoja is a refined gentleman who is working hard to be the best in his role. He is an example of loyalty, dependability, hard work and excellence. Governor Yahaya Bello is working with the best hands.
How influential is the Chief of Staff is this government?
As much as his office permits because he takes instructions from his boss, the Governor. He is affable and accessible; qualities that attracts him to people.
As the head of the Governor’s staff, he has been wonderful. Governor Yahaya Bello made a great choice in Hon. Onoja.
There are allegations, across party lines in the state, that the Chief of Staff unilaterally appointed the 21 Local Government Administrators and gets monthly kick-backs from each of them.
Hon. Edward Onoja is no doubt one of the main targets of the opponents of this government because he is an uncommon strategist who is a beneficiary and a practitioner of the detribalized ideology of the Governor. The administrators were basically the Local Government Coordinators of the New Direction Campaign. Seminars were organized to indoctrinate the tenets of development politics into the Coordinators. Essentially, they are well abreast of what the New Direction Agenda stands for. Those individuals were appointed as Coordinators then by their people who showed confidence in them.
Ascribing their appointments to the Chief of Staff is ridiculous and cheap. Hon. Edward Onoja is a master strategist, a goal getter, a loyal Chief of Staff to the Governor and a brilliant young leader who has fitted into his roles perfectly.
This government has no business with the finances of the Local Government Councils. The Governor told them during their inauguration not to give any gratification to any member of his cabinet. This administration is against corruption and the Chief of Staff is one of the senior leaders of the administration who understands the taboos of the Yahaya Bello administration. If the enemies of the Governor loves Hon. Onoja, then he is not doing his job. We won’t be distracted. We are focused.
Sometimes last year Kogi State Governor announced that local governments in the State have been granted autonomy. Has this policy been implemented?
It has been implemented to the letters. This Governor is not interested in the kind of corruption that characterized the Local Government administration prior to his emergence. His directive stands.
Is the autonomy granted partial? What is the essence of Joint Allocation Committee?
Joint Allocation Committee is more of a general policy administration committee to ensure accountability and transparency.
The State Government no more control the finances of the Local Government Councils in the State.
Since the current helmsman at the local government councils came on board May 2016, no one knows the statutory allocations accruing to the councils. Are they under a mandate to operate in secrecy?
Nobody is telling them to operate in secrecy because there is no reason for that. We are operating a transparent government. Openness and transparency are the hallmarks of the present administration in the state. We have nothing to hide.
The administrators are proven men of integrity who are in tune with the anti graft policy of the Governor Yahaya Bello administration.
Kogi local government workers have been on percentage salaries for about three years, though, the percentage improved when Gov. Bello assumed office. When will the percentage regime end?
I do not hold brief for the Council Chairmen, but I think it has to do with the available resources. Allocations to Local Government Councils are dwindling as a result of the global oil trade downturn. What is coming to the Councils is clearly inadequate to pay salaries not to talk of executing projects that are of values to both the civil servants and the non civil servants at the grassroots.
Recently, the Governor directed that remittances due to the Local Government Councils from our taxes should be paid to them with immediate effect.
We are aware that for the New Direction Agenda to thrive, grassroots people must be provided with basic amenities. This government will strengthen the Local Government Councils to deliver.
Is there any plan to conduct local government elections this year?
Local Government Poll will be conducted when there are funds to power it. The poll will cost billions of Naira in this period of recession where government is battling for funds to pay salaries and execute developmental projects.
Conducting council poll is important and government will do that when funds are available.
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