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Kogi Governor’s spokesperson, Kingsley Fanwo has underscored the role of Kogi citizens in ensuring good governance in the state, urging the people to support efforts by the State Government to make life meaningful to the people of the state.
Addressing journalists shortly after a church service in Lokoja, Sunday, the Director General on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Kogi State said “the beauty of democracy lies in the capacity of the citizens to bring the best out of their government”, insisting that the Yahaya Bello administration is poised to make life worthwhile for the people of the state.
“We thank Kogites for their unalloyed support for Governor Yahaya Bello and his administration. It has been 17 months of tough decisions to save our dear state from the path of perdition and economic suffocation. It has been 17 months of contending with the rots of the past.
“You didn’t elect Governor Yahaya Bello to complain; he was elected to proffer solutions to the myriads of challenges bedeviling our dear state. To this end, government has taken tough decisions to save our dear state.
“It is regrettable that many genuine workers had to pass through pains during the Staff Verification Exercise. We share your pains. Surgeries are always painful but they bring joy at the end. We cannot allow the system flow billions into the coffers of those who take delight in stealing what should give our people good health, sound education, water and good roads.
“Now that the staff verification exercise is over, we shall continue to reap the fruits of our sacrifice. We commiserate with families that lost their beloved ones during the exercise. We share in your pains. We also wish to sympathize with families who had lost thousands of their beloved ones because of the kleptomania of the past 25 years that has deprived them of good healthcare delivery and good roads. That era is gone for good in Kogi State”.
Fanwo called on the opponents of government to “put Kogi first” and “shun the tendencies of destructive criticism”, insisting that the state can achieve greatness only if all hands are on deck.
His words: “The elections came and went. The litigations came and went. What will remain is the entity called Kogi State. It will be unfair to the people of Kogi State to continue to play politics when we should be delivering democracy dividends to the people. Our people have endured; it is time for them to enjoy the dividends of their patience with this administration.
“Opponents of this administration should stop being opponents of Kogi State. The Governor is the father of all and will be eager to work with anyone who is prepared to join hands in moving the state forward. It is time to sheath the sword. It is time to think Kogi above personal politics.
“Whether you are APC or PDP, Kogi is home to all. The present administration has an open door policy. We welcome constructive criticism that can help propel Kogi State to enviable heights. We will work with our party, opposition, civil society groups as well as the media to move the state forward”.
He said the Governor has recorded “landmark achievements” since the beginning of his administration, calling on the people of the state to rally round him to achieve even more.
“Payment of salaries will dominate our priority list. Those who work deserve their pay. Over 80% of the workforce have been paid up to June 2017. The remaining percentage represents those who are either having issues with their screening or recently cleared. We urge the affected workers who have been cleared to but yet to be paid to be patient with us. We know it is a tiny percentage but nobody deserves hunger. They will receive their salaries soon”.
The Governor’s image maker urged social media commentators to desist from “illegal activities”, imploring them to “act responsibly and respect the rights of others”.
He said the forthcoming Kogi State Social Media Summit in the state will open the eye of social media operators to the “monumental development going on in the state”.
“APC is a government of change and our Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello is a staunch promoter of the change initiative. Kogi is working. Kogi is moving forward. Kogi will soon be one of the revelations of the Change Agenda in Nigeria.
“The New Direction Agenda of the Yahaya Bello Administration is centered on the welfare of the people. That is why we have recorded what we have in the past 17 months. Yet, the Governor is still yearning for more. He cannot afford to disappoint the people of the state”.
When asked whether the Governor is still considering the demands of the Kogi State University Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Fanwo said the Governor has already taken a decision which was in the best interest of the Management and students of the institution. He said though decision was a hard one, it was necessary to save the future of the students.
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