Not only did I find it laughable that the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello accused former governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada of importing thugs into Kogi State over an election the PDP has clearly won. I consider it the height of disrespect and disdain for our leaders and the two elder statesmen who laid the foundation for modern Kogi State.
It is on this note that I believe it is high time outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello face the real business of governance and quit chasing shadows.
It is on record that in the last seven days, the APC have had to contend with mass exodus of its members, all of whom with exception to an insignificant few, found solace in the PDP. Why does outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello believe the people of Lokoja/Koton-Karfe federal constituency elect to remain in a sinking party where his leadership as supreme grandmaster has made it impossible for even the party as a group to function?
It is also on record that since the inception of the accidental administration of outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, not a single project worth as much as N50M has been solely undertaken by the Kogi State government. Why therefore does the governor believe any party will require the use of coercion to win elections?
The personality of His Excellency Ibrahim Idris has an unbroken record of making men of substance and creating sustainable wealth in the last 40 years across Nigeria. This is beside chains of successful businesses across the length of the Nigerian state. It is on record that Ibrahim Idris has thousands of Kogi natives on his scholarship scheme. This is besides other business support and human development grants running into millions of dollars he has availed the masses of Kogi state in the last decade. I am constrained to wonder if the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has dared to imagine himself replicating this unbeatable feat.
His Excellency, Idris Wada on the other hand, beside a successful foray into partisan politics, is an award winning aviation expert, a global voice in aeronautics, an award winning pilot of international repute and a consummate gentleman of high moral standing. The outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello should do well to tell Kogi people his professional affiliation vis-à-vis his personal contribution via intellectual property to the advancement of that profession.
It is therefore for Kogi people to imagine who may have a relationship with touts between the two former governors of Kogi state and the drowning complainant in this instance.
On the event that I listen without even accepting that an effort was made to import thugs into Kogi state for the purpose of manipulating an election in a single federal constituency, it then will suffice for the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to explain if:
Thugs are the reasons workers of Kogi State are being owed wages in multiples of almost 20 months? as a matter of fact it is he, Bello that has legalised thuggery activities in Kogi state with branded fake police and army uniform. It is on record that you Bello has turned Kogi state liaison office on TY Danjuma street in Asokoro to a headquarter of trained thugs.
Thugs are the reason why despite earning at least N400B since the commencement of a tenure in office, the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello cannot point out a project worth N50M solely embarked on and completed by his government? Even at that, Bello has bought Sienna and Sharon vehicles for different category of thugs that he engaged in Kogi state. The good people of Kogi state are very much aware of how you are equipping and glorifying thugs in the state.
Thugs are the reason Kogi State House of Assembly secretly granted lending approval to the tune of almost N5BN to an administration in its twilight days thereby increasing the debt profile of Kogi State and further endangering its fragile credit worthiness?
Thugs are the reason why the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, a supposed youth has serially failed to a create a value chain of opportunities for his fellow youth to thrive in agriculture, commerce, education and even small business? The administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello has turned Kogi State police command into a thuggery collabo where even the thugs are escorted by Mobile Police to operate.
The above are salient puzzles the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello should focus on unraveling.
The INEC has scheduled an election in accordance with the power vested on it as a statutory organization. Come August 11th 2018, the people of Lokoja / Koton-Karfe federal constituency will exercise their franchise according to the dictates of their various consciences devoid of harassment and violence – the kind the APC is known for.
Regrettably, the outgoing governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello who is clearly a meddlesome interloper has no voting right since he is neither a member of that constituency or a contestant unless (of course it is possible), he has secretly registered a third time to vote.
It is therefore my candid advise that rather that lament the impact of a looming rejection at the coming elections, he should commence an immediate process of negotiating his exit from Lugard House.
– Usman Okai Austin
