Facts and Figures Claim in Kogi East; We Are Neither Blind Nor Dear, Mr. Odaudu Joel

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No doubt, the enigma of loyalty cannot be drained so fast from our political space, as it serves the basis on which few persons have continued to rule us. Politics itself is a do or die affair in Nigeria, and like a team of expertise executing a particular project, political office holders will always groom their successors from loyalists. Why? Because the needs to have their atrocious activities unvisited remains Paramount to their political career. Besides, the proverb “out of sight should be out of mind” does not assimilate in the political diet of our leaders as they want to keep affluent against all odds.

Let me start by saying that, the sudden appointment of Mr Joel Odaudu  (minister) as senior special Assistance to the governor on new media justified my previous suggestion that some Kogi born social media activists do not practice activism base on professional ethos, but at whims and caprices of political propagandist whose fixities is alternative to none. Activism in a Democratic setting should be far distanced from partisan politics. But in Kogi state, it’s more of hyperpartisan than intent. Where youths come to rant for cheap political recognition.
Apparently, Mr Joel’s tough time with the former governor of the state, captain Idris Wada in 2012 paid off hugely. His roles as Director of social media to the late prince Abubakar Audu and that of APC in Kogi state all paid well for the consultant. But Mr Joel as usual, is unexceptional of loyalty syndrome that must infest all government appointees. Thus, his article “Facts and Figures that speaks louder than any voice of ethnic jingoism” published in kogireports.com on the 24th of May 2018 was his (Mr Joel) quota to the loyalty spree. But it’s appalling, hypocritical and abysmally instigated that loyalty no longer affirm with general will. Mr Joel Odaudu, overrode the saying that “a story is not a story unless it’s accurate” to sell his principal (governor Yahaya Bello) to the good people of Kogi East senatorial district who are counting their loses daily to Herdsmen attacks.
In the first paragraph of the article, Mr Joel said and I quote “A lot of people have attempted to deceive and confuse the good people of the Eastern Senatorial District of Kogi state with shallow and spineless narratives dripping with mischievous ethnic colorations, with the chief objective of depicting the detribalised and fair Governor of Kogi State; His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as a nepotistic leader who is marginalising the eastern part of the state in terms of socioeconomic development” 
 
How fallacious can people be. A deceiver accusing others of deceit.
Well, the following facts will past judgement on who is deceiving who.
On assuming office as the chief executive of Kogi state, Governor Yahaya Bello embarked on a screening and verification exercise on the state civil servants. An exercise that had deformed both social and moral values of the state workers. While the exercise was on, GYB received various funds as bail out from federal government. I recalled an instance where Mr President specifically pleaded with state governors to offset salaries with a particular tranche of Paris club refund. But GYB refused to pay salaries for God knows reason, perhaps for effective conduct of the exercise. Moreover, there was no contract awarded that period apart from your Excellency’s security vote, renovation of government house and appointees’ quarters which were awarded to a single contractor for over N260 million.
Upon conclusion of the screening and verification exercise, the state government spent over N44 million naira to publish the list of the cleared names of the civil servants in various national dailies through the State’s attorney general. Thereafter, GYB gave untenanted promises to comply with full payment of salaries to those who scaled through the exercise which I know will commence when Jesus comes. 
Some of the funds state government got during and after the exercise include;
N10 billion Naira loan acquired in December 2017.
N6.2 billion last tranche of the Paris club refund in the same (December 2017) period which the governor claimed was N1.2 billion.
N11.2 billion and N12.055 billion from first and second tranche(s) of the same Paris club refund.
N20 billion bailout fund from Central Bank of Nigeria to Kogi state plus Kogi internally generated revenue (IGR) which is currently on 200 percent increase.
Federal government bailout and monthly statutory allocations.
These, among others were financial inflow as at time of the exercise, yet salaries and entitlements are been owned to the tune of 20 months. 
Questions are also been asked concerning the N4 billion loan acquired earlier to establish rice mill in Kogi state especially now that Federal government had enlisted Kogi in the approved N10.7 billion Naira for the establishment of rice Mills in some states across the country.
 
I want to be fair by applauding Mr Joel’s censorious achievement of the two predecessors of GYB. Undoubtedly, they (Ibrahim Idris and captain Idris Wada) were collosal failures.
But, Paragraph four of the article also outlined some work-in-progress of the present administration and I quote;
“Governor Bello has flagged off the following roads construction project with the builders mobilised to site:

Ibana — Ogugu — Ette road is about 32 kilometer in Olamaboro, Kogi East LG. Ankpa — Abejukolo road, links 2 LGAs and is about 70km in length. Ibaji – Idah road, via Onyedega, links 2 LGAs (Idah and Ibaji) and is 50km in length. Shintaku — Gboloko — Dekina road connecting Anyigba links 2 Local Governments (Bassa and Dekina) and is 50km. Remobilization of Contractors back to site on: Ankpa Township Road. Umomi— Ajaka — Idah Road.”

According to Mr Joel minister, the projects would be completed in 36 months. That is 3 years approximately. In the next three years, governor Yahaya Bello would have been celebrating his six years in office as executive governor of Kogi state, and going by the present situation, maybe, directors in the state civil service would have littered the street begging and most, if not all the junior civil servants would have committed suicide. Fulani terrorists would have wiped out Kogites in entirety. Going by the simple presumptions above, there are high tendencies that there will be no state call Kogi in 2023 if GYB is given a second term mandate.

Without mincing words, I expect Mr Joel to use the fifth paragraph of his article to list out some projects executed so far by this administration. But lo and behold! My able SSA could only mentioned the Provision of 33 KV power line from Otukpo, Enugu roundabout transmission station stepping down to Ankpa, enroute Ofugo to Abejukolo in Omala LGA which according to him is the home town of the former governor Wada Idris.

Mr Joel sir, in the light of sincerity, is this not disgusting? That this government could only boast of 33 KV power line after 28 months in office?

Wait a minute, why is GYB asking for three years to construct just six roads across the state when Lagos State government actually constructed over 141 roads across the city of Lagos in 12 months (1 year)? Besides, Mr Joel sir, those contracts you affirmed to have been awarded, who are the contractors handling the contract. Did the awarder take into cognisance, the principle of public procurement acts? If yes, in what manner was the contracts surmised by an open bidding?

It’s crystal clear that this administration is been flourished with no-vision sycophants and politicos whose intelligent quotients had fallen below measure.

With enormous challenges facing the state, a purposeful leader does not need a year to hit the ground running. Most repulsively, why 50 or 70km of road has to be constructed in 3 years is because the contracts are been awarded to a single but mostly fictitious contractor. In addition, Mr Joel sir, a penned down information of such magnitude symbolise presumptions that Kogi Easterners are blind and as such, cannot see what Yahaya Bello is doing in their community. But of course, they are not. So stay clear and let PVC attest to the governor’s humane in 2019.

My stance;

Governor Yahaya Bello has done nothing to better the lives of Kogites and he is not in a hurry to start any. He has dragged Kogites into the pool of their own blood by the insubstantial invitation of Fulani Herdsmen/terrorists that are currently unleashing mayhem on the people. GYB is on the verge of selling off state assets which he had so far created non. Health care, Education and social welfare of the people is in shamble. Our treasury is been emptied for party rallies, personal mansions, masquerades’ gifts and constant shuttles between Aso Rock and Lugard House. Civil servants have resigned to fate. The future had been crippled due to epileptic education and we are on the edge of losing our precious CONFLUENCE CITY. But if I must be candid, struggles to win back Kogi state had escalated beyond some faculties of comprehension.

God bless Kogi State.

– Dr. John Paul

07064258752


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