Kogi State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode Ogunmola is unhappy with some of the policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government in the state.
How will your rate the governor’s performance in the last six months?
He has not done anything for the masses of Kogi state. Not even a single borehole has he dug. Nothing. Absolutely nothing to benefit us as a people.
What about the ongoing re-construction of Lokoja township roads?
The contract for the road was awarded by the last regime. The payment is from the bond facility of 20billion which the last regime took. As at the time the former governor left office, N8 billion has been expended leaving a balance of N12 billion only in the coffers. So as I talk to you now, the credit of who awarded that road contract goes to the former governor of the state. Capt. Idris Wada. Name any other thing done by the present Governor? There is nothing.
Are you saying that in six months you cannot point to anything he has done?
No, what I am saying is that whatever he has done is not to the benefit of the masses of the state. Let me give you one or two examples. Look at the demolition of roundabouts. What benefit have we derived from that demolition especially when he has refused to rebuild them? Again, he has appointed local government caretaker chairmen when the law states that election is the only acceptable norm. In the same vein, for close to six months, we have been screening, screening and re-screening Kogi workers. All these cannot be said to benefit anybody in the state. Interestingly again, Kogi NLC has been on strike and nobody, I mean nobody is talking about it from the executives.
Recently, the governor presented the report of the screening exercise to the public, what is your take on that as a party?
This is the biggest deceit in the state. We call that a “Cut and Nail” report. The Governor is being economical with the truth. The reality on ground is very different from the picture he has painted to the people of the state. Less than 50% of the total work force has gotten their salaries since January, yet the governor says he has paid all civil servants.
We are not surprised because when a person begins to wear dark goggles, you shield yourself from reality on ground. As I talk now, we have not seen any report. He spoke off hand. How many teachers do we have in Kogi State? How many Civil servants? Where are the ghost workers discovered? A lot of questions begging for answers but no answer.
Kogi State University students recently shut down the state capital for about eight hours, what is your take on this?
Lecturers of the institution were on strike for close to three months which means the students have been at home doing nothing. According to them, all efforts to talk to the executive proved abortive and their only option is to make the whole world know about their plight.
On the day students shut down the state capital, the governor was away in London attending a convocation ceremony of another school when his own students are out of school for almost three months for no fault of theirs.
Credit: Leadership
