It Has Been Three Years of Mismanagement – Kogi ADC Berates Gov. Bello

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kogi state chapter, has accused the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the state for squandering billions of Naira accrued to the state in the last three years.

In a statement released by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Bashir Ibrahim Ellah, ADC alleged that Gov. Bello has plunged Kogi state into debt to the tune of N16billion between May 2017 and January 2018.

“January 27th is not an auspicious time for Kogi state government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to celebrate rather it is a day for self-assessment and sober reflection for the governor and his government. It is in the best interest of our collective humanity that we use this period to identify and analyse how Kogi state government had managed (or mismanaged) the billions of Naira accrued to the state since the government took over, with the lessons to determine how best to forge a better future by avoiding the pitfalls of the past.

“Today, it is unfortunate that the State government can not till the moment pay all the entitlements owed civil servants in the state with unpaid salaries and pensions running into 24months. It is strange that in spite of the huge amount that came in form of bailout, Paris Club refund and ecological funds in the last three years many workers were still being owed several months arrears ranging from 5 to 24 months, while some have been receiving percentages of their salaries.

“After three years, the government can not accurately give account of N20 billion Paris Club refunds (N11.21bn, N6.02bn and over N6 billion in the first, second and third tranches respectively). What about the N20 billion Bailout funds received and the withdrawal of N450 million Kogi ecological fund without due process? Kogi state government in the last three years have also plunged the state into debt to the tune of N16 billion between May 2017 and January 2018.

Comrade Bashir Ibrahim bemoaned the deteriorating socio-economic and infrastructural condition of the state noting that Kogi State government has not done anything meaningful to make life easy for the people of the state.

“After three years, our hospitals still suffer from scarcity of funds for operation, obsolete equipment, power failure, incessant doctors’ strike and poor working environment. As it were, only the rich can afford better healthcare services in mostly privately owned hospitals.

“The economic affluence of Kogi state has now dwindled due to lack of experienced economical expert to diversify the natural resources we have in our state into wealth, we now struggle to eat two square meals a day as people. Eighty eight (88) medical doctors recently resigned from Kogi civil service over poor condition of service, this is not Kogi state of our dream.

“After three years, the state of insecurity in Kogi is worrisome. Armed banditry, kidnapping, political thuggery, assassinations and militancy have gradually become the order of the day. Just the other day, at the ADC campaign rally, members of our party were attacked with dangerous weapons at Anyigba and Ejule which led to damaging of our campaign buses, cars and office equipments. Some of our members were also hospitalized.”

“The party advise Gov. Bello to be prepared to face imminent defeat this year as the people of Kogi state are eager to oust him out of power on the 22nd/23rd of November this year.

“The upcoming 2019 elections must be our collective responsibility and should be a watershed and complete break from the past. Kogites must be enthusiastically happy to vote massively against the governor in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“We urge Kogites to come out and subsequently vote for all credible candidates of African Democratic Congress(ADC) in the state, irrespective of tribe and religion,” he said.

Comrade Bashir Ibrahim assured Kogites that the era of hijacking the political process by all comers and rascals will come to an end when they cast their votes for ADC in the state.

“As we reflect and reminisce, the African Democratic Congress enjoins all Kogites to join hands to move the state forward by being politically conscious and aware of the fact that, at the end our action and inaction will determine what future tomorrow holds,” he stressed.


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