In what appeared to us as a rude shock, yesterday we came across a report that pilgrims have confirmed receipt of $150 gift from Yahaya Bello.
Being a Kogi state group we would have been celebrating such from a governor, but we are more concerned that a governor who has failed and one could say has blatantly refused to pay salaries, has enough in stock; be it personal or public fund to disburse at will. We therefore see this as an act of blackmail and a trap to score cheap political points in the next governorship poll.
Our advise is that, the governor who is living in a shadow of an awful performance for the rare opportunity given to him by God, should rather concentrate on the remaining days in office rather than trying to blackmail the people. The actions and inactions of this government has shown, that the handlers of the state at this time have no fear of God, and dishing out money to those who embarked on worship would not save the sinking chip from collapsing.
We believe that pilgrimage is an act of worship which Islam has made not compulsory; those who embark on such journey therefore are prepared and at least are middle class citizens who have fulfilled the physiological needs at home. We can not have a Governor who will rather choose such groups of persons to support at the expense of those who are feeding from hands to mouth for no offence of theirs but the callous nature of their leader who has refused to pay their hard earned wages.
We are calling on governor Bello to account appropriately where those monies are coming from, in a view to ensuring that it is not dished from our state account or the recent bailout giving to Kogi state by a loving leader, President Muhammadu Buhari to pay salaries of workers; a responsibility of the state which the leadership has failed to address hitherto.
Every worker deserve his/her wage and the act of refusing them their money is an act of evil.
We further call on EFCC, ICPC, Civil Societies Organisation and International human right agencies to be watchful on the happenings in Kogi state.
A stitch in time they say, saves nine.
– Salihu Adam Jiddah
For: Kogi Liberation Movement.
