The PDP-led government in Kogi State has vowed that it will not compromise its rights in the Nigerian federation in the face of what it described as ‘persecution’ by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in respect of the release of the N50.8 billion bailout fund approved for the state.
The state government’s position was coming as a reaction to statements allegedly credited to the APC gubernatorial candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu and his running mate at a campaign rally that they had prevailed on President Buhari to order the stoppage of the release of the bailout funds to Kogi State.
A statement signed by the Chief Communications Manager to the Governor, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, called on President Buhari as leader for all, not to be “swayed by the antics of desperate politician who don’t mean well for civil servants in Kogi State.”
“What kind of desperation will make a man to callously and viciously wage war against the release of resources meant for the people of his state?
“The Kogi State government is of the firm view that the bailout fund is only a loan and not a presidential benevolence. This matter is not a personality contest between Governor Idris Wada and the APC-led government. It is strictly about constitutionalism and the rule of law,” the statement said.
In a swift reaction, Mr. Abdulmalik Suleiman, Media aide to the Kogi APC governorship candidate, said Prince Audu’s worry was on how the funds would be judiciously used.
“In 2014, during the flood incident, the Federal Government and other corporate companies led by Dangote Group, donated billion of naira to the flood victims in the state through the Kogi State government but two years after the money has not gotten to the victims,” he said.
