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The pursuit of excellence for Kogi State and an insatiable desire to pull her people out of poverty are two of the reasons Governor Yahaya Bello offered himself to run for office of at the age of 39 years.
The Kogi State Governor said this while receiving an award as the ‘Democracy Performing Governor of the Year’ at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Hon. Ibrahim Adoga, said his mission to wrestle Kogi State from penury and the effects of bad leadership was on course, despite what social media critics say.
He challenged those who believed more in rumours than substance to travel to the state and see things for themselves.
“I was an accomplished business man, and could already afford most of the good things of life when I ran for office. It was the high level of insecurity, abject poverty and my empathy for the good people of Kogi State that forced me out of my comfort zone to join the race. I have the youngest and most energetic cabinet in the country right now, and we are not going to be distracted for any reason.
“We are fighting corruption and it is fighting back via social media. You can even hear it in the voice of our detractors. If you wish to see what we have done, come down to the state. Ask how many cases of kidnappings and robberies are reported today and compare with the records of my predecessors. Ask how many months of salaries we met unpaid and cleared within a short time of being in office. Ask how much we have expended on salary and pension payments in an era of lean purses as compared to the past. Ask how we have been able to quadruple our internal revenue in less than 6 months in office.
“I dedicate this award to the 3.2 million Kogites for whom I wake up and serve every day and night. Our New Direction Agenda is on course!,” he said.
Other awardees on the night include the Former Governor of Kano, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Sen. Gbenga Ashafa; Mr. Sunday Dare; Hon. Desmond Elliot and others.
The Heroes of Democracy Award was organised by the Face of Democracy Nigeria
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