By Ajogwu-Jerry Ochada.
Kogi State has been in the news since last year following the demise of the acclaimed Prince of the Niger, Abubakar Audu (Adoja) and the arrays of electoral drama and irregularities witnessed in the state.
Many believed the incumbent Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello came to power by the so called “Naija Connections”. The last straw which broke the horses back was the Supreme Court verdict that upheld his election amidst public outcry and condemnation.
It was gathered that many groups across the state have criticised the Bello led administration as a ‘tenure characterised by looting and gross impunity’ owing to the glaring display of wealth and ostentatious spendings by Bello and members of his cabinet.
Sources who pleaded anonymity maintained the Governor squandered and mismanaged the 20 billion first tranche of the 50 billion bailout funds in buying exotic cars for himself and his retinue of appointed officials.
From available reports, he bought 70 Ford Ranger Trucks which according to him was purportedly purchased for the police at a whopping sum of 420 million naira.
He equally bought a bullet proof Lexus Jeep at the sum of 135 million naira after he was booed and stoned at the Lokoja Central Mosque on his way for Jumat prayers.
Despite repeated calls by some interest groups across the state to channel the bailout funds he got from the Federal Government for the payment of salaries and arrears and embark on useful projects, he is busy purchasing numerous exotic cars while Civil servants and pensioners lament in their plights.
It was also gathered that the state IGR is dropping drastically with insecurity increasing at an alarming rate. Kidnap cases, robbery incidence and political assassinations have gained momentum in the state after Gov. Bello took over the mantle of leadership. Just recently, a youth from Kogi-East popularly known as ‘Jaja’ was murdered in broad daylight in Anyigba. Still in the same vein the Kogi State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Fulani group was killed in his house by yet to be identified assassins.
The Kogi renaissance group and the Igala Youth Vanguard in a separate memo released to the press condemned the harsh leadership style of Governor Bello which they alleged is “erecting a strong recipe for anarchy in the state”.
His cliques of officials are mostly seen within and outside the state spending at ease while many of them took turns in celebrating marriages sponsored from the State coffers by the approval of the Gov. Bello.
According to close sources in Lugard House, the Governor celebrated his birthday recently splashing and doling gifts to many of his guests who were mostly females imported to quell his unrepentant libido.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government released the first tranche of bailout funds in April this year and till date salaries are owed with no justified utilisation of the funds.
Credit: The Nigerian
