Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West on Friday morning accused the governor of Kogi State of deploying three truck load of policemen to possibly assassinate him in his country home, Ayetoro Gbede on 1am Friday morning.
This was contained in his twitter message at 8.14 am Tuesday morning. The message reads:
“2 i/c mopol,OC SARS & 2 1/c SARS and 3 full load of policemen ilegally arranged by ADC to Kogi State Governor came to my country home in Aiyetoro Gbede to possibly assasinate me at 1am. I have profound evidence of this. I will take them up on this. I will write the UN and ICC.”
Tag: bello
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Melaye accuses Gov Bello of sending policemen to assassinate him
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Gov Bello, Police spokesperson want to assassinate me using lethal injection – Melaye raises alarm
Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye has accused Governor Yahaya Bello of colliding with Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Jimoh Moshood of nursing plans to assassinate him using lethal injection if he ever embarks on a journey to the state (Kogi).
He said that is why they insist on prosecuting him in Kogi State, instead of Abuja, for a crime he allegedly committed.
The embattled senator stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa on Monday evening.
“I have supporters and I already know their plan.
“Jimoh Moshood Nigerian Police spokesperson and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state have colluded against me,” he said.
Speaking further, he said: “I can’t go to Lokoja to defend myself in a court because I doubt I can get to Kogi state alive. This is because they want to use poisonous lethal injection to kill me.”
He said the police accused him of sponsoring thugs with guns at Abuja Airport road.
“Why can’t they take me to court in Abuja? Since I was in the lower chamber and now a senator, I never mingled with political thugs. The police are lying because they said, the incident happened in December but failed to say the day and time” he said.
“I can’t go to Lokoja” he added, saying that it would be too dangerous for him because he survived two assassination attempts at Lokoja.
“I reported the case to the police. I told them the people I suspected, my local government chairman inclusive. The police raided the council chairman’s house, they found guns, the case is now before a court of law. Unfortunately, the police later turned against me and said the information I gave them was inaccurate.”
Melaye also denied fleeing Nigeria, saying while he was in Nigeria, nobody notified him with a court summon.
“I just read from Moshood Jimoh press conference that I was supposed to be in court on the 20th of this month. By then I was in Ghana alongside 10 other senators. We attended the international conference on local context.
“Even the publicised issue that I would be declared wanted on the 28th of this month, nobody notified me, either in my office or at home, I am not on the run I am innocent.
“They want to kill me because of the good things I have been doing to the Nigerian masses. We laboured hard to bring this administration to the helm with a sole purpose of serving the poor, to wipe-out their hardship and bring justice. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case.”
When contacted, Jimoh Moshood, Nigerian Police spokesperson, said the senator has been evading (the police) and that the police are not doctors, hence, they cannot inject him.
“He said he is having issues in Kogi state and he has to explain whatever he has to say (in Kogi).
“Let him appear in court on the 28th of this month instead of making false accusations, which is also a criminal offence,” he said.
Apart from being accused of arming suspected criminals, the outspoken senator is also facing a recall from the Senate.
The Independent Natioan Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced that it will proceed with the recall, after getting clearance from the Court of Appeal.
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Double registration saga: I’m not aware of INEC’s probe – Bello
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said he is not aware of the allegation of double registration levelled against him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The governor said this in response to INEC’s position that he has not been let off the hook over the alleged double registration scandal.
He spoke through the state’s Director-General, Publicity and Media Strategy, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo.
Fanwo stated that Bello had made it clear that he was not in the country on the day he was alleged to have registered for the second time.
He said, “We are not aware that the governor was on any hook as far as the issue of double registration is concerned. He has said several times that he was not in the country when the purported double registration was allegedly done. We have evidence to that effect.”
Fanwo insisted that the governor applied for the transfer of his Permanent Voter Card to his polling unit in Okene and that INEC had done what was appropriate in the circumstance.
INEC had, on Thursday, said the governor’s case of double registration was pending and that he would have been prosecuted, but for his immunity adding that “the needful will be done at the appropriate time.”
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Again! Kogi Gov apologises on comment against Christians, Catholic Bishops
The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has apologised to the Catholic bishops and Christians over his alleged comment that those who opposed President Muhammadu Buhari were corrupt Christian leaders who were unhappy because looters were no longer able to pay tithes to them.
Bello made tendered the apology on Tuesday while delivering a speech at the Kogi Invest Summit, 2018 which is presently ongoing in the state.
His words: “…Let me take a moment out of this event to address an issue which is dear to my heart.
I have been mortified since last Friday when a comment I made during a chat with journalists at the State House, Abuja after Juma’at Prayers caused an uproar which is still raging in the Press.
In responding to a question related to the visit of revered Catholic Bishops to the President and some of their views on the State of the Nation to him, it has been reported that I said things which are disrespectful, not only to our revered Spiritual Fathers in that delegation, but also to Christians in general. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
My exact words, as far as I know are as follows:
‘“…those that have looted the country dry and normally go to the church and mosque to pay tithe are no longer doing so. Of course, this is the category of people who are angry.”’
I was trying to generalise, and speak to the two major religions, but I now realise that the word, ‘tithe’ (which Muslims do not pay), made it appear as if I targeted Christians specifically.
I have spoken to My Lord, His Grace, Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, President of the Nigerian Bishops’ Conference and President of the Episcopal Conference of West African Catholic Bishops on this.
To all of my Christian brethren, I apologise for any way in which I have hurt your sensibilities.
I also pray my August Guest today, His Excellency the Vice President to help convey to our Christian leaders and brethren all over the world that I would never dream of disrespecting them. I hold all faiths in high regard.
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Gov Bello denies statement against Catholic Bishops
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has expressed “tremendous respect for the Catholic Community”, saying he will not do anything to disparage any religious organization.
He reaction followed condemnation of his attack on christian leaders who had complained of President Buhari’s style of governance.
The Bishops under the body of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, had told the President that Nigerians were angry about alleged bad governance and imbalance in the system.
But addressing newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after the juma’at service on Friday, the governor took a swipe at them.
He said those who had looted the country’s funds that were angry because sources of their free money had been blocked by the current government.
On Saturday, Bello, through his spokesman, Kingsley Fanwo, said reports in the media that he disrespected the Catholic Community and its leaders was “another low by his detractors in their desperation to portray him as an irresponsible leader”.
“My statements to the press were well documented. I was critical of corrupt leaders who have been disconnected from the looting pipes. These are the leaders who are launching campaign of calumny against Mr. President.
“These categories of leaders belong to different faith and may attempt to mislead highly respected religious leaders into joining their antagonism towards the anti-corruption crusade of Mr. President. 2019 is a year of determination for our nation and I have no regret leading the charge for the re-election of Mr. President who had given hope to the hopeless in the society”.
Governor Bello charged religious leaders to join the President’s fight against corruption, insisting that no good religion has a place for corruption and corrupt people.
“The Catholic Church has done very well in promoting literacy and healthcare. I am quite familiar with a good number of Catholic Priests and I know their stance on the issue of corruption. Every church and religion must fight corruption because corruption oppresses the poor and destroy justice and fairness”, he said.
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Pastors, Imams angry at Buhari because they no longer receive tithes from looted funds – Gov Bello
…Insists Buhari will win 2019 elections by landslide
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has reacted to news that some Catholic Bishops that visited President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday are angry with his (Buhari) style of leadership.
The governor noted that while it is true that some Nigerians are happy, however, those that are angry are those that the president blocked their access to the nation’s treasury.
Bello said this on Friday in an interactive session with State House correspondents after observing the Friday Ju’mat prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In his words: “It’s very true that Nigerians are angry but the question is: who are this category of Nigerians that are angry?
“The Nigerians that are angry are those who used private jets to cart away Nigeria’s money in dollars out of the country to South Africa. I’m sure you are aware that our money is still locked down there. Such money if you bring it into the economy, a lot of youths that are unemployed will surely be employed.
“And of course those that have looted the country dry and normally go to church and mosque to pay tithe are no longing doing so. Of course these are the people that are angry.”
“I think those that are benefiting from these crimes and criminality will be angry and they are Nigerians. So it is important to define the category of people who are angry.
The governor futher said President Buhari would be reelected regardless of the order of the 2019 elections.
Commenting on the proposal by the National Assembly that the elections into the Senate and House of Representatives should kick-start the polls, the governor said: “If you observed critically what happened in the last election, where Mr. President was elected along with other members of the National Assembly, then we called it Buhari Tsunami, where the good, the bad and the ugly were all put together and elected.
“It’s either going to be in their interest that the Buhari Tsunami will return them or everybody will be on his or her own. Let Buhari return and let Nigerians select the good ones out of the bad ones to return to the National Assembly.
“Whichever order is adopted for the coming general elections, I can assure you that Mr. President will win with a landslide and the good ones will return to the National Assembly.”
Bello urged Nigerians to give Buhari a chance to complete what he has started adding that he supports the Bola Tinubu-led committee set up during the week, by Buhari, to reconcile all aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Whatever Mr. President believes in, his judgment and his wisdom, I believe in him. And I believe in his ability to bring all party members together,” he said.
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Kogi workers shall begin to enjoy me in 2018 – Gov Yahaya Bello
Kogi state governor Yahaya Bello has commended the civil servants of the state for enduring financial constraints in the year 2017.
The governor particularly lauded the workers for their sacrifices during the state government’s civil service reforms.
“I assure you all that in 2018, you shall begin to enjoy some of the immediate benefits of the verification,” governor Bello said in a press statement to mark the New Year 2018.
“As a father and provider, I know the pains and disappointments of not being able to meet the needs of dependants in due season.
“An efficient civil service is the engine room of any government and I am delighted that the Kogi civil service is being repositioned for efficiency, effectiveness and productivity.”
He also commended the people of the state for their cooperation in fighting insecurity.
The statement read in part, “Other initiatives in the agricultural sector shall be rolled out within the first quarter of the year.
“These initiatives shall employ young people and make them agents of wealth creation.
“In order to deliver good governance to all, expansion of infrastructure shall continue in remote and urban areas of our state.
“As we continue to make progress in the new direction towards sustainable development of our state and general well being of our people, I enjoin everyone to remain law abiding.
“It is my fervent hope that the state will witness more peace, more tranquility and more socio-economic growth in the year 2018.”
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Bello has a right to build mansions despite owing salaries, pensions – Aide
The Director General on Media and Publicity to the Kogi State Governor, Kingsley Fanwo has said his principal, Governor Yahaya Bello did not violate any law for building a multi-million naira house in his native home town, Okene despite owing workers and pensioners their monthly entitlements.
Recall that there was wide outrage against the governor’s decision to erect a sprawling edifice in his hometown at the expense of workers and pensioners who have been unpaid for months in the state.
Fanwo who spoke while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Saturday referred to those agitating against the governor’s mansion as “a confused community of crumbling critics”.
In his words: “ I didn’t say anything because they are a confused community of crumbling critics who have lost focus and direction.
“They know the Governor was a successful businessman before his foray into politics. There is no correlation between the salary payment situation in the state and the Governor’s recently completed house at Okene.
“We have spoken severally about the salary situation in the state. We have paid genuine workers up to July 2017 and we are working on the arrears. It is also true that those who were recently pardoned and returned to the payrolls are being owed more number of months.
“We will pay what our Paris Club refund and allocations can pay to make the Yuletide an enjoyable one for our civil servants. They deserve their pay after all their contributions to the development of the state,” he said.
Mr. Fanwo said the Kogi State government will continue to strengthen its relationship with the organised labour, insisting that comparison of the state with oil producing and highly viable states was unfair.
“Anambra State was governed by a forward-thinking Governor who left a fortune for the incumbent. The present administration in Kogi inherited debts and unproductive loans. The Governor is working hard to build institutions that can sustain the gains of his reforms in the civil service,” he said.
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[Photos] Despite owing salaries, Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi unveils palatial mansion
While workers, pensioners Kogi State are languishing in the plentitude of sufferings as a result of emoluments owed them for long months, the story is different for Governor Yahaya Bello, who administers the state.
Unperturbed by the many criticisms that beleaguer his administration, Gov Bello unveiled a palatial mansion for himself on Mahmoud Atta street, GRA Okene.
Recall that whuile the house was under construction in August, some residents of the exclusive residential area complained that the governor converted the street entrance to his private gate.
But Bello carried on with the project, at the time, Kingsley Fanwo, spokesman of the governor, said his principal had made a better provision for the affected residents.
Among top dignitaries who were present at the occasion include Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim, Ohinoyi of Ebira land, joined the governor during the house-warming ceremony.
See photos of the mansion…
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I will pay workers’ salaries, pension arrears before 2018 – Kogi Gov, Bello
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi says he will pay all salary arrears of civil servants cleared and the pension arrears of retirees before the end of 2017.
Bello also said that he would commence prompt payment of salaries of workers in the state public service from January 2018.
He made the promise on Saturday at the commemoration of the 110th birthday of the Odeyani-Anebira, Alhaji Audu Otonoku and his eight years on the throne as the Otonoku in Lokoja. “As from January next year, we shall be paying all our cleared civil servants salaries as and when due.
“I want to appreciate God that good days are coming to the people of Kogi,” he said. The governor traced the genesis of the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries to huge debts which he claimed his administration inherited from the immediate past administration.
According to him, the corruption in the state civil service and the need to restore sanity to the service also account for the delay.
Bello, represented by Mr Mumuni Okara, his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said that the state government had done a lot to restore discipline into the service.
He said that the state government had increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N350 million monthly to N1.2 billion. In his remarks, the Commissioner for Finance, Idris Asiru, said that the state government had discovered and eliminated from the payroll over 2,000 names of workers with fake certificates.
Asiru said that the state government needed N30 billion to clear salaries and arrears of all workers that have been cleared. He said that the governor had given him directive to source for fund for the payment, assuring the workers that he would carry out the governor’s directive.
Earlier, the Odeyani-Anebira commended Bello for his “giant strides in security, infrastructure development and civil service reform aimed at sanitising the service’’.
The monarch also praised his title holders (Daudus) for maintaining peace and harmony among the Ebira living in Lokoja. He also lauded the executive council of Ebira Peoples Association (EPA) for its contribution toward the development of Ebiraland.
Odeya-Onebira was born to the ancient family of Otonoku of Adangara clan in 1907 and was installed on Sept. 18, 2010 in Lokoja. Reeling out his achievements, Otonoku said he had been able to foster unity among Ebira residents and maintained peaceful coexistence of the Ebiras with other ethnic groups in Lokoja. He, however, called for building of a befitting palace for him and provision of vehicle befitting his status.
Otonoku also called for the empowerment of Ebira women and youths to make them self-reliant. Highpoints of the occasion were the conferment of chieftaincy titles on some prominent citizens of Ebiraland and citizens of other tribes. Various groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of Ebiraland, among others.