TheNewsGuru

Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Kogi poll: My victory is certain, Yahaya Bello boasts

    Kogi poll: My victory is certain, Yahaya Bello boasts

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has said his victory at the forthcoming governorship election in the state is certain.

    The governor is seeking a second term at the November 16 election.

    Bello spoke to State House correspondents at the weekend after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole.

    The governor said he had been prepared for the election even before the Presidential and National Assembly elections in February.

    But he added that he was not taking anything for granted.

    His achievements, he said, was there for all to see and the people were waiting for November 16 to vote for him.

    Bello noted that his achievements included up-to date salary payment, despite settling backlog when he assumed office.

    Nightlife in the state, he said, was back following improved security.

    The governor also said he was committed to free, fair and credible election.

    He said: “As regards … preparedness…I have been ready for this election even before the last general election…

    ‘So, we are well prepared … As for victory, I think by the grace of God, it is assured.

    As the chairman has said, we are not going to take anything for granted. Whether the candidate of the opposition party is strong or not, we will approach the election with seriousness and ensure that it is conducted freely and fairly and we will become victorious by the grace of God. On November 17, we will be announced the winner.”

    He denied the Peoples Democratc Party’s (PDP’s) allegations that he planned to scuttle PDP primaries.

    Bello said “If you monitor all the activity of the PDP in Kogi State…it has always been marred or characterised by violence, guns, maiming …and all kinds of attacks.

    So the outcome of that of the last primaries they conducted shouldn’t take anyone by surprise.

    “We have a larger number of delegates in Kogi State. We started our exercise early enough and finished early enough in peace. I am not a member of PDP, I wouldn’t go in there and conduct it for them.

    “So, it is their character, it is their stock-in-trade and that is what they are known for and so should rather look inward rather than pointing fingers outside.

    “You see, when you have a cancer and you don’t treat it but rather you are treating malaria, you will never get rid of cancer. So, that is the problem the PDP has, they have cancer and should treat the cancer and shouldn’t look outside.

    Asked what message he was taking to Kogi electorate for the next four years, he said “The people of Kogi State have actually seen my performance against the performance of previous PDP governors. In less than three and half years, they have seen all my wonderful performances.

    “In fact starting with even the issue of salaries, it’s just that all along, I have chosen not to speak about the issue of salary because it is a problem I inherited.

    “And in any case governance is a continuum, you inherit both assets and liabilities. When you inherit assets, you make use of it, when you inherit liabilities or trouble you try to solve it, you don’t complain about it.’’

    “So I refused to make comment about the issue of salaries.

    As a matter of fact, the issues of salaries arrears I have already accepted by my immediate predecessor he inherited from Ibro’s administration.

    “These past two PDP Governors couldn’t solve it, I have come to solve it. That already is a kudos to this administration that the people of Kogi State should vote for us.”

    Bello also boasted that every local government in the state have various projects completed by his administration.

    “Every local government in Kogi are dotted with various infrastructural development. The people of Kogi State have spoken before in the last general election, they will speak again.”

    On security, he said “Lastly, if you look at Kogi State in the past, if you are a traveler you will hold your breath. The inhabitants as early as 6:30 they will only manage to pray their morning prayer and in the evening they will manage to pray their evening prayer and go to bed, but today, even along the streets of Kogi you will see people jogging, exercise, night life is back as a result of improved security situation in the state today.

    “Kogi State is the second safest state in Nigeria today, I didn’t say it. We have various bodies that rate the performance of various government and administration, Nigeria Bureau of statistics and the rest of them, they said it.

    “So if you look at it, we have performed so wonderfully that the people of Kogi state are eager that 16th November should come and let them speak with their votes and I know they will speak very well and re-elect me, the APC and we shall become victorious.” he said

    Asked if he was going to carry along the labour leaders he proscribed, Bello said “Well, it is not a battle we are going into, we are going into a contest, one I know is going to be free and fair and I am going to win that election by the grace of God. The APC under the leadership of the national chairman, we are going to campaign vigorously well and we shall become victorious.

    “The people who have decided to become rebellious to bring down the institution of higher learning at certain point in time have today seen the benefits of telling them to please give peace a chance.

    “They have given peace a chance and you can see the last strike, Kogi State didn’t go on strike, we have very stable educational in Kogi State. As per all the labour leaders in Kogi State, we are moving on harmoniously, you can confirm from the various chapters.

    “If not because they are not politicians, labour leaders would have taken the fore front to campaign for my re-election.” he said

  • Kogi guber poll: Buhari, Oshiomhole, Yayaya Bello meet in Aso Rock

    Kogi guber poll: Buhari, Oshiomhole, Yayaya Bello meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiohmole.

    The meeting started at the President’s office around 3.30pm.

    Oshiohmole was accompanied by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

    Issues to be discussed at the meeting may not be unconnected with the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi state and other party issues.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello speaks on disrupting PDP governorship primary

    Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello speaks on disrupting PDP governorship primary

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has dismissed the accusations by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party that he masterminded the disruption of the party’s primary election on Wednesday morning.

    He said his administration should not be held responsible for the disruption.

    “I’m not a member of PDP. We gave a level-playing field to PDP and other political parties to carry out their activities freely within the state.

    “They moved round the nooks and crannies, all the aspirants in other political parties moved round the nooks and crannies of Kogi state.

    “I conducted the security people round the Stadium and went round the stadium and my security chiefs in Kogi were very excellent and up and doing as far as Kogi is concerned,” he said.

    Voting had ended at the PDP primary to elect its flag bearer in the November election and sorting of votes had begun when gunmen invaded the venue, bringing the proceedings to an end.

    The party hours later accused Governor Bello for sending the gunmen to the venue.

    Curiously however the party was able to announce the result of the election, save some 247 ballots that the election committee claimed were missing following the disruption.

  • Kogi guber: PDP reacts to emergence of Yahaya Bello as APC candidate

    Kogi guber: PDP reacts to emergence of Yahaya Bello as APC candidate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Monday that with Gov. Yahaya Bello as the APC flag bearer it would easily win the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi.

    Mr Bode Ogunmola, the PDP spokesman in the state, made the remark in a statement in Lokoja.

    Ogunmola said the poor performance of the governor in the last three and half years and public resentment against his administration would ensure “a sweat-less victory’’ for PDP.

    “PDP has long been praying for the APC to make mistake of re-presenting Bello for the governorship poll.

    “It is a well known fact that the governor cannot win any local government in Kogi due to his poor performance, and the way and manner the resources of the state is being massively looted.

    “His desperation to return is to save himself from going to prison over looted funds. That was why he had to spend hugely to get strong contenders disqualified.

    “If he succeeds in fooling the leadership of his party and the delegates, we are confident that he cannot fool Kogi electorate who are victims of his monumental misgovernance,’’ Ogunmola said.

    However, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the Director-General of Media and Publicity of the governor, assured that Bello would continue to concentrate on governance in spite of preparations for the Nov. 16 poll.

    Reacting to the PDP’s statement, Fanwo told newsmen that the governor would not bandy words as he had responded adequately to the PDP in February and March (general elections) with unprecedented defeat.

    “We are even stronger going into the November Governorship election. The governor won’t talk. He believes in allowing his results speak for him,” Fanwo said.

    He stressed that delivering democracy dividends to the people would continue to remain “on the front burner of the present administration”.

    “Gov. Bello will not remove his feet from the pedals of governance and in his drive to deliver democracy dividends to the people of the state”.

    Fanwo said the governor had remained “humble in victory”, saying the best way to react to the ‘stupendous victory’ at the primaries was to continue to give his best to the people.

    According to him, the governor will campaign with the work he has done since taking over the mantle of leadership in the confluence state.

    “GYB is gradually redefining governance and politics. While others talk, he works and his work speaks for him.

    “The naysayers said he was not popular and he defeated the opposition in the general elections like never before in the political history of our dear state.

    “The Aug. 29 governorship primaries in the state have again made a resounding attestation to his political credentials.

    ‘“In victory, he has remained humble. He has stretched an olive branch to all contestants in the primaries to join hands with him to deliver victory to the APC on Nov. 16.

    “As we continue our electioneering, our projects will continue and those completed will be commissioned.

    ‘“Gov. Bello was elected to serve and he will continue to serve even into his second term in office,’’ he said.

    The director-general urged the people to remain steadfast in supporting Bello’s administration, assuring that they would never be disappointed.

  • Kogi Governorship: Dino Melaye mocks Yahaya Bello, others with cartoon

    Kogi Governorship: Dino Melaye mocks Yahaya Bello, others with cartoon

    Controversial Senator, Dino Melaye has mocked the incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello and other governorship aspirants with a cartoon he released on Sunday.

    The cartoon saw other aspirants patching on Melaye at a stadium and surrendering to his supremacy as he stands tall as a giant.

    Melaye then wrote on his vest: “The best man in Kogi; my people must be free. Yahoo boys, government will fall. The people must be free.”

  • Second Term Saga: Yahaya Bello leads Kogi traditional rulers to Buhari for endorsement

    Second Term Saga: Yahaya Bello leads Kogi traditional rulers to Buhari for endorsement

    Kogi State Traditional Rulers Council on Wednesday presented Governor Yahaya Bello to President Muhammadu Buhari for support towards his second term election in November.

    The Monarchs were led to the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, by the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni.

    They also pleaded with the President to appoint one of their subjects as a substantive minister in his cabinet and not a minister of state.

    Briefing State House correspondents after meeting with the President, spokesman of Kogi traditional rulers, Solomon Dele Owoniyi, the Obaru of Kabba and chairman of Okun Council of Obas, said that their meeting with the President was to seek the support of the President in his second term election.

    According to him, Bello had been endorsed by the people of the state.

    He said: “We came for three basic things, one to felicitate with and congratulate him for winning the last general elections.

    “We congratulated him because the election was so hectic and so many Nigerians were confused, they didn’t know what to do.

    “But to God be the glory at the end of the day the president came back for the second term and his mandate was revalidated by most Nigerians especially in Kogi state.

    “Secondly, we came to pray for him that this last lap is very critical in the checkered history of Nigeria and it is our wish and prayer that all the aspirations of Mr. President will come to fruition without much rancour.

    “Thirdly, like the chairman of the traditional rulers said, the Attah of Igala said, he had come to upgrade what the president called the shopping list.

    “Since we voted for the president and as usual like Oliver Twist we must demand for our rights, we decided to upgrade the list of our demands from Kogi state.

    “I am pleased to inform you, ladies and gentlemen that Mr. President has graciously alluded to most of our requests and has told us to come home and tell our people that he has us at the back of his mind and that he was going to approach most of these issues as they come.

    “Fourthly, we had to reintroduce our governor to the president.

    “Some people in the social media are already saying we are playing politics, we are not playing politics we are being realistic. When you are realistic you say things as there.

    “We came to reintroduce our governor to the president and demanded for normal support since they belong to the same party, the issue of endorsement is not here, the people at home have already endorsed His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for second term, so we don’t need to re-endorsed him in Abuja here.”

  • Kogi 2019: Melaye attacks Gov Bello for ‘disrespecting’ monarch

    Kogi 2019: Melaye attacks Gov Bello for ‘disrespecting’ monarch

    Senator, Dino Melaye has attacked the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for hugging a paramount ruler in the State.

    A picture has surfaced on Instagram showing Bello hugging 90-year old traditional ruler, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim.

    Melaye, who is aspiring to be Kogi State Governor in November lashed out at Bello for what he termed a despicable act.

    The lawmaker wondered if Governor Aminu Tambuwal or Governor Nasir El-Rufai would do such a thing which Bello had done in disregard to the elderly monarch.

    Melaye wrote on his Instagram page: “Very disrespectful and rude Governor Yahaya Bello hugging his paramount traditional ruler Alhaji Ado Ibrahim who is over 90 years.

    “Can Gov Tambuwal hug the Sultan? Or will El-rufai hug the Emir of Zaria? If this disobedient child will not respect the seat of Ohinoyi, he should respect the age of HRM. Home training is not a gift.”

  • Kogi guber: ‘No second term ticket for Yahaya Bello’

    Stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, asking that Governor Yahaya Bello should not be given a second term.

    The governor, they claimed, had received about N344billion in the last 38 months of his stewardship, without doing anything with the allocations.

    The governor is owing salaries, pensions and gratuities, they said, adding that there are no visible capital projects on ground anywhere in the state.

    They described Bello as non- performing and violent.

    The petition, which was signed by the Convener of the Kogi APC Stakeholders Forum, Sen. Alex Kadiri reads:

    “Governor Yahaya Bello was never elected by the good people of Kogi State. The death of Abubakar Audu made it possible for Bello to be Kogi State Governor. He has shown everyone that he lacks leadership abilities. He can’t fight for the rights and privileges of Kogi people.

    “We request you to step down your support for the candidature of Governor Yahaya Bello for the forthcoming election in Kogi State.

    “If the party fields him as a candidate, we are sure of losing the state to the opposition.”

    The stakeholders gave insights into how the governor allegedly mismanaged the statutory allocations.

    They said: “For the past 38 months including February 2019 Governor Yahaya Bello has not paid full salaries to the workers of Kogi State, despite the fact that the state received full allocation from the Federation Account as detailed below: Statutory allocation, Excess Crude and Value Added Tax (VAT) (N132b); Internally Generated Revenue by the state(N51b); total allocations to local governments(N111b).

    “Total funds received by the state and local governments: N294 billion. The other funds received by the state are as below: Bail Out (N20b); Paris Club refunds 1, 2, and 3 (N19b); and refunds for road construction by previous governments (N11b).

    “The governor had conducted multiple staff screening for both the state and the local governments. And from the report of the screening, the monthly wage bill (state, local governments and pensions) at the inception of the administration stood at N5.8 billion. After screening, this figure reduced to N4.4 billion.

    “From the table above it is evidently clear that the total revenue received by the state government was more than enough to settle all salaries, pensions and gratuities with huge balance remaining for overheads and capital projects.

    “It is very instructive to note that even without bailout and other funds received outside statutory allocation, Governor Yahaya Bello could have still paid all salaries including pensions without conducting multiple screening and inflicting pains on Kogi State and local government workers. This must hurt APC at the polls.

    “Even after the screening, all salaries and pensions payments were paid using arbitrary percentages, thereby still owing workers huge outstanding salaries.”

    The stakeholders said they had tried to seek presidential and party interventions to call Bello to order, but to no avail.

    They added: “We respectfully write to bring to your esteemed attention, the following facts and issues associated with our party and the governor of Kogi State.

    “We had earlier, during the life of your administration petitioned against our governor, Yahaya Bello, on several occasions.

    “The party, as a result, set up the Tony Momoh Committee to work on the issues in our petitions in Kogi State APC. The result of this committee’s work is kept secret in the cooler without the party or the government addressing any of the issues to date.

    “Another committee was setup under the chairmanship of General Garba. We appeared before the committee, and made far-reaching recommendations, till this day, that report is still also kept secret and under lock and key and no action taken by the party.

    Last night Director-General Media and Strategy to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo said:

    “Every financial statement has both income and expenditure. It is the height of mischief to push out the income of the state without juxtaposition of expenditure to set the idea for public perception.

    “The Governor has only been in office for 39 months but has paid salaries for 38 months; including four months before his inception.

    “Salaries take the chunk of our revenue as a state. However, we have been able to invest heavily on the other sectors of the economy.

    To check insecurity in the state, we bought over 200 brand new vans, over 500 motorcycles and gadgets running into hundreds of millions of Naira.

    “We gave teeth to the Vigilante Service in the State through a well coordinated training and mobilisation to complement the efforts of the conventional security agencies. Today, the security narrative we met has changed.

    “The multi-million Integrated Rice Mill at Ejiba is 92% completed and will be one of the biggest legacies of our Administration.

    “The administration has also made Lokoja and the other towns and cities in the state saner, cleaner and more habitable. We have completed the Ankpa Township Roads and many others are ongoing with quality jobs.

    “The revolution to make water available to Kogites have paid off as the administration has delivered a lot of high-worth water facilities across the state.

    “With all the development projects we are doing, it must also be mentioned that we are repaying loans taken and wasted by the previous administrations in the State.

    “Sanitising and digitalization of our civil service didn’t come cheap. But the administration is proud of what has been achieved in that sector. “We have also electrified about 40 communities across the state. We have improved infrastructure in our schools, hospitals and Primary Health Centres.

    “The Administration put in place, bumps to check financial misdemeanors and will be remembered after 2024 as the most disciplined administration in the history of the state.”

  • Owing 38 months workers salary: I know I’ve goofed – Gov. Bello

    Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello for the first time publicly admitted that his administration has committed blunder by owing workers between eight and 38 months due to the over two years staff screening exercise he initiated.

    Governor Bello who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja at the 7th NLC quadrennial congress on Thursday in Lokoja said “when a child made mistakes he should admit he made mistakes, we have made mistakes and we are correcting it”

    Onoja who was unusually sober at the ceremony was reacting to NLC chairman’s speech , Comrade Onuh Edoka who said workers were dying in dozens due to the non payment of salaries as the government was owing them between eight and 38 months.

    Edoka had said workers in the state have been reduced to beggars as they could not meet their domestic responsibilities while their children are driven out of school due to non payment of school fees while the condition of pensioners and local government workers some of who he said are being paid “miserable percentages of their salaries” are most precarious.

    Responding, Onoja who said the prolonged staff screening exercise was inevitable as it has brought some kind of sanity to the civil service system in the state, however said government was looking into where it has goofed with a view to correcting it.

    On the percentage payment of local government workers, Onoja said this phenomenon has been existing before the advent of the current administration, a claim which the workers at the occasion responded to by shouting “ no, no ,no, you are lying”

    Beating a retreat, Onoja appealed to the workers to exercise patience with the government as efforts would now be geared towards paying their salaries as and when due pleading with the workers to support the re election bid of Governor Yahaya Bello.

    He however said if by November this year, Governor Bello was not re elected the incoming government will build on the legacy they would leave behind

  • Kogi govn’rshp ticket: Yahaya Bello set to dump APC, orders removal of party flag from govt house

    Kogi govn’rshp ticket: Yahaya Bello set to dump APC, orders removal of party flag from govt house

    Indications emerged on Wednesday that the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello might dump his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to insider sources, the governor is likely to join the Accord party for the party’s ticket to contest the November governorship election in the state.

    Feelers to this emerged when the governor ordered the removal of APC flags and banners from Lugard House, seat of the state government.

    The governor has been having a tough battle with APC chieftains in the state to secure the party’s ticket for the election.

    According to a report by ThisDay, the Accord Party secretariat has been renovated by the governor. Although the Accord Party was his alternative party in 2015 when he lost the APC governorship primary to late Prince Abubakar Audu, he was eventually nominated to take the place of Audu in the supplementary election.

    Sources disclosed that Bello told some of his closest allies in his cabinet that some cabal in Aso Rock advised him to move to another party since forces were against him for the ticket.

    According to him, he has been assured of their support if he contests the governorship election in another party.

    The sources also disclosed that the governor of Benue state, Dr. Samuel Ortom, a good friend of Bello, also advised him to dump the APC for another party so that he could contest in the election.

    Already, the national secretariat of the APC received over 10 petitions submitted by individuals, various groups and also within the party demanding that Bello should not be given ticket for second term.

    Senior officials of the party at the national secretariat in Abuja that preferred anonymity, however, said while it was normal for discontent to exist in the polity, it was doubtful if Governor Bello would contemplate jumping ship.

    “What the national leadership is determined to do is to level the playing field for all aspirants to play. The question of anyone being favoured by Abuja is totally misconceived,” an official said.