The All Progressive Congress, APC, Kogi state has accused Governor Yahaya
Bello of incompetence, saying he has created more hardship for the people
of the state.
In a statement, Chairman of APC in Kogi State, Alhaji Hadi Amoto labelled
Bello a totalitarian.
“I am deeply saddened that he is bringing untold hardship and pains on the
people of the state through his many anti-people policies.
“I want to set the record straight that Yahaya Bello was not part of the
struggle of building and nurturing APC in Kogi state but circumstance gave
him the opportunity to cash in on the labour of others. This explains why
he is mismanaging the opportunity and turning governance to charade and
kindergarten affairs in Kogi state thereby making people to lose
confidence in our party”, he said.
According to him, when the party campaigned round the 21 local governments
areas of the state as a united party, they promised people change and
better life.
“We promised a transparent government where all Kogites will have a sense
of belonging, we promised the people that our government will pay salary
and emoluments of civil servants as at when due, we promised the security
of lives and property of citizens of the state, we promised to respect the
fundamental human right of the people of the state but unfortunately, the
government of Yahaya Bello does not represent the beautiful agenda of the
APC in Kogi state”, the party said.
He alleged that Bello is making a mockery of the Whistle blowing programme
of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is disheartening to hear that the Yahaya Bello led government is
making mockery of the lofty idea in Kogi state by rewarding those giving
information about the critics of his government under the disguise of
whistle blower with the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,00) of
tax payers money. This is certainly far from what whistle blowing concept
is all about.
“The government of the day in Kogi state is oppressing and intimidating
people who worked tirelessly for the victory of APC which he is enjoying
today.
Recently, some elders from Kogi central were said to have been detained by
Bello in government house for airing their views about the
maladministration in the state. One of the victims, a former vice chairman
of Okene Local government, Hon Usman Okorongo has been under detention in
government house for some days now. I want to let the world know that Hon.
Usman have some health challenges and we will hold Yahaya Bello
responsible should anything happen to him”, he said.
He said Bello has turned government house into a police station for
detaining people.
“I keep wondering if the government house is now a police station where
unjustified arrests are made and people will be arbitrarily detained. We
want to draw the attention of the Inspector General of Police and National
Human Right Commission to this gross abuse of human right currently on
going in Kogi state.
“The security situation in the state which is at the lowest ebb ever, this
is giving me a lot of concern and sleepless night. Unfortunately, a
government that should be responsible for the protection of the lives and
properties of her citizens is building a tall wall and gate around
government house and environs and leaving the people of the state at the
mercy of armed robbers and kidnappers. That is the height of insensitivity
and irresponsibility on the part of government.
“People are been kidnapped, killed and dispossessed of their belongings
every day. Many civil servants who are lucky enough to receive one or two
months’ salary since the inception of this government have lost their
money to armed robbers. I am still wondering why the state government
decided to forcefully open account for civil servants in a bank that have
just one branch in the state. People will have to travel 5 hours before
they can access their salary, a situation most of the workers described as
frustrating.
“The unending screening in the state has also put a lot of people at risk.
Recently, some civil servants from Mopa Amuro local government who were
travelling for screening were kidnapped on their way and one of them was
killed in the process. We have also heard of people losing their lives in
ghastly motor accident while going for the screening. There is even a new
dimension to the security situation in the state where “armed robbers” now
stop people going for screening and the only thing they demand for is the
originals of their credentials.