THE Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday said his government would repay the people of the state with good governance over their decision to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election.
Speaking on the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari, as the winner of the presidential election, the governor said the move marked the watershed moment of the 2019 general elections.
While lauding the people for trooping out to vote for Buhari and the national assembly candidates of the APC, Bello said this demonstrated commitment to the democratic process characterised by free and fair elections.
He said, “We as Government have done our best to complement your aspirations by placing the credibility and integrity of the electoral system above any desires to win every contested seat, and by all available means.
“Despite initial teething pains and some malignancy in the campaigns, we did our best to provide the secure and conducive atmosphere needed by our people to exercise their franchise freely.
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“In the end, the good people of Kogi State spoke loud and clear that despite any shortcomings, Government at state and federal levels have acted substantially in line with their mandate. ‘Vox populi, Vox Dei’, The voice of the people is the voice of God. Our people have resoundingly insisted that while Change must now make way for Progress, the All Progressives Congress (APC) still remains their preferred driver for the journey ahead.
“As a government, we have been forced to function with only one federal legislator in the entire state, so the outcomes of these elections is a great victory and a precious gift to us by you. By your votes, you have improved our abilities to function well as a government by giving us a majority of the elected federal legislators. It will now be easier for what belongs to us to be harnessed in Abuja and brought home for the benefit of our communities.”
The governor, however, urged the people to continue to support the party as the state prepares for the state assembly election.
Bello said: “As we prepare for the state assembly elections on March 9, we again urge our people to troop out en masse and cast their votes. It will help the conduct of government business greatly if our people can also help us again by voting people at all state constituencies who will not delay or totally derail the business of government with unnecessary party politics. Nevertheless, we reiterate that our primary commitment is for everyone to come out and vote their choice with any form of duress.
“We especially thank those who voted for us for recognising our efforts to carry out difficult reforms, to empower them, to educate their children properly, to provide critical infrastructure, to secure their lives and properties, provide better healthcare and to return their priorities to the heart of government in Kogi State.
“The ball is once again in our court to reciprocate this vote of confidence with good governance. While it is true that not all the seeds of reforms which we have planted as matured, we undertake to make sure that the hard farming season now makes way gradually for the seasons of harvest and plenty.”
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