Honourable Abdullahi Bello, a Former Honourable Speaker and Acting Gov in Kogi State, talks about the dynamics of politics, governance and other issues in the state in recent times.
YOU recently attended the one-year anniversary of the government of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, what is your impression of his performance so far?
Bello: Governor Usman Ododo has changed the paradigm about the matter of governance in Kogi State. Within one year some major roads that were left undone for the past 12 years have been constructed to the highest possible standards with working street lights and drainage. In fact, driving through these roads at night, you can’t believe that you are actually in Lokoja. He is so compassionate that welfare and wellbeing of the people are paramount by ensuring the prompt and full payment of workers’ salaries and other entitlements. Students’ scholarships are being paid unlike in the past. Work is going on across the entire state. We can go on and on, just as the governor has kept to his promise to keep doing things differently in Kogi State. I can proudly state that, good governance has taken shape in Kogi State.
But some critics have recently called a press conference accusing the Governor Ododo government of lack of direction, corruption and nepotism and specifically pointed to the state accountant general of incompetence and domineering, what are your views on these allegations?
Let me begin from the current state accountant general, that is Dr Habibat., she is highly qualified, competent, and hardworking person. For long, Kogi State never enjoyed the desire of the civil servants to have one of their own as the accountant general. The current accountant general is the first to be appointed from within the civil service, and thus the principles and ethics of her training have shown on her achievements so far. People complain of her strong character, and I said, yes that can be true. Her late father, Alhaji Ismaila Onumoko of blessed memory is a principled man who brought all his children up to exhibit high level conscience, compassion and with courage to do what is right. She is currently doing all these behind Governor Ododo with great success. Governor Ododo himself came from a very decent background with exceptional upbringing. His level of considerations for others are enormous, and his controlling capabilities are high with confidence. These are what made his government to bring the entire state together during the recent one-year anniversary. Great leaders of Kogi State from all walk of life, different political parties, and across ethnic coloration were in attendance. The state came together to celebrate Governor Ododo’s one-year anniversary. Those who suddenly woke up with falsehood by spinning issues negatively against Governor Ododo and his team, particularly targeting the accountant general, are jittery and are merely reacting to the undeniable success story of Governor Ododo within a year.
Are you implying that the recent press conference asserting wrong doing in Kogi State is not true?
Yes. Those who call the said press conferences are entitled to their opinion but, as I have earlier said they are jittery of the wonderful performance of the Governor and his team, and more importantly these naysayers are singing and dancing to old and outdated music. I doubt if they have visited Kogi in the last few months. Kogi has changed for good, and I am particularly grateful to Allah Almighty for using Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to restore the good image of Ebiraland. If those in the said the press are the voice of opposition of which I am in doubt, they’re simply wasting their time. With what Governor Ododo and his team are presently doing in Kogi State, our party, that is, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win future elections with ease. In Kogi State, we are witnessing under Governor Ododo, a complete dispersion from wasteful culture, more freedom from all kinds of fears and highest forms of inclusiveness are his hallmarks.
What other areas do you think that the governor can be advised to look into as he begins his second year?
I will suggest to him to use the political power and authority that the Allah Almighty has bestow upon him to build basic economic base around some strategic locations in the state in order to encourage local commerce, and keep his eyes on basic and technical educational, and health needs of our people while working hard to protect the people against insecurity. Finally, Mount Patti can be developed to attract and stimulate tourism.
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