KOGI STATE

YAHAYA BELLO: CONFUSED AND YET TO GRAPPLE WITH GOVERNANCE

Despite the verification exercise of civil servants embarked upon by Yahaya Bello on assumption of office 17 months ago, which save Kogi State an estimated N1.5 billion monthly, the governor has not been able to pay his workers for several months. By his own admission, the state has a backlog running to 12 months.

Last year, the governor kicked off a road construction programme to cost N10 billion in the three senatorial districts in the state. In Kogi Central District, the roads to be constructed include the 18.3 kilometre-long Agassa-Ahache-Upogoro road, Ogaminana-Ebogogo road, ItapeEika-Kuroko road and ObehiraIhima-Obangede road awarded at the cost of N3.819 billion. Also to receive attention are the Iyamoye-Jege-Ife-OlukotunPonyan-Ejuku-Ijowa Isanlu roads and Ekirin-Ade-OhunIfeolukotun roads all in Kogi West district, awarded at the cost of N4 billion. While in Kogi East district, work is to commence on the Anyigba-Umomi-AkpagidigboUgwolawo-Ajaka road, Ankpa township road, Ibana-Okpo road and Ikeje-Ogugu-Ette road, awarded at the cost of 2.84 billion. Given the paucity of funds in the state, it is uncertain how many of these states he has delivered to the people in the senatorial zones.

His idea on providing food security is to declare an emergency in the agriculture. But no investments have been made by the state government or investors in the sector since Bello assumed office. He has vowed to reposition education in the state, but no investment has been made by the state government in this regard.

Kidnappings and armed robberies remain a problem in Kogi under Bello’s watch, while the state’s reputation for harbouring Boko Haram sympathisers or members is problem that has not been addressed.