5th May, 2015
A governorship aspirant in Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said the state had no reason to be listed among poor states in the country.
Bello, a member of All Progressives Congress (APC), said this on Monday in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen at the APC national secretariat.
NAN reports that governorship election in Kogi would be held in December, 2015.
Bello described as “absurd”, the recent announcement by the state governor, Idris Wada, to slash salaries of workers by 40 per cent.
He, therefore, said that “change” as APC’s slogan was needed more in Kogi “because the state is literally backward”.
“I will tell you that Kogi State has no reason to be a poor state. It has no reason to be where it is now considering the natural and human resources that we have.
“Remember, it is the only state that is bordering eight states including the Federal Capital Territory.
“So, there are a lot of avenues to tap resources and be self sustaining. We shouldn’t depend on the Federation Account; we shouldn’t.
“And, if we must, with good management of what is even coming from the federation account, if there is transparency and accountability, we have no reason to be owing salary, not to talk if slashing it.”
Bello expressed confidence that his party was 100 per cent sure of taking over governance of the state from the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) next year.
“It is going to be a landslide; everybody has seen the performance of the present administration and just like everyone yearned for change, Kogi state deserves more than change.
“Surely, it is going to be a landslide. Starting from the person we are going to have at the head, everybody already knows him to be a performer, a disciplinarian.
“So, Nigerians shouldn’t expect less than performance and good governance in the state,” Bello said.
Also speaking, a Senator-elect for Kogi Central Senatorial District, Mohammed Ohiare, charged the incoming Federal Government not to neglect the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Ohiare expressed optimism that the steel company could be fixed with little funding and would be a boost to the nation’s economy.
“There is this problem of Ajaokuta Steel Complex which is supposed to be the pivot of economy of this country but has been neglected over time by previous administrations.
“It is an area I will put up pressure to ensure that the Federal government comes into it and make it operational. We need a little funding to make the place operational,” he said.
NAN also reports that Ohiare was a senator between 2003 and 2007.