Opinion Moulders and Critical Stakeholders of the Igala/Bassa Nation, Kogi East say they have had enough of Governor Yahaya Bello .
Consequently, his re-election would amount to compensating failure.
The Opinion moulders’ stance is contained in a communique issued at the end of their meeting on Saturday in Anyigba, under the chairmanship of Chief John Odawn.
“In attendance , were sons and daughters of Igala/Bassa Nation who have reached the peak of their careers , Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), Ukomu Igala and other cultural organizations of the Igala/Bassa Nation.
“This meeting had in attendance members of all registered political parties in Nigeria.
“After a painstaking review of events in our dear State in the last 3½ years under the leadership of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Congress of Igala/Bassa Nation resolves as follows:
“1. We observe with dismay the gradual entrenchment of impunity and authoritarian rule in our dear State under Governor Yahaya Bello’s stewardship, the latest being the unconstitutional impeachment of Elder Simon Achuba as the Deputy Governor of the State.
“As a Nation, we reject this brazen assault on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and would therefore give our unflinching support to Elder Achuba in his quest to set aside this illegal impeachment.
” Under Governor Yahaya Bello’s watch, the Igala/Bassa Nation, an indeed the majority of the people of Kogi State have witnessed the worst form of governance since the creation of Kogi State. In spite of the hefty financial resources at its disposal, salaries, pensions and gratuities are still not paid to the beneficiaries. The lucky ones were paid on percentage basis. It is on record that N50.8billion bailout which was secured to clear outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities have been willfully wasted on the politics of self-perpetuation and aggrandizement.
“We note the current atmosphere of insecurity, reign of fear and terror being unleashed on our people by state sponsored miscreants and political thugs. In addition, the Igala/Bassa Nation has witnessed the proliferation of dangerous weapons of violence, imported into the area by top government officials to harass and intimidate our people.
“The educational sector has not fared better under Governor Yahaya Bello. The Kogi State University which prides itself in the past as one of the nation’s highly valued universities is now a shadow of its past glory. Draconian government’s policies under Yahaya Bello has led to the mass sack of a generation of experienced lecturers from the institution without replacement and a dislocation of the university’s academic and administrative system.
“For the whole tenure of Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the State, no single project has been commissioned or completed in the entire Igala/Bassa land despite the unprecedented financial resources available to the State Government under his watch.
“Given the abysmal failure of Governor Yahaya Bello to deliver on the core mandate of governance, the issue of his re-election would amount to compensating failure. We strongly hold that the traumatized people of Kogi State have had enough of Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Arising from the deliberation at our meeting, the entire Igala/ Bassa Nation comprising the nine Local Government Areas of Kogi East Senatorial District; Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Ofu, Olamaboro, and Omala hereby endorses Engr. Musa Wada and Hon. Sam Aro of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP) as our candidates of choice in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Kogi State.
SIGNATORIES
H.E Alhaji Sule Iyaji, Chief John Odawun
Former Deputy Governor”
