*Declares zero tolerance for corruption, impunity
*Inauguration is ordinary ritual that will not stand test of time – Faleke
The new Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Fairplus Bello on Wednesday declared his stand against corruption and impunity, saying he was in a hurry to develop the state.
Bello made his declaration on Wednesday after he was administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance as the 4th civilian Governor of the state by the State Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah.
The governor’s emotion betrayed him and he burst into tears while recalling his late father and eulogising his mother for her sole effort to raise him up; and the many troubles before he became the governor.
The inauguration ceremony was conducted without a deputy-governor, as the unwilling deputy-governor elect, James Faleke boycotted the events in continuation of his stand not to be associated with Bello’s emergence as replacement for the late Abubakar Audu.
The swearing-in ceremony which was peaceful was witnessed by a mammoth crowd inside and outside the Confluence Stadium, with the 25,000 sitting capacity stadium filled to the brim.
Speaking after the inauguration, Bello said the era of corruption and impunity is over, pledging to follow the footpath of President Muhammadu Buhari in developing the state.
“I will be responsible to all people irrespective of where they stand during the election. President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement on May 29, 2015 where he declared, ‘I belong to everybody, but I belong to nobody,’ will characterise my tenure as I promise equitable governance for all the people of the state.
“My administration will serve the people of the state. And because corruption is the worst evil channelled through impunity, I declare my zero tolerance for corruption and impunity.”
Bello promised to do things differently, saying there will be a new direction in the governance of the state, “I will use Kogi’s resources to work for Kogi people, positive and decisive action will be taken to rescue Kogi.
“We have conceived a socio-economic blueprint to rebuild the state. Education, health, state-of-the-art security, roads, agriculture, investment in mineral and tourism potential of the state will be harnessed.
“The blueprint will be tailored by all stakeholders to make contribution, and we will work along with the civil servants to achieve our 100 days, first year, mid-term and end-of-term targets.”
Bello while seeking for the understanding of the people, urged them to give him the benefit of doubt while he strived to redeem the lost image and restore the glory of the state.
Dignitaries who witnessed the event were, Governor Tanko Almakura, Governor Ortom of Nasarawa and Benue States respectively, minister of state for Labour and Productivity, Barr. James Ocholi, while the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, were all represented, among others dignitaries.
Stakeholders react
Meanwhile, the inauguration of Yahaya Bello as the governor of Kogi without a Deputy has received knocks and kudos from some stakeholders in the state.
Among those who spoke in favour of the inauguration is one-time Commissioner for Education, Kwara State, Dr. David Atte.
Atte who was a member of the transition committee said the success of the programme in spite of the antagonistic nature of some politicians towards the governor made it memorable.
He said the party in line with the Constitution of the country will fashion out a means to address the issue of deputy-governor for Yahaya Bello in view of the continuous unwillingness of the Deputy-governor elect, James Faleke.
However, James Faleke has described the inauguration as a ruse that will not stand the test of time.
Faleke who spoke through his spokesperson, Duro Meseko said, “For us in Audu/Faleke Political Organisation, the swearing-in programe today is an ordinary ritual that has no bearing nor impact on our desire to actualise our mandate.
“We have stated over and over again that the Audu/Faleke team won the November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State and that if any swearing-in is to take place, it should be Hon. James Faleke who is Audu’s running mate that should be sworn in.”
However, the national Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Chef John Odigie-Oyegun, and Senator Dino Melaye have appealed to all aggrieved members of the party to embrace peace and support Bello.
Odigie-Oyegun said, “We have no choice but to allow Bello as the will of God for Kogi State. Bello is a gift to Kogi people and we must bury our hatchet and support him”.
Dino Melaye who was the Chairman of the Inauguration ceremony, appealed to aggrieved members to have a change of heart and join the ‘change’ train along with Bello to move the state forward.
Yahaya Bello is on excursion in Kogi Govt House – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the swearing-in of Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi State as comical, saying the governor is on excursion at the Government House.
In a statement by Wale Oladipo, PDP National Secretary on Wednesday, the party also described Bello’s emergence as governor of the Confluence State as a slap on democracy.
While calling for calm in the state, PDP said it would use all legal means to remove the governor from office.
“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a comical event organized by APC as the swearing-in ceremony of one Yahaya Bello, a man who did not participate in the overall election, as Kogi State Governor,” the party said. “The said Yahaya Bello, who cannot claim the overall winning votes in the election, is therefore a shadow-chasing passerby on an excursion in Kogi State Government House, as the so-called swearing-in ceremony, having no bearing on the votes at the election, is at best an APC function.
“The people of Kogi are aware that the man being paraded by APC is not the person they exercised confidence in at the election as he scored a paltry 6,885 votes in the so-called supplementary election, as against the 204,877 votes polled by the PDP candidate, Alhaji Idris Wada, in the overall election.
“However, as a law-abiding party, we hereby urge our members and the people of Kogi State to remain calm and not despair over this slap on democracy as the courts would soon deliver justice with regard to the authentic governor with the mandate of the majority at the election.”
-Vanguard/Leadership
