Yahaya Bello bad role model as Nigeria’s youngest Governor
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Yahaya Bello, 48, is a very bad role model for Nigerian youths, says Matthew Kukah, 71, citing the Kogi Governor’s political gansterism and electoral violence, a shame that should not be emulated by anyone.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese criticised Bello over the violence in Kogi in the run up to the governorship election on November 11.
“I feel very sad because Kogi has been on the front burner, and Yahaya Bello, the Governor, prided himself on being the youngest Governor and being a representation of what the youths of this country can do if they are given the opportunity,” Kukah said on Channels Television, per reporting by Vanguard.
“Sadly, I think he’s been a very poor advertisement for what young people can do.”
Kukah urged peace between labour unions and the Imo State government as well as peaceful governorship ballots in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa.
“When elections go wrong, it is ordinary people who suffer.
“I hope the labour leaders in Imo will really be more circumspect and ask themselves ‘who stands to gain and who stands to lose what?’ At the end of the day it is the people of Imo, they are not electing someone who is outside their state.
“Imo is a deeply Christian environment and I hope their religious leaders and others with moral authority can prevail on the union to defer whatever may be their grievance; this can only be resolved in a peaceful environment.
“We appeal to them to do what is needful and ensure that elections are duly conducted. Our people have suffered enough.”
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INEC to deploy 137,973 agents in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa polls
Up to 137,973 polling and collation agents will be deployed for the Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo governorship elections on November 11, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed.
A statement signed by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on November 7 said 34,704 agents were uploaded for Bayelsa, 65,274 (Imo), and 37,995 (Kogi).
“Sixteen political parties are sponsoring candidates for the election in Bayelsa State and 18 in both Imo and Kogi States. The elections will be held in 10,470 polling units (excluding the 40 polling units without registered voters), Olumekun explained.
“Each political party is expected to nominate polling agents for all the polling units as well as 649 Ward, 56 LGA and three State collation centres.
“However, at the close of the deadline for uploading the list of agents to the INEC dedicated portal by political parties, 34,704 agents were uploaded for Bayelsa State, 65,274 for Imo State and 37,995 for Kogi State, making a total of 137,973 polling and collation agents for the three states.
“However, the detailed breakdown shows that not all the parties nominated agents for the polling and collation centres across the states. Indeed, some political parties have no polling unit or collation agents in some states despite having candidates in the election.”
