Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has said that North Central is the most marginalised region since Independence in 1960; hence the region is most deserving of the presidency in 2023.

Governor Bello was reacting to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide’s insistence that zoning the presidency to the South-East would remain a fundamental ingredient for national unity.

Presidential-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, stated on Monday that wherever the next president of Nigeria comes from will send a strong message to Ndigbo.

Bello, who said he was at the Presidential Villa to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in his state, noted that the North Central had neither produced the president nor vice president of the country, therefore it was only proper for the region to produce the president in 2023.

Fielding a question from newsmen on the South East’s position on 2023, in Abuja after a meeting with Buhari, the governor said: “If you juxtapose the situation of South East and North Central, then who is more disadvantaged in terms of the position of presidency?”

MEANWHILE, he has approved the immediate implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage for the state’s workforce, with partial consequential adjustment.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Ayoade, disclosed this after an extensive meeting with organised labour in Lokoja.

Ayoade said the delay in the implementation was due to the inability of the committee to meet regularly because of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, expressed appreciation to members of the organised labour for their understanding and commitment to reaching the agreement amicably without resorting to strike.
FOR his performance in government and peace advocacy across the country, a Bayelsa State-based online media group, NAIJA LIVE TV, has voted Bello as the Governor of the Year 2021.

During the fifth anniversary of the media organisation, the Chief Executive Officer, Saint Mienpamo, noted the governor was selected by the over two million followers of the online media company.

He pointed out that the numerous challenges facing the media organisation, including the illegal arrest, threat to life by unknown persons, never stopped it from practising ethical journalism.

“We have tried to live above board by giving authentic reportage and balanced stories. It is this show of professionalism that has earned us many accolades and recognition locally and globally, even in the face of all our challenges. Just recently, I was awarded as the Best Investigative Media Man of the Year, 2021,” he said.

Earlier, the former General Manager of Bayelsa State Radio Corporation, Dr. John Idumande, had pointed out that since the popularisation of social media, “bloggers and social media activists have become the new independent media by providing the much-needed space in the demand for accountability and open governance.”