‘I will not share Kogi money with politicians’

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, ‎has said that he is not prepared to share the little resources meant for the development of the state with elite and a few politicians.

This came yesterday against the backdrop of mounting criticisms of his administration’s alleged non-inclusive disposition.

Governor Bello, who fielded questions from State House correspondents, after he joined President Muhammadu Buhari for the Jumaat prayer at the Presidential Villa yesterday, also lashed out at critics of his style of administration, saying they were only being myopic in their views.

He said their criticisms stems from his reluctance to share the little resources that accrues to the state for few individuals, insisting that the state was being transformed through the civil service, as well as other public infrastructures among others.

“Yes, it can only be so for those, who will want the little resources of the state to be shared, and if am not including those, who want the little resources to be shared, if they term that to be non-inclusive, then I don’t have apology because the resources of the state is meant for everybody in the state and that’s exactly how I am applying it,” Bello said.

While also expressing satisfaction that President Buhari was recuperating fast since his return from a medical vacation in the United Kingdom, the Governor urged Nigerians not relent in their prayers for him.

“It’s usual we come on Fridays and we follow Mr. President to pray Jumat prayers and we are happy that he is getting stronger and stronger by the day and we can only thank almighty Allah for this wonderful job that he has done for this country, I only urge all Nigerians to continue to pray and give him all the necessary support, Nigeria is going to be better,” he said.

The Governor said kidnapping and armed robbery, which used to characterize the state has been brought under control.

“In the last 13 or 14 months that I took over office, if you have been there, you will know that Kogi is changing from the dark days to the present economic prosperity. A whole lot has been done, we are following our economic blueprint and things are changing infrastructural.

“The civil service is being reformed; pensions too is being reformed and investors are coming in because we have largely secured the state. The state used to be very unsecured, kidnapping armed robbery and other crimes in the past, but by the grace of God and the good people of the state, we have been able to stem the tide; that’s why diplomats are flooding the state now. Investors from America, Europe, China and all over the world are flooding the state for investment.”

Meanwhile, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who equally performed the Jumat prayers at the Villa, said his state would on 24 April, be hosting an economic summit.

“Kano wants to explore other economic opportunities, being a commercial nerve in the country. The economic summit is coming up on the 24 of April, we are grateful to Mr. President for bringing peace and stability to Nigeria, especially for fighting the insurgency in the North East of Nigeria, that has been the main economic hindrance especially here in the North.

“Having attained a high degree of stability now, I think it is imperative to open our doors, Kano being the commercial nerve centre of the North and the commercial nerve centre of some West African countries,” the Governor stressed.