Democracy Day: Ten Reasons Why Gov. Bello is the Hero Of Democracy.

I know some people who will find time to read through this article will be wondering if I have shifted grounds from opposing Bello government to becoming one of the 'Hailers' of the government.

Some maybe wondering if I have chosen today democracy day to defect as a mark for Bello's government strong regard for rule of law or for upholding the tenets of Democracy ever since the government came on board.

Whatever, the fact remains that i have carefully out of patriotic zeal, not to Bello himself but to Kogi state outlined ten reasons why Gov. Bello is the Hero of Kogi Democracy.

After doing a careful appraisal of the Bello government, I have come to a conclusion that Sen. Dino Melaye continuous bashing at  Bello's government is totally uncalled for, it's indeed a matter of sharing of elephant and you will agree with me that ever since Bello came in, he has indeed shared the fleshy part of the elephant and it has actually gone round the new direction lieutenants.

I have come to the point where I can agree with the unrepentant pro Bello Government that the governor remain our hero of democracy and as well disagree with Hon. Abiodun James Faleke that Bello and his body language is not killing APC in Kogi.
Infact, Bello government and body language depict the true hero of modern democracy.

I disagree with the aforementioned both, as well as with some of our power-brokers in the East and their friends in the West who believed that “Gov. Bello must be stopped at all cost”.
I disagree to the extent to which these ten reasons posited in this article applies.
I have asked myself, “Hey SME! Stop to think for a minute! Why do you think most of the stakeholders want to stop the Governor at all cost. They can’t all be wrong at once, can they?

I have come to realize that there must be something wrong with the Governor as everyone cannot be wrong at once, although the case of everyone of the Pharisee’s and Jew’s condemnation opinion of Almighty Jesus gives me reason to think that sometimes everyone could be wrong.

But what is wrong with Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello? Don’t tell me he is Jesus! To answer the above question, I have had to do thorough soul-searching introspection, and evaluation of the facts, the fiction and the faction in searching for the truth.
Luckily, I got the answers, which are listed in subsequent paragraphs as the ten reasons why the White Lion is the Hero of Kogi modern democracy.

I am sure that after this bizarre article many people will be very disappointed. It is understandable that some would not expect one who had been a vocal antagonist of the Governor to apparently do a 360 at this injury time. But there comes a time in the life of a man when he must obey his conscience and do what he believes in. This is such a time. And for those who would be disappointed after reading this article, I apologize in advance but what I have written I have written. I don’t give a damn! I am loyal to Kogi State, not to any individual. And I must obey the dictates of my conscience.

Today Democracy Day, I hereby join the Daily times in the brandishing of awards by also conferring on Gov. Bello the Hero Of Kogi Democracy.

Below is a list of the ten reasons why Gov. Bello is the Hero of Kogi Democracy.

1. Approved N260M for himself as security vote within 10days in office.

Barely a week after Governor Bello unexpectedly inherited the people's mandate, he approved for himself the sum of N260M as security vote.
Note that this N260M was released within a pace of 10days.

Today, I cannot say exactly how much has so far been spent as security funds, but documents obtained so far indicate that between January 27 and now, Kogi State taxpayers have coughed out billions to their profligate Governor and this funds are unaccounted for. Is that economically wise? 

This is the first and major reason why Gov. Bello remain our Hero of Democracy. I believed the Governor invested all the security funds in some hidden infrastructure in the state and thus remain our hero of democracy.

2. Approved N148M for furnishing and renovation of office within 2months in office.

While the Governor was getting Billions from security votes he equally approved N148M for himself under the guise of furnishing and renovation of office. The contract was awarded to one pseudo company called Maj Global Construction Company Ltd. Kogi state government office after renovation now competes with international state house standard such as the USA White House.

For renovating and furnishing our Governor office with a whopping sum of N148M, the governor deserves to be awarded the Hero of  modern Democracy.

3. Spent N1b on political appointees' cars

The Bello led government extravagantly and frivolously spent a whopping sum of N1Billion to purchase Ford Vehicles for political appointees. While it's not bad to buy political appointees vehicles in order to assist them in the discharge of their duties, the amount used for this purpose was obviously and deliberately inflated. How much were each of the cars bought and how many cars were bought? 

This questions still remain unanswered till today. The whole car deal were shrouded in secrecy.

 Gov. Bello indeed abhors corruption in line with President Buhari change mantra and therefore deserves to be our hero today being the democracy day.

4. Discharged over a million workers from the state workforce(Ghost workers)

Few months after he came to office, the governor embarked on workers screening across the 21 local governments and over a million government workers were unjustifiably and tactically discharged from duties. This thrown the state into hunger, despair and anxiety even as those that were were cleared are still being owed over 12months salaries up till today.

The opposition party PDP had said that the government’s mass sack of workers in the state public service under the guise of screening is most inhuman, wicked and unfortunate.
Another serious source of concern for me is the danger the illegal screening posed for education and health sectors. Affected are the Kogi State University, Anyigba where over 200 staffs have been discharged from work including professors and many teaching and non-teaching staff including the newly appointed vice chancellor.

The rector of the state polytechnic, Isah Muhammed, his deputy, the registrar, bursar and over 18 chief lecturers as well as 27 non-teaching staff; provosts of the Colleges of Education in Kabba and Ankpa; provosts of school of Nursing, Obangede and Health Technology, Idah were also affected.

I am still coming to the adverse effect of the unjust screening on our educational and health institutions.
Bello has sent many citizens to their early graves on the account of the superfluous and prolonged screening Which took over a year.
Discharging half of the state workforce is the height of mischievousness of a government against its citizens.

The same Bello today deserved to be awarded Hero of democracy.
The question is how much is the total wage bill of the state before the screening and how much now after the the screening? These questions has also remain unanswered till now. How come even those that were cleared are still being owed about 15months salaries despite accessing over N30b bailout fund and the Paris club refund of N11.2b.

5. Declaring State Pensioners as Ghost Pensioners.

Now let's talk about those that selflessly served the state all their lives. I am talking about the aged, those who are old and can do nothing or little to fend for themselves. I am talking of those living on pension scheme. The retirees. These are the set of people Gov. Bello declared ghost pensioners. I am talking about those that can be a father to the Governor.

''God knows that all my life my passion was to impact knowledge to people, and via this knowledge I impacted on people, many have become doctors, lawyers etc. I have served my beloved state for 35years with all my zeal. What baffles me is for me to be declared a ghost pensioner by the same state I served. I am old, sick and about dying, up to the extent of soliciting for help from the public. The government of Kogi state I served betrayed me, turning me to a beggar in the last phase of my life. Even if I die today and my pension is not paid, God will surely avenge my death and those involved in this act of declaring me a ghost will surely receive the punishment of God for such act of wickedness''

Above were the last words that came out from the mouth of a dying pensioner named Macauley O. Aimalakhiame in a letter he addressed to the Governor before he gave up the ghost last year.

There are so many pensioners like Mr. Macauley who had placed a curse on the governor while dying in silence.

Up till the moment, our hero of democracy is still owing pensioners 15months pension arrears despite the bailout funds and Paris club refund in his custody.

I will now address the issue of bailout fund and Paris club refund embezzlement by the new directionless government under the leadership of the White lion.

6. Squandered N30b Bailout Funds

The federal government released N30b to the state government to pay salaries and allowances.
While N20b is meant for salaries, N10b is meant for infrastructure.
Today the government can not give account of the whopping sum of money.
Neither was the money used to pay salaries nor was it used to build infrastructure.
The money meant for civil servants and Kogi infrastructure were diverted into personally use and other use.

A civil society based in Abuja, Egalitarian Mission for Africa accused the Governor and his Chief of Staff of diverting the funds to handling issues of elections and to fictitious non-existing projects at the expense of the state workers.
With the bailout fund and the reduction in the state workforce, one would have expected that all salaries arrears and pensions should have been cleared but alas Kogi state still ranked topmost among the states owing workers salaries with over 15months unpaid salaries.
Indeed the Governor deserves to be our hero of democracy.

7. Squandered N11.2b Paris Club Refund.

glaring diversion of the funds into phony, bogus and outrageously contracts in Kogi state hence the anti graft agency should not hesitate in probing the Kogi state government.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/paris-club-fund-efcc-asked-probe-kogi-govt/

glaring diversion of the funds into phony, bogus and outrageously contracts in Kogi state hence the anti graft agency should not hesitate in probing the Kogi state government.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/paris-club-fund-efcc-asked-probe-kogi-govt/t

The Paris Club Refund of N11.2b released to Kogi State by the federal government went the same way and manner the bailout funds went. The funds were obviously diverted into bogus and outrageously contracts in the state. None of the funds has been accounted for as i write this article.
while Kogi workers are dying and suffering over 15months unpaid salaries, government officials are smiling to the banks.

“The allegations of corruption in the spending of the London Paris Club loan refunds have also exacerbated poverty, social exclusion, and violated the government’s obligation to use its maximum available resources to fully realize the right of all persons especially workers and pensioners who are the most vulnerable sectors of the population.


8. Abuse and reckless use of power 

Governor Bello also deserve to be our hero of democracy for abusing the powers attached to his office.

There have been cases of illegal and indiscriminate arrest and detention of perceived political opponents.
Just some months back there were report that the Governor now have a private police station inside the government house where a a journalist was detained indefinitely for writing against the government.
One of the opposition PDP youth leader was also indiscriminately arrested and detained even when granted bail by a competent court of law. Such is the Governor's love for the rule of law and due process.
A radio station was reportedly burnt down for airing the ills of the government.

Hon. Jame Abiodun Faleke's car was attacked and shot at by unknown assailant and up till now the government has remained silent on the issue, same manner Sen. Dino Melaye was attacked in his country home by now identified criminals because of daring to speak up against the government ineptitude. There are many more cases of infringement on citizens rights and privileges.

9. Deliberately closed down all the Higher Institutions in the State.

The adverse effect of Bello's government mismanagement of funds meant for salaries and pension is now telling hard on all the state higher institutions.
All the tertiary institutions in the state had been under lock and key for months now over unpaid salaries and allowances and wrongful dismissal of institutions staff under the guise of screening.

The government shows no concern over the plight of the helpless students they wickedly kept at home doing nothing.

This is the height of wickedness and irresponsibility of a government.
The future of Kogi youth is now hanging in the balance, where it swings nobody knows.
When the students took the matter in their hands and protested, they were mercilessly beaten, arrested and detained. This is what the future of Kogi State has been subjected to in the hands of our hero of democracy.

10. Crippled the State Health Sector

Doctors in Kogi State went on indefinite strike to push the government to pay outstanding salaries and arrears.

The doctors allege that the government had failed to clear nine doctors after providing necessary documents as required by the screening committee, under-payment of salaries and arrears of doctors that have been paid, implementation of a new tax regime without commensurate promotion and stepping down of doctors in the state civil service, and advertisement for employment of more doctors, despite the inability of the administration to implement adjusted Consolidation Medical Salary (CONMESS).

The doctors also warned any doctor who may decide to pick up employment with the state government to be cautious.
This where we have found ourselves as people. What a shame.

I want to believe that, by now, having considered the foregoing ten reasons and the supporting evidences on why the Governor remain our hero of democracy, I believe you are now convinced beyond all doubt (reasonable and unreasonable ones included) that those supporting the Governor by all means are the real enemies of Kogi State who must not only be stopped by all means necessary and at all cost possible but also be exposed to Kogites for who they are – enemies, pretenders, bigots, and felons! Anyone who still wishes to support this government whom we have been discussing in this rather lengthy article represents the Beelzebub among our constituency demons that we have to exorcise at all cost, beginning immediately.

They are well funded pretenders who only lie and, at best, tell misleading half truths to deceive many. Many of the enemies of our common goal vote incredible portion of their share of our common patrimony to fund this lying propaganda cartel that do not care what happens to Kogi reputation as far as the Bello is in power.

If you doubt this bold-faced claim, please I beseech you to be more watchful. You will invariably come to understand why so many fake, faceless facebook users, bloggers and ‘activists’, many actually jobbers, nowadays throng to social media and they have taken up well funded lucrative jobs in the Art of Joebashing; praising this government for any and every reason imaginable or fabricated. 

All they write about development news and activities of Kogi is Good-Good; see and say nothing negative.  – a case of purposeful purposelessness and directional directionlessness government!

Apologies again for my intrappable Igodomigodo accent. Fellow Kogites, on a final note, I urge you all by the mercies of God and for the love of Kogi State to continue to pray for Kogi State total deliverance from the hands political termites. 
From all the points outlined above can you call the Governor the hero of democracy?

Thank you for your special attention.

Alamoh Kehinde Samuel(Aks)