I Will Give Wada, Faleke Responsibilities – Gov Bello

The newly affirmed governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello
has promised to make peace with all aggrieved members
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and
his gubernatorial flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic
Party Idris Wada.
Speaking after his victory, Bello said he was already
making efforts to bring unity among himself, Wada and
James Faleke, the running mate to late Audu Abubakar
who died during the course of the November 2015 election
in the state.
Bello said: “I will reach out to them, in fact, I have started
reaching out to some of them already.”
“I will give them responsibilities in the state,” Bello said.
The governor said the aim of according responsibilities to
his fellow contestants in the Kogi state leadership tussle is
aimed at ensuring rapid development in the state.
He said his administration is currently working on purging
the state of illegalities and corrupt practices that have
prolonged stagnation in Kogi state.
“We met a system whereby the civil service was over
bloated, the salary billed for Kogi state as at the time I
assumed office was almost N3 billion.
“The resources at our disposal was an average of N2
billion, there was no way we could have continued that
way and the state government and the MDAs there were
over five months arrears while that of the local
government was over 12 months,” he said.
The governor said his administration took drastic decision
to reduce the bloated state civil service salary.
“We have been able to save not less than N1.4 billion, it
was a tough decision, the exercise is still ongoing even
though the earlier one was concluded,” he said.
He also pleaded with Kogi state civil servants to bear with
his administration in its effort to make things right in the
state.
Bello’s position as the governor of Kogi state was affirmed
by the Supreme Court after a long court battle with
aggrieved members and contestants for the seat. His
emergence as the governor of the state came after the
APC gubernatorial flag bearer Audu Abubakar died during
the November 2015 election conducted in the state. While
the Independent National Electoral Commission held that
the said election was already declared inconclusive due to
irregularities in various polling units – before Abubakar’s
death, James Faleke, running mate on the APC platform
argued that he be automatically pronounced governor.
Faleke in his claim said he inherited all the votes that
belonged to Abubakar as his running mate and that Bello
was only a stranger and an accidental occupant on the
Kogi state governor’s seat.