A former Campaign Coordinator to President Muhammadu Buhari and Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State James Abiodun Faleke has blasted Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for donating cars and cash gifts to masquerades in his hometown of Okene during the last Ekwechi (Masquerade) festival in December 2017. Faleke while reacting to the gesture in the midst of unpaid salaries owed to Civil Servants by the Bello led government described the governor’s action as the height of absurdity.
Bello according to Faleke donated 6 Toyota Venza Cars and cash gifts of 2 Million Naira each to masquerades when civil servants in Kogi state are wallowing in poverty.
His words “it is indeed absurd that the same Governor who has not been able to pay workers salaries for several months and promised to clear all outstanding salaries and pensions last December without fulfilling it could go ahead to spend money buying car gifts for masquerades.
“I honestly don’t know what is happening in our State. We thought governor Bello would heed popular call to settle all outstanding salaries and pensions in the State last December as he promised after receiving the Paris refunds of close to 12 Billion Naira only for him to pay 40 percent of 2 months.
“So where did the rest of the money go? Next we heard was the news of the 6 Venza cars he bought and presented to masquerades in Okene through their Minders along with 2 Million Naira cash to each of the masquerades! How else can one be so insensitive to the welfare, yearnings and aspirations of his people”.
The lawmaker bemoaned the situation where instead of providing succor for the citizenry across the State, what obtains is intimidation and harassment of helpless and harmless citizens all over the places.
The federal lawmaker however called on Governor Bello to “turn a new leaf this year by re-ordering his government, priorities away from childish, wasteful, unproductive extravaganza to meaningful statecraft aimed at ameliorating the current unacceptable level of pains being inflicted on the people of the State”.
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