From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
The Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello has said he was able to record outstanding success in the last seven years as a governor because he was sincere with the people of state and has nothing to hide
Governor Bello said sincerity on the part of the leaders are what is needed for the followers to key into any programme of government saying he came into government as a young man with an open mind carrying everybody along without any form of discrimination to any part of the state
Bello made this disclosure on Monday while receiving members of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji , Study Group two who are on a working visit to the State
Bello described the Theme of the study tour as apt and timely in the nation’s life, said he has remained sincere in leadership, with no pecuniary interest other than those of the people
He said he has remained transparent with managing the State‘s resources by opening up the books of income and expenditure for the people of the State to see through and explained that the people are able to trace government expenditures to his activities, through transparent allocation of the states resources, thus making the people now much better informed of happenings.
While describing Kogi State as a divers State, Gov. Bello attributed his ability to reducing youths restiveness by bringing in a large pull of the younger generation of Youths and women into his administration, a factor he noted has helped greatly in reducing tension and acrimony.
Gov. Bello said he was also able to bring each and every segment of the State together as one with the Youths now in the driver’s seat of administration by gainfully employing them through several social intervention Programs.
The Governor pointed out that he has made the Youths in the State occupy the driver’s seat, leading to development and the success of the administration unlike in the past when they were relegated to the background.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of Armed Forced Command and Staff College, Jaji, Air Vice Marshall, Anthony Oluwarotimi, Tuwase said the team was in the State to have a first hand information on the economic growth, income, employment status, poverty level, inequality, agriculture and the overall transformation of the State
Air Vice Marshall Anthony commended the efforts of the State Governor towards the advancement of the socio economic development of the people, saying the theme of the study tour is: ‘ Youths unemployment and national security in Nigeria’.
Air Vice Marshall Anthony praised the achievements of Gov. Bello on Youths employment, education, health, agriculture, funding governance, infrastructure, human capital development, entrepreneurship, youths engagement and security, a feat he explained makes the state a place for learning by the study team.
Similarly, the tour he added aims at exposing the students to the realities on the ground and to enable the team to compare with what they have been told and to acquit themselves to the challenges confronting the state so as to be able to write research papers where solutions will be proffered .