The Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, on Friday night said those who attacked him at a mosque in Lokoja in the afternoon were sponsored political miscreants who saw his ongoing reforms in the state as inimical to their selfish interests.

Mr. Bello said some of the attackers were promptly apprehended by security agents and market women, adding that the “politically motivated attack” would be thoroughly investigated.

PREMIUM TIMES had this afternoon
broke the story of how aggrieved residents hurled stones, rotten fruits and vegetables at Mr. Bello, decrying the worsening economic situation in the state.

Friday’s attack against Mr. Bello came two weeks after he suffered a similar one while visiting Ankpa, the headquarters of Ankpa Local Government Area of the state, witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES.
But in a statement signed by his press secretary, Kingsley Fanwo, Mr. Bello said the attacks were carried out by ‘imported’ thugs contracted by his political adversaries hell-bent on maintaining the status quo.
“We are not unaware of scheming by change resistors to sponsor attacks against government officials,” Mr. Fanwo said. “Sponsoring attacks against the Governor will not stop our march to restore sanity to the polity.”
Mr. Fanwo also attributed the attack to a raging ‘syndrome’ occasioned by his sweeping reforms in the state’s civil service, promising that the names of those suffering from it would soon be published.
“The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello will soon publish the names of corrupt citizens of the state who are behind the Ghost Workers syndrome.”

Mr. Bello, who assumed office in January, had embarked on a broad re-verification exercise for the state’s civil servants, citing widespread abuse in workers payroll, a situation he said saw the state losing billions to fraud in a state bleeding from diminishing revenues.

Mr. Bello’s campaign had pitted him against the labour unions who accused his government of being insensitive to their plight.

Mr. Bello thanked the citizens of his state who swung to action and repelled Friday’s attack against him and his entourage, adding that they should remain resolute in their support towards the restoration of the “lost glory of the state.”

“We are not unaware of scheming by change resistors to sponsor attacks against government officials,” Mr. Fanwo said. “Sponsoring attacks against the Governor will not stop our march to restore sanity to the polity.”
Mr. Fanwo also attributed the attack to a raging ‘syndrome’ occasioned by his sweeping reforms in the state’s civil service, promising that the names of those suffering from it would soon be published.
“The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello will soon publish the names of corrupt citizens of the state who are behind the Ghost Workers syndrome.”
Mr. Bello, who assumed office in January, had embarked on a broad re-verification exercise for the state’s civil servants, citing widespread abuse in workers payroll, a situation he said saw the state losing billions to fraud in a state bleeding from diminishing revenues.

EastGold:
For how long will kogi suffer miserable governance.


Well, we all petted late Agagu with stones, no we regret doing it

Jibril659:
this igalas need to be taught a lesson

SAMBATLAN:


Shut up!

Redoil:
Joavid All those people arrested were innocent passer by who new nothing about the stoning

Berbierklaus:
[b]Was in my village earlier this week,and I saw my once bouyant,agricultural inclined people groaning,because even agriculture is not profiting as it used to be.


The earlier Gov. Bello go about his reforms the better,because my people are suffering.
Kogi state is one of the backward states in Nigeria,evidence is

1)very bad roads- Kogi state has one of the worst commuting roads in Nigeria
2)No or little employment oppportunity-Even the once bubbling ajaokuta plant is on standstill,only Dangote is the known producing company kogi can boast of.
3)Disunity- when different tribes have been merged together,the chance for unity is slighted,evidently,we see more of the majorities like igalas and egbiras in government.
4)Migration- Almost every household in kogi have migrated to Abuja or kwara,populating this areas but leaving their own land shallow and underdeveloped.
5)Almost all the time,kogi state university is on strike
there are a lot more,summary is that "MY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING"
They haven't been paid since February.
GOVERNOR BELLO DO SOMETHING AND STOP THIS POLITICAL TALK BS. because we know better.[/b]