Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello
has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari gave him a bail out of about
N30.8 billion to clear salary arrears of workers in the state.
He insisted that his government
is up- to- date in the payment of salaries.
The governor, who spoke with
newsmen after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and
all those who contested the party’s governorship primary, also asked the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to look inward in the search for those who attacked
the venue of their primary election rather than blaming him.
He said: “As regard the issue of
news making the round that Kogi state is owing salaries, I want to categorical
state that, my two predecessors inherited salary arrears.
“It is a problem I inherited when
I assumed office. But I want to announce to you today that Kogi does not owe
any worker salary at all.
‘’We have been able to clear all
workers salary and we are up to date.
‘’As a matter of fact, the last
primary election that was held on August 29, we paid the salaries of August.
That is to tell you that we are up to date as far as salary is concerned.
“The issue of us owing up to 38
months’ salary arrears before we cleared it was all false and lies.
‘’We did owe up to that, what we
were owing at that time was between four to five months.
“As I speak with you now, Mr.
President graciously approved bailout of N30.8 billion for us and our National
Chairman helped me to facilitate the release and the fund which has been fully
applied and salaries are cleared including pension arrears. We do not owe any
salary.”
Responding to the allegation by
the PDP that he was behind the attack on their primary, Bello said: “I am a
member of the APC and not PDP.
“We gave a level playing ground
to all the aspirants from all political parties to carry out their activities
freely within the state.
“They moved round the entire
state and we provided security for them and ensure that they were safe.
“Let me tell you that my
colleague, the governor of Adamawa state who chaired their primary committee
consulted me before he came and informed me that he was coming to conduct the
election.
“I provided his accommodation, his
feeding and some other logistics within the state to ensure that he had a hitch
free exercise.
“I conducted the security people
round the stadium and I can tell you that my security chiefs in Kogi state are
excellent people.
“When we conducted our exercise
on the 29th of August, we had a larger number of delegates than what the PDP
had and we conducted a hitch free exercise.
“I was the first to arrive the
stadium at about 9.00am and as early as 10.00am, we started our exercise and
finished everything before 10.00pm and left the stadium.
“That is how efficient we are and
so, they should not make excuses for their inefficiency or for their
brigandage.
“I am sure that you know that a
lot of them have record of criminality and some of them even have criminal
cases in court. So, they are known for such activities.
“This is not the first time they
are attacking themselves. They attacked themselves during their congresses the
ward to the state level.
“So if they are attacking
themselves again, why should anybody point accusing fingers at me? I think they
should look inward and solve their problems.”
On the outcome of the meeting and
assurances received, he said: “All my
brothers and sisters have agreed to queue behind me and help me in the
forthcoming election to make sure that APC becomes victorious in Kogi State and
continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.
“I want to express appreciation
to my brothers and sisters. Very many of them already have sent me text message
of congratulation and are willing to join hands with me to execute the election
smoothly.
“Every person that participated
in the exercise and those who wished to participate in the exercise will be
carried along in one way or the other. It is not necessarily choosing one of
them as my deputy.”
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