Bello begs labour stop linking my gov to killings in Kogi Central

Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello yesterday pleaded with the organised labour in the state to stop linking his government to every calamity and crime committed in the state.

While commiserating with the families of the 3 slain persons at Okene on Tuesday and Wednesday,the governor in a statement he personally signed, said that such position was capable of instilling unnecessary fear and agitations in the minds of the people.

The Governor was reacting to the rising incidents of murder in the state where three cases were recorded in two days this week.

The governor said that he was particularly worried about utterances credited to the leadership of organised Labour in Kogi State in the media suggesting that Mallam Abdulmumuni Yaqub’s death may not be unconnected with his roles as a Labour leader opposed to Government.

“Simply put, they have insinuated that this Government may have something to do with his death. They have also gone ahead to posit that their lives are not safe as Labour leaders.

I am aghast at this manner of thinking. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the leadership of Labour knows this”he said.

The Governor noted that “this is not the first time that Labour in Kogi State has capitalised on horrendous tragedies which befell some of our citizens to malign the Administration in the most malicious way.

” In the last 3 weeks alone they have been quick to lay 3 tragedies at our door – the suicide of senior Civil Servant, the death of a family’s dear daughter from sickle cell anaemia disease

and now the killing of Mallam Yaqub by as yet unidentified assassins, only to have the true stories surface a short while later contradicting their stories.

Sadly, even when refuted, they have not been as quick to find the needed forthrightness to offer their regrets for accusing us falsely, or to apologise to the families they have hurtHe assured Labour leaders that they have nothing to fear as Government is not after them.

“I am not after them. On the contrary, Government remains responsible for the security of their lives and properties, along with those of all other citizens of this great state.

It is a responsibility which even they know that we take very very seriously indeed.”

The governor called on the Labour Leaders to be more circumspect with the sensational statements in the media to minimise the potential for fear and mischief mongering.

“Let me put it on record again that my Administration has no choice but to work for the welfare of both our Civil Servants and our people as a whole. It is in fact the reason we have undertaken some difficult but necessary public sector reforms.

The benefits of these reforms are also becoming evident to all with each passing day despite resistance from some surprising quarters. Payment of salaries, which is the primary issue at stake now is being tackled head-on even as I speak.

Non-payment should become a distant memory soon to Kogi State Civil Servants. Government is always ready to work together with willing partners to succeed in this regard.

T he killing of three persons in Kogi Central Senatorial District this week greatly saddens me. Our hearts go out to the family of Abdulganiyu Aduki, an artisan who was killed around 7:30pm on Tuesday, 31st October, 2017 at Nagazi in Adavi Local Government Area.

His wife and daughter were also shot during the incidence and are currently hospitalised due to their injuries. We condole with them for their dead and join them to pray for the full and quick recovery of the injured.”

According to him,”we also commiserate with those left behind by Mallam Abdulmumin Yaqub and his friend, Mallam Ibrahim Otaru, who were gunned down at the home of the former in Ozuwaya, Bariki Ward of Okene Local Government Area around 7pm on Wednesday, 1st November, 2017.

He said “,from the information available to us, the brazen manner in which these cruel killings were carried out indicate they are premeditated assassinations executed for the express purpose of taking the lives of the deceased persons.

There was also a clear intention to kill any hapless person who happens to be present at the time of the attack.

While calling for Cooperation with security agents to unravel the cause of the killings,the Governor announced a reward of N1m to anyone who provides information leading to their capture.

He also urged anyone with information to call government Toll Free Security Hotline 0705 889 0048.