The Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday asked politicians in the state to leave 2019 to God and stop distracting his administration from delivering on the promises to the people of the state.
Bello said he was no more interested in campaign, saying there was the need to stop politicking and concentrate on governance.
The governor, who said this in Lokoja, the state capital, noted that some politicians were determined to distract his government with issues of 2019 elections.
Bello, who said he would never be distracted, however urged the politicians to allow God to decide on the next elections and allow his government concentrate on delivering the promises in the New Direction Blueprint of his administration.
He said, “Politicians could be very selfish. They campaign to win elections and keep campaigning in office. I am not interested in continuing with political campaign now. I am focused on fulfilling my promise to the people of Kogi State. We need to pause politics and attend to the needs of our people.
“That is why we are improving infrastructure and agriculture in the state to reduce poverty. We are improving education and healthcare because they have direct bearing on the people. Kogi is witnessing tremendous turnaround under my watch.
“Our heavy investment and commitment to security will continue to yield fruits as investors believe in our political will to turn Kogi to an investment hub. We will get there”, he assured.
He said one of the indicators of the people’s acceptance of his policies was the improved revenue generation in the state, assuring the people that their taxes would be used to better their lives.
“Kogi’s IGR was hovering between 300 million naira and 350 million naira before we came in. But today, we have crossed a monthly IGR tape of one billion naira. Kogites are positively responding to our policies, projects and programs. Since they own the budget, they are determined to fund it with their taxes. This is the hallmark of good citizenship. They are beginning to see new roads, new schools, better health facilities and improved security.
“I will not disappoint the people of Kogi State for the confidence reposed in me to salvage the state from its failings and turn her to a Confluence of Opportunities. My government is the people’s government”, he said.
Governor Bello said his administration is gradually turning Kogi State to the food basket of Nigeria through “pragmatic policies and programs”, assuring Nigerians that “Kogi is prepared to cut Nigeria’s food importation by 30 percent before 2020.”
“Agriculture is fast becoming the mainstay of our economy. My administration is conscious of the need to scale up food production, employ the youth and improve the value chain in the agricultural sector. A good number of investors are already silently turning Kogi to the agricultural capital of Nigeria. We are not making any noise now; the produce will make the noise.
“Our administration is concentrating on improving the capacity of our farmers to produce more through credit guarantee, extension services, improved seedlings and off-taker benefits. We are sure all of these will positively move us forward in our drive to improve our agricultural production.”
Governor Bello reiterated his determination to replicate the good governance of the Buhari Administration in the state, saying his administration had domesticated many of the laudable programs of the President in the state.
“N-Power is a big testimony of the President’s change initiative. It is a matter of promise fulfilled and that was why my administration celebrated it. We have also turned the SDG to the intervention tool that is giving life to our rural populace” he said.