Recently, Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, disclosed his plan to sell 10 legacy assets of the state constructed by previous administrations, to fund his administration’s 2018 budget, a decision that has drawn a fresh battle line between the governor and some stakeholders in the state. OYIBO SALIHU reports
Courting stakeholders’ Ire
Desirous of selling off some assets of Kogi state, that are not only the pride of the state, but also as old as Kogi state , Governor Bello, is currently courting the anger of opposition elements who believe that his decision will further impoverish the state that is already shattered due to maladministration of successive administrations.
Surprisingly, the state Commissioner for Finance Mr Asiru Idris, during his budget defence at the Kogi state House of Assembly, a few months ago confirmed the planned assets sale and went ahead to list these legacy assets/ projects
Projects earmarked for sale
The projects/assets to be sold according to him, include the newly constructed Kogi Hotels, Conference Stadium, Confluence Beach hotels, Commissioners’ Quarters, Lokoja International Market, the 12- storey building KOGI Liaison office, Abuja, Kogi liaison offices in Kaduna and Lagos, among others.
Resistance
Apparently, the idea to sell the state assets by Governor Bello has not gone down well with members of the public. Indeed, since the disclosure, the move has been met with stiff opposition, as it is raising dust in the state. Leading the resistance are members of the National Assembly representing the state, Elder statesmen , civil society organizations and other political parties in the state.
Irked by the development, the three Senators from Kogi State, under the aegis of Save Kogi Project, recently, warned Governor Yahaya Bello, not to embark on plans to sell properties belonging to the state government.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja penultimate week, during the inauguration of the executive members of the Save Kogi Project, the lawmakers vowed to resist any move by the state governor to trade away the common patrimony of the people of Kogi State, under the guise of privatization policy, adding that the plan is ill-fated and designed to steal from the people.
The Chairman of the group, Senator Dino Melaiye wondered why the state government which has not added anything to the projects inherited since it came to power more than two years ago now wanted to sell off what it inherited.
The Senators however vowed to confront Governor Bello, using every available legal means to stop him from selling the property.
Also lending it’s voices to the proposed assets sale is the state chapter of the People Democratic Party. The opposition party described the alleged plan as” despicable and selfish “.
Anti- people and retrogressive
In a press statement signed by the state publicity secretary of PDP, Mr Bode Ogunmola, the party described the move as wicked , anti- people and retrogressive.
“We reject this proposal in totality and warn Governor Bello to immediately perish this thought as the plot is devilish, selfish, myopic. It is shameful and the peak of rascality that a government which cannot pay salaries of workers let alone execute projects will now scheme to mortgage our collective future.
“Our party is not unaware of the grand plan of the government to sell these legacy projects to its officials as a decoy of repositioning the state , we will however strongly resist this evil plan” the statement added.
Uninformed elite
Reacting to the series of resistance from various bodies, Governor Bello lambasted those accusing him of selling the state’s assets, describing them as “uninformed elite” who were playing politics and making noise from Abuja.
The governor, while addressing State House reporters after praying jumaat with Buhari, at the Presidential Villa Mosque, on Friday, stressed that rather than keep assets that were in shambles, it was proper to use them to benefit people and add value to the system.
According to him “Let them come to Kogi State and compare two years of my stewardship with previous administrations, then they will know that they were completely off the track. I think the people of Kogi state are with me and appreciate the much we’re doing.”
Rationale behind proposed sale
Commenting, a Human Rights Activist and the Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution based in Lokoja, Kogi state, Mr Idris Miliki Abdul , questioned the rationale behind the proposed sale of the assets of the state built from the taxpayers’ money by the previous administrations.
According to him, “This is a government that has not built one bedroom flat in two years despite the colossal amount it has received through bailout, parish club, statutory allocation, Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and monies collected on behalf of local governments through the Federation Account.
“Despite the fact that the biggest cement factory in West Africa is located in Lokoja local government area of Kogi State and the natural gift of Rivers Niger and Benue from God also located in Lokoja, the state capital, this government has not thought it wise to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the cement factory to enable it build several housing units for its people.
“It is worrisome that both approved 2017 and 2018 budgets do not have a single naira budgeted for a house, but regrettably the same government now comes up with a plan to dispose off the assets it inherited .
“These are assets that can bring in income and generate revenue for the state if it has been properly rehabilitated and put to use. I think something is wrong somewhere. It is high time leaders in the state placed the affairs of the state over and above every personal interest. If this administration cannot provide infrastructure from the allocation it collected every month then the government should allow the existing properties to remain.”
Reject assets sale
Abdul who pointed out that if the present administration succeeded in selling the properties to finance the 2018 budget, what will happened to 2019 budget , called on the people of the state to reject the proposal in its entirety.
A pubic analyst, Mallam Muhammad Anda Zubair, who also commented on the proposed sale of Kogi state assets, said, “this is the first time in the history of Nigeria where a state governor will mute an idea to sell government property, in order to finance budget.
He called on the governor to rehabilitate the properties and put them to use to generate revenue, rather than thinking of selling the assets.
