The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Kogi State, Sheik Ibrahim Jibril, has urged National Assembly to thoroughly investigate the N10. 069 billion presidential funds for projects allegedly executed by the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Sheik Ibrahim who kicked against the move by the presidency, urged the National Assembly to discharge their duties with the fear of God and on the interest of the people of Kogi state.
He particularly enjoined that to insist on seeing the projects for which governor Yahaya Bello is requesting the fund, noting that they are non-existent.
He said the last N30 billion bailout funds to the state were not used for the purpose of paying salaries, noting that a probe into how the money was spent will be instituted if APGA assumes office after the election in the state.
He claimed that it was obvious that All Progressives Congress (APC) and the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari don’t care about the welfare of the people, rather they were more interested in foisting an incompetent and non-performing governor on our people.
He stressed that ordinarily, such financial initiative ought to be a source a joy to the Kogi people but for the incompetent leadership of Bello who also has a penchant for diverting public funds.
He expressed optimism that the action of National Assembly over the loan request would go along way in determining the fate of the Kogi people in the next four years.
He said “I condemn in totality the fund request not because the people of Kogi do not earnestly need it but because it is driven by ulterior motives of the Kogi State Governor, who can not justify the use of previous funds.
“I urge the National Assembly to do an intensive investigation into the said projects executed by Bello and I can bet you that they will discover that there are no projects to justify such demand. He advised the National Assembly to constitute an adhoc committee to investigate the authenticity and locations of such projects to justify their approval of such fund.
“The N30 billion bailout for payment of salaries and pension for the Kogi people were not used for that purpose at all. We have seen reports of how it was used to settle APC stalwarts in the state because of the soaring unpopularity of the Governor even within his party.
“So, it will be the height of injustice to still make such monies available to the governor again.”
Speaking on the timing of the fund request, Sheik Ibrahim said, “It is sad that the people of Kogi State have suffered so much under Bello’s administration.
“And having realised that he has since been rejected by the people, he is ready to do whatever it takes to return to office, including buying of their votes. So it won’t disagree with those who believe that this fund will be used for vote buying and other nefarious activities to get votes.
“But I want to advise him that the people of Kogi have made up their minds and that they will vote him out regardless of his kindergarten ploys to hoodwink the people through vote buying or intimidation plots. The Kogi people have had enough of such all-round abysmal leadership and they will show this at the polls.”
