A
new revelation has shown how the governor of Kogi State approved huge
sums for himself as security votes just days into assuming office.
Yahaya Bello
Investigation by Premium Times has
revealed that barely a week after he became governor of Kogi State,
Yahaya Bello, approved for himself, a total of N260 million as security
votes.
Mr. Bello, who is the youngest
governor in Nigeria’s history, was sworn into office at an elaborate
ceremony on January 27 after his party, the All Progressives Congress,
APC, fielded him as replacement for its former candidate, Abubakar Audu.
Mr. Audu was in a clear lead in the
November 21, 2015 governorship poll but suddenly died before the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, concluded the election.
Mr. Bello was fielded as the APC
replacement during the rerun poll in some areas of the state. His
candidacy was fiercely opposed by the deputy governorship candidate of
the party, James Faleke.
On Mr. Bello’s first day in office, the Permanent Secretary in the Government House, Ilemona John, initiated a memo titled, “Request For Security Fund”.
In the document, Mr. Bello was requested to approve N15 million his security fund.
He approved the payment of the fund two days later, on January 29.
Curiously, the Government House Perm
Secretary raised yet another memo just four days later on February 2,
with a fresh request for security fund. This time, the amount was jerked
to N20 million.
The governor did not waste time as he gave prompt approval for the release of the funds on the same day.
It however became apparent that the
money was not enough because Mr. John again raised another memo for the
release of more security funds the following day, February 3.
In the new memo, Mr. Bello was requested to approve the “release
the sum of Five Million naira (N5, 000,000, 00) only for the
replenishment of your Excellency’s security fund which has just been
exhausted.”
Mr. Bello granted approval immediately.
Not done, the permanent secretary who
is a Reverend Pastor, quickly returned with another request on the same
day (February 3, 2016) seeking Mr. Bello to release another “N20 million for the replenishment of his security fund which has just been exhausted”.
The governor did not hesitate to give the approval for the release of the funds.
Five days later, on February 8, the
Permanent Secretary, again initiated a memo indicating that Mr. Bello’s
security fund had yet again been exhausted and sought for an approval
for N100 million to be released to “replenish” it.
Governor Bello granted approval the following day, February 9.
A few hours later on February 9, Mr.
John raised another memo informing his principal that the security fund
he approved hours earlier had been exhausted and that he needed to
approve another N100 Million.
Mr. Bello readily granted approval on the same day.
PREMIUM TIMES cannot say exactly how
much has so far been spent as security funds, but documents obtained so
far indicate that between January 27 and May 12, Kogi State taxpayers
could have coughed out billions to their profligate governor.
N148 Million for furnishing and renovation of office
While Mr. Bello was drawing millions
under security funds, he also approved over N148 million to furnish and
renovate his office at the Government House.
For this, Mr. John, the Government House permanent secretary, as usual, came up with another memo on February 1.
The memo was titled, “Request for the furnishing and maintenance of the Governor’s Office, Kogi State Government House”.
In it, Rev. John requested the
governor to approve N99, 983, 994.00, being a proposal by a company, Maj
Global Construction Company Ltd, for the furnishing and renovation of
the governor’s office.
Mr. Bello promptly granted approval on the same day the request was made.
However, Rev. John returned a month
later on March 4, with a memo telling the governor that the over N99
million he earlier released for the furnishing and renovation of his
office, was not enough.
He, therefore, requested the governor to release additional N48, 593, 250.00 “for additional works on the renovation/furnishing and maintenance of the governor’s office at Kogi Government House”.
Governor Bello gave approval on the same day the request was made.
PREMIUM TIMES also obtained copies of
the document detailing the release of the fund approved for the
furnishing and renovation of the governor’s office.
The first document dated February 4,
from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development showed that the
sum of N99, 983, 994.00 was release as “Grant/ Special imprest in favour of the perm secretary in the Government House Administration”.
The other document, dated March 9, was also for the release of N48, 593, 250.00 as “Grant/Special
imprest in favour of the permanent Secretary, Government House
Administration to cover additional works for the furnishing and
maintenance of the Governor’s office at Kogi Government House”.
While the governor engaged in a spending spree for his luxury, state workers and pensioners remained unpaid for months.
Analysts believe that while Kogi State
has had a flicker of militant activities by members of the Boko Haram
group, the state has remained largely a relatively peaceful state.
Mr. Bello’s defence
When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the
spokesperson to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, he confirmed the spending
but said they were necessary.
“It is public knowledge that Kogi State has been contending with serious security breach for the past ten years,” Mr. Fanwo saud.
“As a result of the location of the state as gateway to many states of the federation, the state drifted into a criminal hotbed.
“Also, years of gross
maladministration and blinding embezzlement has left the youth bare,
exposing them to all sorts of criminal activities to survive. Kogi
became a haven of robbers and kidnappers.”
As a responsible government, he argued
that the Yahaya Bello administration has taken security to the front
burners by strengthening the state’s security architecture in order to
make it inhabitable for hoodlums and criminal elements.
Because his principal’s huge investment, he said security in the state has greatly improved while however, adding that “security vote is not usually a subject for public consumption and no cost can be higher than human lives.”
He said Governor Bello will continue to prioritize security because it is one of the main objectives of his election.
Continuing, he said, “Let me also
put on record that the Governor Yahaya Bello administration is
contractually committed to fighting corruption and enthroning
transparency in the polity. These are the terms of his social contract
with the Kogi people.”
“If you have ever been to the Kogi
State Government House in Lokoja, you will appreciate the rot of the
architecture. It was not befitting of one of the most historic
Government Houses in Nigeria.
“In tandem with the present
administration’s drive to turn the economy of the state to a private
sector driven one, we need to start our charity at home. People must
love to come to our Government House to transact businesses.”
For these reasons, he said the
Government House was undergoing massive renovation to make it habitable
and to mirror the image of the state as a first-rated tourist
destination.
Being what he described as “an accomplished business mogul”
who believes he assumed power by the grace of God, he said Mr. Bello
has always reiterated his determination, not only to block corrupt
practices, but to also ensure corrupt officials of government are made
to face the wrath of the law.
To underscore its transparency, he said the administration has opened her account books to the people of the state.
Besides, he said the governor has constantly briefed the media on the income and expenditure of government.
“Massive constructions are ongoing
in the state and the Governor is focused on ensuring transparent and
active performance of this year’s budget.
“The antics of our opponents will
be judged by the people of the state who are already witnessing the
benefits of the New Direction Programs. The bulwark of the Yahaya Bello
administration is transparency,” he said.
Source: Premium Times
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