Yahaya Bello inaugurated as Kogi governor in Lokoja
- Yahaya Bello is the duly elected governor of Kogi state
- The inauguration took place at the Anyigba stadium in Lokoja, the state capital
- The inaguaration ceremony was graced by several chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Alhaji Yahaya Bello, popularly called 'Fair Plus' has been sworn in as the governor of Kogi state today, January 27.
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Bello, 40, who won the supplementary election held in the North-Central state on Saturday, December 5, 2015 after the demise of Abubakar Audu was sworn in around 12:26pm by the Kogi state chief judge, Nasiru Ajina.
The event which was anchored by Senator Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi west at the Nigerian Senate, witnessed a large crowd.
Before the event commenced, Melaye asked the crowd to observe a minute silence for the late Audu who died last year.
Dignitaries present at the event include the governor of Benue state, Chief Samuel Ortom; his counterpart in Nassarawa state, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura; Senator Kabiru Gaya from Kano state representing Senate president, Bukola Saraki and Honourable Ahman Aliyu Pategi, representing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
Chief John Oyegun, the APC national chairman who spoke at the event, said: "Governor-elect, I wish you the very best of luck. Our prayers are with you, our prayers are with the people of Kogi state.
"May God be with you, may God guide you."
While giving his speech at the event, Alhaji Bello said: “I understand workers in Kogi have not been paid 4 months and over a year for local governments. We will soon start payment.
"My administration has zero tolerance for corruption and it remains so and I think Kogites should be guided in this direction.
“I will be fair to all Kogites and I belong to everybody and belong to nobody.”
Meanwhile, a Civil Society Organization and Election Monitoring Group, Conscience Nigeria, has raised the alarm on the alleged plan to replace Honourable James Faleke, the running mate of the late Alhaji Audu, who has been having a running battle with Bello.
According to Senator Lawal Shuiabu, the APC deputy national chairman, North, Alhaji Bello, has the right to choose who to work with.
Expectedly, the immediate past governor of the state, Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was not at the event.
He was not available to perform handover to Alhaji Bello and his were unknown. His deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, was also absent at the event. but those close to him said he might have travelled out of Nigeria.
A source at the Kogi state government house told Premium Times, the former governor travelled out Tuesday.
Wada is already challenging Bello’s election at the Kogi governorship election petition tribunal.
Source: Legit.ng
