Yahaya Bello, the ‘accidental governor’ of Kogi State was on Wednesday sworn in as the fifth person to occupy the position since 1991, without the presence of top echelon of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, and his running mate, James Abiodun Faleke.
President Muhammadu Buhari who was billed to attend, left Abuja Wednesday morning to begin a three visit to Kenya, but his wife, Aishat was represented by the wife of Nasarawa State governor, who came with her husband, Tanko Al-Makura.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was also absent along with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. Saraki and Dogara were however represented, with Senator Kabiru Gaya, a former governor of Kano State, standing in for Saraki.
APC chiefs led by the chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun were however at the event, as well as the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and minister of state for labour, Ocholi. But the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was conspicuously absent.
A minute silence was observed by the crowd for Alhaji Abubakar Audu, who dramatically died on 22 November, the day his election was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Audu’s running mate, James Abiodun Faleke, believed that INEC’s declaration was a faux pas, as the election was already won by Audu and he stands as the beneficiary of the vote, not Bello, who was named as the replacement for Audu.
The matter is now before the Election Tribunal for determination, while Faleke kept away from the venue.
Bello signed the oath at exactly 12.05 pm and declared thereafter that his election had been made possible by God, a sentiment that echoed through the event.
Senator Dino Melaye, who compered the ceremony had also remarked: “Kogi voted for Audu but God voted for Yahaya Bello”.
Melaye, senator representing Kogi east, said it was God who made it possible for Bello to emerge governor and urged the people to support him to transform the state.
“Kogi state said yes to Abubakar Audu, the entire north-central said yes to Abubakar Audu but the Almighty voted for Yahaya Bello.”
Melaye also taunted Idris Wada, the immediate past governor, and Yomi Awoniyi, his deputy with the rhyme “Bye bye to jakujaku! Bye bye to WadaWada! Insha Allah! Bye bye to jakujaku!.”
He said that there is no better time to “ameliorate, to palliate, to correct all the rubbish and beautiful nonsense that has bedeviled our state for the past 12 years than now.
“I want to apologise on behalf of the outgoing government of Kogi state for the rigorous exercise of coming into Kogi state. The roads are bad, students are not in school, salaries have not been paid.
“Someone told me that even the political appointees of the governor have not received salary in four months. I assure you that the era of change is here. Today a minority in Kogi state is the governor of Kogi state,” Melaye said.
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