Former Gov Bello deserves commendation not criticism, Akoji tells Simon Achuba over sponsored protest at EFCC office »

A Lawyer and Public affairs analyst Mr. Akoji James Ogbadu has Condemn the Social Democratic Party supporters who mobilized touts and area boys to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Friday demanding the arrest of the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello over what the group called looting of Kogi State treasury in the last eight years.

Akoji expressed dismay by the supporters of SDP over the unorganized demonstration of shame to the EFCC. He said as a citizen of Kogi State who overtime appreciates the abundant qualities of Kogi people felt embarrassed by the Simon ACHUBA led protest. He described the event as efforts and tactics to blackmail the EFCC into arresting the former governor unjustly. The public affairs analyst believes the EFCC knows how to do their job with laid down procedures and processes.

Akoji said he was a major critics of the former Governor until December 2023 when he took his time to do a comprehensive review of the Achievements of the former Governor vis- a-vis the total inflows from FAAC to Kogi State accrued in the eight years of Bello.

Akoji stated ” I took my time to go through the entire Kogi State projects Gazettet and I was amazed by the achievements of the former Governor.

“He said as a public affairs analyst who has monitored income and expenditures of other states in Nigeria, I was shocked that the former Deputy Governor who led the protest to EFCC did not take cognisant of the fact that Kogi State government under Yahaya Bello had their entire financials published on the Kogi State website and it made it easy for public scrutiny and accountability.

Akoji said the most painful issue was the fact that Simon Achuba who served as Deputy Governor under Yahaya Bello in his first term did not realize that the Kogi State financials from 2016 till date are online for the public to see.

He stated clearly that, if Yahaya alone took 80 Billion Naira as claimed by Achuba, how will the state under Yahaya Bello have achieved so much.
Mr Akoji highlighted some projects such as follows:

Construction of Hassan Katisina/Mount Patti Road
Rehabilitation/ Asphalt overlay of Chari Maigumeri Ring road / street lightening
Construction/Rehabilitation of lokoja township Road Lot ll
Construction/Rehabilitation of lokoja township Road Lot III
Construction/rehabilitation of lokoja township Road Lot I
Agassa upogoro Road with spur to Auchi Byepass, Okene
Rehabilitation/Asphalt overlay of Obehira/Ihima Road with spur to Obangede
Ogori-Magongo Road
Construction of Ogaminana/Ebogogo/Total junction spur Ebogogo-Eika-Itakpe Road
Construction of Otokiti/Ganaja Dual carriageway
Construction of 19.84km Okene Township Roads
Grade separation intersection (flyover bridges) at Ganaja junction, lokoja
Rehabilitation of 4.7km paparanda square/Nataco junction ( Dual carriageway) lokoja
Rehabilitation of 5km lokoja township Road
River Niger shoreline protection and Beach Embankment
Beautification and Landscaping of Beach Embankment
Construction of 9km zone 8 roundabout to GYB junction
Rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of 13.71km Itakpe junction -Total junction Okene Road
Construction of 3.72km internal road networks for phase II development of CUSTECH Osara
Reconstruction of 5.5km zone 8 / crusher dual carriageway
Renovation work at school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
Conversation of old male hostel to classroom
Renovation of old staff office block and demonstration block
Ditto,Hall A & B
Ditto, library block
Renovation of main Governor’s office and other residential (II) quarters Government house lokoja
Renovation of DSS official quarters at G.R.A lokoja
Completion of debt management office at ministry of finance
Construction of admin building for graphic newspaper co-operation
Construction of official residence of SSG kogi state
Landscaping of Secretariat phase I
Construction of a chapel in Government house, lokoja
Construction and remodeling of presidential lodge Government house lokoja
Construction and rehabilitation of Government house Mosque lokoja
Construction of fence and gate house at graphics newspaper co-operation
Construction of new hostel, block for school of nursing Obangede
Construction of admin building school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
Construction of gate house tower and approach fence at school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
Construction of fence at school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
Construction of clinic for school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
Construction of 50 bed capacity hostel block govt. Girls Sec. School Obangede (lot 2)
Re-construction of admin block at Okene (lot A)
Reconstruction of ministry of justice building including external works lot B
Construction of Government Lodge Okene
Renovation of Adavi market
Ministry of Transport
Renovation of FM transmitter house at mount Patti lokoja
Construction of office complex for civil engineering department ministry of works
Construction of Army camp ( police camp)
Renovation of the office building of the secretary to the government of kogi state
Construction of proposed remand home and rehabilitation center, lokoja
Remodeling/ redesign of kogi state hotels
Construction of Muhammadu Buhari civic center
1. Construction of kogi state ministry of justice office complex
Construction of ultra modern general hospital complex
Construction of ultra modern general hospital complex
Construction of rehabilitation of mobile police squadron unit, Oro, Okene
Renovation and construction of admin block of specialist hospital, lokoja
Construction of GYB model Science secondary school Adankolo
Renovation and remodeling of GGSS Oboroke
Construction of a new central reference hospital
Renovation and remodeling of Old general hospital Okene
Construction of senate building of confluence university of science and Tech, (CUSTECH) Osara
Construction of computing and informatics at CUSTECH
Construction of faculty of basic medical and health science at CUSTECH
construction of faculty of engineering at CUSTECH
Construction of university library and supply of furniture at CUSTECH Osara
External works remodeling and psychiatric building at specialist hospital lokoja
Construction of GYB model Science secondary school Ogaminana
Construction of GYB model technical college Oboroke Ihima
Construction of GYB model Science secondary school, iruvucheba
Lokoja, Banda/ kotonkarfe 33KVA trunkline
Electrification project
Wireless powered traffic signal light system
Upgrading of 33KV line at state secretariat
Upgrading of 33KV line at kogi state specialist hospital lokoja
Installation of solar powered streetlights 120 units along major roads in lokoja: zenith – Govt. Day Sec. School, Andankolo.
Federal university road – Dunamis junction.
Fen junction – kogi circle.
House of assembly roundabout completion
Procurement and Installation of 388 units of three-in-one solar powered streetlights for Okene Township Roads
Procurement and Installation of 404 units All-in-one solar powered streetlights for confluence university of science and technology, Osara
Procurement of 3No. Advance fire truck
Procurement of accessories and equipment for advance fire truck (3No).
Construction of Ibana/Okpo-Ogugu/ Ette Road
Idah / Ajaka / Ejule/ Ayingba junction Road
Rehabilitation of Ankpa – Abejukolo Road
Construction of Ankpa Township Roads (Lot7)
Construction of Odenyi/Oguma/Sheria Road project
Construction of some selected structures in Attah Igala palace
Construction of Ankpa Market
Construction of New Ultra-Modern Clinical complex in Prince Abubakar Audu University Hospital, Ayingba
Remodeling of community secondary school Ajiyolo-Ojaji
Construction of GYB model Science secondary school Idah
Odolu-Efu Primary Health care Clinic
Agbada water Project
Solar power lights in Oganenigwu community
Payment of WAEC Fees
Payment of JAMB Fees
Construction of Bassa Road
Provisions of medical equipment to Zonal Hospital
Implementation of 100% Hazard Allowance for medical Practitioners
Rehabilitation of Road at the 200Units Lokoja
And many more

Mr Akoji further disclosed that Kogi State stands as Number 1 in fiscal accountability and transparency amongst all State in Nigeria and that the former Governor, his Commissioner for Finance, the State Accountant General, State Auditor General and Auditor General for Local Government are all Chatered Accountants, no wonder the transparency in the income and expenditures of Kogi State remains an open document online real time.

He advised Rt. Hon Simon Achuba to desist from shameful acts due to Political differences with his former Boss, as it will put the image and reputation of Kogi State in negative perspectives amongst the committee of states. Akoji used the platforms to Commend the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his achievements and urge him to continue to display high level of maturity as he was known for, which earned him several awards on security, infrastructural development and transparency by the President and other reputable organizations in Nigeria and globally.