Governor Bello breaks 28years jinx, lays Kogi Government House Chapel foundation »

Kogi State Government, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Monday laid the foundation for the construction of the Government House Chapel breaking the 28years jinx of the non existence of a Christian worship centered within the Government house premises.

The foundation laying ceremony which was witnessed by the Christain Association of Nigerian (CAN) President, Reverend Dr. Samson Ayokunle who joined the Governor and royal fathers at the event in laying the foundation at the historic event.

Governor Bello expressed that his joy was boundless stating that Comparatively, building a Chapel anywhere was although small project for a state government but that the fountain and origin of his excitement was from the significance of this project rather than its size or cost.

He Stated that they all gathered to flag off the construction of a building which would not just be a house of worship for Christians but also a symbol of the access, welcome and inclusion which his government have worked to guarantee all citizens in our public institutions.

The Governor mentioned that he remembered that around 2015 while he was still campaigning for Governor, his team and himself noticed the absence of a Chapel in Lugard House even though a mosque for Muslim faithfuls had been built.

He stated that they resolved to do something about it if God ever put them in Office, pointing out that his then Campaign Director General, who was now his Chief of Staff, Hon.Edward Onoja, was particularly keen on such venture.

The Governor revealed that when he became the Governor by the peculiar deeds of God, the construction of a bespoke place of worship for Christians inside the premises of the Kogi State Government House became a personal aspiration of His.
He Pointed out that it should be understood that in Kogi State, strong components of Islam and Christianity have lived side by side since precolonial times and have cooperated in every area of life and endeavour.

He mentioned that he believed that it was vitally critical for our seat of power to also make a symbolic statement of welcome for adherents of the two major faiths and as such it quiet sad that for no reason other than, perhaps, the personal wishes of my predecessors in Office, Government House, Lokoja has no custom-built place of worship for Christians.

By such intolerant behaviour, Governor Bello stated that his predecessors gave the impression that the feelings of Christians do not matter while falsely portraying muslims as insensitive to the feelings of others.

He sermonised that the Prophet Muhammed (SAW) was quoted by Anas ibn Malik ibn Nadr al-Khazraji Al-Ansari, one of the well-known sahabi (companions), to have said, “None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. “while he revealed that the foundation laying event was a remedy to that long standing error

The Governor noted that he would be guilty of the most unconscionable hypocrisy and godlessness if he stood on the site of this Holy House today condemning the intolerance and inequities of the past and his own government was characterised by the same evils.

He stated that just like Prophet Samuel challenged his people to speak out concerning any of his misdeeds, Governor Bello urged anyone who have accused his administration of fostering ethnic, religious or class barriers in Kogi State since he became Governor to speak up now.

The Governor affirmed that his Administration by the end of this week would be rounding off her 3rd year and a half in Office, noting that if there was anything his government have worked hard to institutionalise, it was the ‘One Kogi Principle’.

Governor Bello mentioned that there were 239 wards, 25 State Constituencies, 21 Local Government Areas, 9 Federal Constituencies and 3 Senatorial Districts, but only 1 state boasting that the rest of the world sees the people of Kogi State first before anything else, and the people must strive to see in the same way.

Governor Bello stated that It has been his philosophy of governance to affirm and forge all of Kogi’s plural strengths, all its diversities, into one united people and to do so effectively his government have had to consciously attack tribal distrust, break down religious divides and overcome class cleavages.

He charged that as they wind down on the 1st term and would be canvassing for a 2nd term on November 16, it was with all sense of humility and gratitude to God that he noted how pleased he was that his few critics, whose numbers are rapidly diminishing by the day, have failed to accuse me of anything worthy of note.

He said despite the vast resources stolen from this state in the past which was now at their disposal, and in spite of having unlimited access to media collaborators, yet they could not articulate any coherent accusation of mismanagement, not even ordinary malfeasance, against him or his Administration.

The Governor went on to highlight the innumerable landmark of the New Direction Government and the numerous positive indices which his government had brought in different sectors of the State.

Governor Bello used the medium to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the latest bailout request of N30.8bn while he also thanked the Attah of Igala HRM Dr. Michael Ameh Oboni for leading the traditional leaders to the president to make the state’s case more strongly.

He similarly thanked the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele and others within the value chain who helped to facilitate the release, as he affirmed that the money was in the account of the State Government.

On issues of National concern which were raised, Governor Bello noted that some of us were intensely distressed by the unhappiness of some Nigerians with the present administration.

He pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari was perhaps the most sincere man he has ever met, stating that his love for this country was indisputable.

The Governor similarly noted that there were sections of the population which do not believe he was doing enough to combat the country’s multifarious problems, especially insecurity and poverty, stating that such might well be so since no man was perfect and all we could do was to urge the Federal Government to improve her game all round.

The Governor stating his opinion stated that Nigeria was the only country we have for now and as equal stakeholders and partners in it, the task of uniting and building it up was certainly not for Government alone.
He asserted that Wherever anyone might stand on the President’s performance, or the performance of any Governor, it was still the God-given duty of all, and in particular, religious, political and community leaders like he himself and others to protect the people and unite the nation.

The President of the CAN in his remarks saluted the courge of the Governor Stating that he was a pacesetter and a trailblazers for doing what other past administrations failed to do
He noted that his desires to maintain ethnic and religious Unity was a God givem desire which has gone a long way to unite the State and the people and such feet was laudable.

Rev. Ayokunle pointed out that any Country or State that ensures fair play, mutual respect and Justice would enjoy tranquility thanking God that the Kogi State Governor have caught such vision.

He noted that Governor Bello has gone into the history book as the first of his kind to do such and history would remember him for good.
The CAN president on the occasion thanked the Governor for the numerous gestures which he has contributed immensly to the Christian faith which included Operational funds and Evangelism busses

At the foundation laying the CAN president prayed that the proposed building would bring about goodness and progress for the State and blessings for the Governor.