Governor Bello to prioritise infrastructure, youth empowerment in second tenure »

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has promised to prioritise human capital development and youth empowerment when elected for a second term in the November 16 governroship election.

He made the promise on Wednesday in Lokoja in an address he delivered at a youth programme organised by the state chapter National Youth Council of Nigeria where the youth of the state endorsed his candidature for a second term.

The Governor called on the youths to position themselves well as he would vigorously pursue the policies he adopted in his first tenure to logical conclusion and ensure he succeeds, noting that youth inclusion in governance was cardinal to his policy direction.

He also promised to ensure earnest conduct of local government polls in the state immediately after his re – inauguration, and called on the youths to ensure they place themselves at vantage positions so that the elderly would not snatch the opportunities from them.

Governor Bello was full of gratitude to the youths for taking leading role in endorsing him for another term and donating the sum of ₦2 million for his purchase of Expression of Interest form, stating that the gesture showed they were people with senses of gratitude.

He promised to be their ambassador at all times, stressing that he would continue to carry them along in all his programmes as to him, they were leaders requiring opportunities to contribute to the development of Kogi State, and is happy to give them such opportunities.

Speaking in a keynote address, the APC deputy governroship candidate, Hon Edward Onoja said the youths are pivotal to the development of any society and called on them to take their pride of place in Kogi State and Nigeria at large.

Hon Onoja who is the immediate past Chief of Staff to the Governor noted that Nigeria had been run by young people in the past, adding that if the youths could eschew ethno-religious sentiments and emulate the policies of Governor Bello, there is no limit to what they could achieve.

In his remarks, the State Security Adviser, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara, whose presentation was anchored on security noted that the security situation has improved tremendously since the inception of the present administration.

He said Kogi State had gone from a state where armed robbery especially Bank Robbery was a norm, to a state with no single record in that regard. He added that terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality have also become history in Kogi State.

The Chairman of G21 in the state, Comrade Amade Edime who presented the group’s findings after an exhaustive research across the 21 LGAs of the state and other speakers all applauded the Governor and assured him of their determination to comb all parts of the state to ensure his victory.