Idah (Kogi) – Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has said that the era of god-fathers in Kogi politics was gone with his emergence.
Bello said he emerged for the proper and rapid development of the state.
He made the remark at the presentation of award to Mr Solomon Anyegwu, Provost, College of Health Science and Technology, Idah on Thursday.
The National Youth Council (NYC) presented Anyegwu with the “Best Performed Head of Health Institutions’’ in the North central.”
Represented by his Special Adviser on Youths, Sports and Students affairs, Dr Victor Adoji, Bello said that his emergence was divine and nobody could claim to have influenced it as his god-father.
He said that corruption and nepotism, as well as indiscipline occasioned by undue influence of “god-fatherism”, had brutalised the state and undermined its development in recent years.
The governor promised to right the wrongs of the past.
“The wind of change has started blowing in Kogi State. The state is wearing a new look and we are doing all we can to wipe tears away from the eyes of Kogites”, he said.
He said he belonged to all religions and all tribes in the state.
Yakubu Shendam, National Coordinator of Nigeria Youths Congress urged Nigerians to have faith in the present administration in spite of the security,
and socio-political and economic challenges.
Light, he said, would soon emerge at the end of the tunnel as the economic policies of the present administration would soon yield the desired result.
Shendam congratulated Anyegwu for the award bestowed on him by the NYC as the best performing provost among head of health institutions in the North-central.
Also speaking, Dr Saka Audu, the Acting Commissioner for Health and Special Adviser to Gov. Bello said Anyegwu deserved the award as the institution had witnessed monumental transformation under his leadership.
Responding, Anyegwu said he dedicated the award to God, adding that his choice for the award took him by surprise as it was not political.
He said it would spur him to do more and urged Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of “can do” and be committed to national development irrespective of where they were placed. (NAN)