AT 2, BELLO SPENDS N100 MILLION ON 300 YOUTHS, BANS CONGRATULATORY ADVERTS

ABUJA, Nigeria – With about two days to the celebration of his two years anniversary, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday, called on well wishers who are considering placing goodwill messages as advertisement in the media to have a rethink.

Instead, he craved for their support in reaching out to more Kogites, who need intervention to get medical attention. Bello, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, obtained by journalists in Jos, was certain that even more lives could be touched and affected positively with their intervention.

The governor said that more than 300 Kogites have benefited from a Fund which was set aside to give the poor and vulnerable a new lease on life, while over N100 million has been spent in the last 12 months on the project.

The statement by Akinti reads: “His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has expressed profound gratitude to the good people of Kogi State for the immense support his administration has enjoyed in the last two years.

“His Excellency understands that the goodwill he continues to enjoy from the majority of Kogi people is a demonstration of the faith the people have in him to do what is right by them.

“Governor Bello has said that apart from ongoing infrastructural development in the state, long lasting institutional reforms that will be the bedrock of an organised and functional system are ongoing to put in place a system which runs on principles of equity, fairness, justice, and one which rewards for merit and diligence.

“These reforms have not come easy, no doubt but the benefits far outweigh the cost and the good people of Kogi State will be the greatest winners at the end of the day.

“Governor Bello says that during his first year in office, a Fund was set up to to give the poor and vulnerable amongst us a new lease on life. This Fund was utilised mainly to offset medical bills of people who otherwise would not be able to raise funds to get the needed medical attention they deserve both within and outside the country.

“Over the last 12 months, more than 300 Kogites have benefited from this Fund to the tune of over 100 million naira. The satisfaction of seeing people do what illness and lack of access to funds had deprived them of for years, and in some cases decades, has filled Governor Bello with immense joy and determination to reach more people and offer succour.

“To this end, Governor Bello wishes to thank friends, associates and well wishers who are considering placing goodwill messages as advertorial in the media as his administration clocks two years on January 27, 2018 but advises it should not be done.

“Instead, the Governor is calling on friends, associates, and well wishers to support him in reaching even more Kogites, who need intervention to get medical attention. With your cooperation, Governor Bello is certain even more lives can be touched and affected positively.”

The Governor advised his well wishers to please make their kind donations to: KOGI STATE POOR AND VULNERABLE ACCOUNT NUMBER: 0226 5262 55 BANK NAME: GUARANTY TRUST BANK.