A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar has has berated Governor Yahaya Bello for the spate of insecurity which prompted the United Kingdom to list Kogi as one of the 21 States to be avoided by its citizens.
He said Bello should bury his head in shame for taking the state back into high level insecurity.
Speaking with this reporter in Abuja recently, he explained that insecurity in Kogi State has gone beyond politicking, a situation he said calls for concern of well meaning citizens of the state and even the Government of the day.
He said the present Government should have prioritised security and welfare which is the responsibility of those in governanceHe pointed out that if there was insecurity in the magnitude of Kogi State,  where no day passes without human casualty, then baton has to change at all costs.
Alhaji Abubakar who is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he is contesting because the State is in a quagmire, as the, “news coming out from the State has never been favourable for a day.”
He emphasized the function of governance as the welfare and security of the people adding that the typical welfare which workers should have enjoyed is their salary which is lacking in the State.
“Insecurity in Kogi has become an embarrassment as the United Kingdom listed some States where it asked its citizens to avoid and Kogi State was one of them.
“Our infrastructure, ranging from health, education and the rest have all deteriorated.
“Education is the worst hit as teachers have been out for most part of the calendar and what products do you expect them to produce where there are no qualified teachers.
“In the health sector, the State  General Hospital has become the ghost of itself as nothing has been done to improve its status since the 1970s.”
He said he is contesting because the State is in a quagmire, as the news coming out from the State is not favourable. He said as a chattered quantity Surveyor he has been dealing with development and society through the Federal and State Governments, donor agencies in terms of developing the society in education, health, agriculture and so on.
He promised to bring that experience to bear to turn the fortune of the State around.
Most of the prominent aspirants were present former Governor Idris Wada and Senator Dino Melaye were represented.
Credit: John Akubo,writes from Abuja.