Journalists union in Abuja has presented a ‘Torch bearer of Security’ award to Kogi governor Yahaya Bello.
The award, presented to the Kogi governor by the Chairman of the NUJ FCT council, Emmanuel Ogbeche, on Saturday in Abuja, sees Mr Bello emerging as the best governor in ensuring security among his colleagues in the country.
Mr Ogbeche lauded Mr Bello for securing the state and the lives of residents as well as commutters passing through the state.
He said as the fourth estate of the realm and watchdog of society, the NUJ had recognised all the efforts of the governor and had deemed it right to honour him.
“We are here to recognise your outstanding performance in security.
“We remember sometime in February 2017, the primary security agency, the Nigerian Police Force, recognised your performance.
“They bestowed on you the award of the best governor in security.
“Since then, you have not looked back, you have remained consistent, you have remained coherent in your security strategy.
“You are fully aware that Section 22 of the Nigerian constitution says that the media will hold anyone accountable to the people and by interpretation, it also means that when those in government have performed well, they ought to be given a pat on the back.
“We want to commend you that you have kept faith with one of the primary reasons of being in government which is the security of the people as enshrined in Section 14 of the constitution,” Mr Ogbeche said.
The award notwithstanding, Kogi State under Governor Bello has witnessed its fair share of insecurity fuelled by state and non-state agents.
The Confluence State hosts some of the busiest highways linking the North to the South. This has made the routes a hotbed of kidnappers and highway robbers despite the pushback of the government.
In May, Mr Bello’s pension commissioner Solomon Adebayo was murdered by unknown gunmen along Kabba-Ilorin highway.
In December 2019, thugs said to be loyal to ruling party, APC, burnt opposition PDP woman leader, Salome Abuja to death over some scuffle during Mr Bello’s governorship election.
The killers of the woman were however in March 2021 given light sentences by a State High Court in Kogi, to the chagrin of rights activists.
In all, Mr Bello fancies Kogi as the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
His Chief of Staff, Abdulkareem Asuku, who collected the award on his behalf, thanked the NUJ for recognising the governor for his achievements in the security sector.
He said that the priority of Bello was securing the lives of Kogi citizens and other Nigerians, adding that this was the reason Nigerians were calling on him to run for president in 2023.
“Security is the number one responsibility of any responsible government. Without security, no matter the infrastructure or economic achievement of any government it will all amount to nothing.
“That is why his Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello upon assumption of office in 2016 decided to take the security of the people of Kogi State as his number one priority in his agenda.”
He also urged the NUJ to keep doing its best in upholding the unity of the country through credible reportage.