 As Yahya Bello's administration marks his last year in office today, we discuss the achievements and preparations for the force-covering elections. And Kiari steps in as the all-progressive Congress confirms Adamu's resignation. This is Post-Politik. I am Mary Anna Colm. On November 11, 2023, the Kogiste governorship election will take place. Now the incumbent governor of the state, Yahya Bello, is not contesting as he is serving his final second tenor in office. With the primary held between March 27 and April 17 of 2023, the final list of candidates published on June 9, 2023, the campaign launched by political parties commenced on 14th June 2023. It is scheduled to end at midnight on November 9, 2023. Ahead of the November elections, the recurring decimal of violence has reared its head, raising apprehensions as the political parties kick off their campaigns. This is worrying because Kogiste's pre-election environment has generally been characterised by inciting and fierce rhetoric threats of violence and actual incidents of violence. Well, joining us to discuss this evening is Onogu Mohamed. He is the chief press secretary to the governor of Kogiste. It's so good to have you join us, Mr. Mohamed. Good evening. Good evening. It's a pleasure to be here this evening. Great. Let's start by looking at the achievements of your principle. Apparently, the governor has been quoted to brag of his seven-year achievements in Kogi. Would you mind walking us through some of those achievements that you think your boss has made in his seven years in office? Thank you very much and a very good evening to our listeners across the globe. Just like you have said, the governor of Kogi's pre-election in Ayabilu has been in office since 27th of January, 2016. That is about seven years ago and during this time he has been able to turn around the photos of the states across all sectors and before all those achievements were made, the critical analysis of the state were carried out as regards the security of the states. Why was the state not prospering the way it's supposed to be or it should be? So, analysis were carried out and we discovered that the security situation of the state as of that time was nothing to write to him about as they were record of incestuous killing kidnappings across the three sanitary districts of the states. That there was a time in 2015 where over 29 cases of kidnapping were recorded in just one month. So, coming into this administration, the governor has been able to settle down quickly by identifying the factors behind these incestuous crimes in the states. With the security agency, they were able to identify the perfect solution to it and that was carried out and to be we are having a more peaceful and prosperous Kogi state. How did the governor tackle the issue of security? In fact, with the help of the security agency that are working perfectly in synergy and competition, they were able to identify those who are behind these heinous crimes. They were able to identify those who are harboring kidnappers. They were able to identify mutations even in the roads and in the valleys across the state where kidnappers and other criminals were identified to be resided at that time and after this process of identification, the government swayed to action, went after the criminals. Some of them were arrested and some that were either resisted, arrested when neutralized. Their hideout was destroyed and even the property that was acquired or that they acquired through the police it means were confiscated in the building lights to serve as deterrent for others who will be thinking of communal criminality. Everybody, the government commenced the operation in the so-called Central Central District where houses ported belonging to non-criminals were mapped and destroyed in building lights. They were in a must in Kobi Central at that time because of the sex differences where arms were even piled in the most, those kind of places were identified and they were brought out. Corporates were arrested and they faced the full wrath of the law. By so doing, it took the same measure to Kobi East and to Kobi West. So through that process, we were able to contain the issue of insecurity in Kobi State. Now, the government of Successfulness here has five thematic areas that were focused upon to develop the state along that line. One of the areas is in the area of education. Education in the state was nothing to write about before the absorption of this administration in 2016. In fact, at the time the governor was sworn in, all the tertiary institutions in the state were on strike. So a governor to be thrown by the rule and West had a very perfect negotiation with the staff and management of all tertiary institutions in Kobi State and they were able to go to be hired in issue of essential striking in Kobi State from 2017 till this moment as we speak. No institution from the technical universities in Kobi State has gone on strike. Academic activities have been running as it's supposed to be, like the private institutions as we have in Kobi State today. In the area of primary education, you can check the statistics by the MVS. You will see that we have invested tremendously in the area of primary and secondary education. As at the time we came to office in 2016, the performance of our students in both at the YF-11 and in general activities were very, very poor. But due to investments, not only in providing the infrastructure, many mistrotors for the students were also improving the welfare and the capability of the teachers across primary and secondary school. Our students in Kobi State are doing very well in external and both internal examinations across the state. We are able to provide infrastructure in the division were renovated similar to the primary schools and have built over 1,000 secondary primary school blocks across Kobi State as it stands today. And one of those legacy was the GYD model secondary school that was one of which was commissioned by President Mahmoud Buhari in December 2022. That primary secondary school is a kind of an advanced secondary school where every subject has its own practical laboratory with standard facility, sporting activities, and that is the kind of primary secondary school we are replicating across the senatorial districts in Kobi State today. In the area of health, we have also done very well because health is the same as health and if we don't have a healthy population, it will be difficult to have a meaningful output as far as development is concerned. The government pay attention to educational infrastructure and as provided one of the hospitals we have built recently that was commissioned by President Mahmoud Buhari in December 2022 is the reference hospital opening where you have the state of the earth, cutting-edge facilities at that hospital that can take care of any kind of illness. That particular hospital, the standard and the facility inside is also being replicated in the general hospital in Davidville. We have the general hospital almost completed in Solu in the Agua East local government. We have the same prototype in the Ganyu-Inajiputa local government. Then we have also expanded the general hospital in Nidag to the Zunar hospital where more infrastructures were provided and adequate and cutting-edge facilities were also provided. Then in Prisadu-Karaoui University I am back. Some of the students who were in Thiru-Inajiputa were transferred to honors school because there are no basic health institutions where the many customers can have their practicals. So we were able to refurbish the tissue hospital there. Yes, today can now go and have their training free and smoothly. We have built about 18 general hospitals across the state in addition to primary health care that were provided across the local government of the state. There to make it easy the government, the government, other the leadership of Excellency of Nigeria at Thiru as also introduced below health care laws. We are pregnant women and indigenous patients can come and access basic health needs free of charge. The pregnant women are entitled to benefit from delivery teams and all other basic requirements that they need in the process of giving births. So the state government has also provided a platform where they can go to access any public hospital free of charge in situations like this. Then we also have health care services that everybody can go and register with a minimal amount of money so that you register yourself. Then three members of your family are also entitled to benefit from that health care scheme. You have also done this everywhere in the state. Then when you move to the ERG first portion, this is where the governor has also done exceculting very well. Just before we go into infrastructure, just hold on. It's all beautiful that you've been able to tell us that the governor has done great in education, in health care delivery. Let's just backtrack to 2022 here. The labor in Korgi State just before the elections were on the heels of the governor saying that he's owing salaries. This is not the first time under his administration that we've heard these stories of salaries being owed. You can build a great hospital. You can replicate it across the different local government areas. But if the salaries of these people who work for you are not being paid, can you really say that you've run a successful government? Thank you very much. I told you we have five dramatic areas of development in Korgi State. One of these is civil service reform. That brought me to the issue of salary. We inherited areas of salaries of civil service in Korgi State. And there was overblotting which built. So when the governor came on board, what he did was to carry out start education exercise. And in the process of doing that, unlocking it, the state government was part of those that benefited from the Paris fund report to help the states that were not able to clear the backlog of salaries of workers to do so. In our own process, after the start of education, where it goes to workers, where we did it out, all the tender beneficiaries were removed from the period of the state government. In April 2018, all the salary areas over to workers in Korgi State were cleared completely. So you're telling me, I'm so sorry, you're telling me that in 2022, March 23, 2022, that the labor unions in your state were happy to lie against your government claiming that they're still owing salaries from 2018 to 2022. You're telling me that this was a hoax? You can also do more findings to Korgi. I have done my findings and from what you just told me, in 2018 you had paid all the outstanding salaries up to date. So what happened in 2022 that labor unions were accusing your government openly of owing salaries? I'm not sure that the labor unions belong to a political party that would want to make your government look bad except there's something else that you're not telling us. Not at all, not at all. I want you to be very specific. Just like I said, from 2018, the government will be studying all that that for every 25 to 27 of every month, workers in Korgi State should have their salary paid. That was methodical this moment as we speak. But I can remember perfectly that two months ago because of the shortfall in a location and the reduction in the revenue generation within the state, we were not able to pay. I think the month of April, as I told you, that was delayed but it was later paid and as we speak today, a time is not all to any worker in Korgi State. You can also verify it. Maybe you have to do your finding again. But I can tell you authoritatively that Korgi State civil servant since the clearance, the verification of the staff workers, we have not been able to connect or to receive their salary as it went to. Consistently, the government has maintained that until this moment. Not to forget the fact that there are some people who claim that they were maliciously or are unlawfully removed from the civil servant, the story they tell people outside, from the civil servant, the story they tell people outside. But we are very immature of the data we put out there that we are not owing any civil servant of our state. The new workers of Korgi State are not owing a type of their salary. But the issue is that during the verification, in a lot of people came up, I am in a public servant and I have people who are working in the civil servant. But many of them, they came up that, oh, they were not cleared. What is your issue? We invited them to come forward with the Densuit document so that we can even ask why they were not cleared. But they didn't show up on the ground that they knew that they were, you know, they got into the civil servant with documents that were false, with documents that were not existing. So put in that category their state of, I have a cousin, a direct cousin of mine. He was working in the local government area of Kugistit. She was employed in 2004. She was working until 2017. She was a receiving salary until 2017. But in 2011, she got married and he deported to Zaria with her husband. So when in 2017 this criminal was going on, she called me that she wanted to come and attend the screening because she heard there were arrested people who had been receiving salary far away from the state. I then asked, were you still working in the local government? She said there would be paying her salary. So if you calculate the period between 2011 to 2017 that she was any salary, she was actually not coming to work at all. And she refused to go for that screening. So people in that category, they were in their numbers, they are in thousands. So when you ask them to be, if I give a number to you and ask, she will simply tell you that since they don't come on board, she has not received salary. But for people who are working generally for the state government, they are adequately paying their salary as I told you. Right from 2018, after the completion of this half screening exercise. All right, let's move away from that. Let's talk about infrastructure just briefly because I want to, you know, race along with the clock. Yes, thank you very much. In the way of infrastructure, I know that people across TV have received reports of the development that has been taking place in the statistics. Well, it came up, but we met a stage that you cannot struggle within a kilometer without a possible. We have been able to construct about eight or 25 kilometers of road across the length of the city. For example, I come from Cougi East Senatoria District. The longest road this administration has constructed lies in Cougi East. And that is Umoni Apargidibu Uwalaou Ajaka Eda Road. This road cuts across for local government area. It was abandoned in 2010 and the government has succeeded. The Brian Idris administration was not able to continue with the project because of maybe lack of funds and maybe priority as the case may be. But the government came to charge of that road. It has completed that road for the people today. Then the second longest road that was constructed by this administration also lies in the eastern flank of the state. And that is Ibana-Opu-Idakeje Emoniopu-Uwabu Road. That road is 46 kilometers and it has been completed today. There are other roads that were also constructed in that area. That is Cougi East Senatoria District. Then when you come to the local and metropolitan city, it may trust you to know that the first lieover that was constructed in Cougi State was done by this administration. And that project was also commissioned by former president Mamo Dupuhari in December 2022. Then to other Senatoria District like Cougi West, where we have third Kabatashi Road, then when you get to Cougi Central, Ukemi-Tashin Road, Ineka-Uijimin-Ukemi Road. So there are several roads that this administration has constructed. And then when you come to Nukujan Electropolis, we have also done a lot of time-shifting to understand. So in terms of infrastructure, this government has surpassed the achievements of the previous administrations by making life more easy for both commuters and even the passers-by. People could be, is a center, is a kind of the most centrally located for the state of consideration and due to large volume of, you know, traffic that our road witnesses, as they keep on wearing out, we make efforts to ensure that we fix them as much as we can. So in terms of infrastructure, this administration has also done very well. Let's talk about security. Again, because we're racing against the clock, let's talk about security. Because of course, if we talk about making the lives of the people easy, also means that people need to be able to go to sleep with their eyes closed. But then there have been several reports of insecurity. I mean, let's go back to 2021, let's start there and then we'll, you know, you know, come forward to 2023. The people of Bunu Kingdom in Kaba, Bunu Local Government Area of Kogistit at that time had expressed this pleasure over the insecurity situation, particularly, you know, in their farms and social infrastructure deficiencies in the area. Now they also said that, aside from that, there is no single police presence or police station in over 40 towns, not four, not five, 40 towns in that village, which made the entire Bunu Kingdom a missed security challenges. And this obviously calls for concern. Now a state, your state, is getting ready for the elections. And there have been several rhetoric that have been incisive, there have been remarks that have been attributed to your principle that different political parties, not just one, have raised an eyebrow against. And I'm wondering, how has Yaya Milo's administration helped to quell the security situation? Can you say that you're proud of the security situation? Let me quickly respond to the reports from the Kaba Bulu in 2020, as you say. 2021. You see, the government under the leadership of Mrs. Yaya Milo is known for, you know, his, you know, high-heartedness on criminal elements in the states. And the governor, to the traditional rulers, the hunters, and all the stakeholders in the states has made a valuable, furious avenue to communicate, to report issues of insecurity as it is happening to the nearby security agencies in their locality. We have been doing that consistently. In the same Kaba Bulu, the Oakland land you talked about, in 2022, about two banks were, you know, attacked in a solo area of Oakland. And at that point in time, the governor got the information. He spoke to all the heads of security, mobilizing them, asking them to ensure that none of those criminals will go scot-free. And I can tell you, they started the operation 20 days before, within two days, all of the 14 armed men that invaded that, the two banks in that area were apprehended while some were neutralized in the process of, you know, gunfire attack change. So when it comes to insecurity, the governor has been very, very top of the situation in the state. For example, this is the state that first of all, first of all states, or if they exist in other states, which I cannot categorically tell you at the moment, that give out what they call, you know, a set of what they call, we still blowing exercise that when you have any information about a criminal that is living in your locality, notify security agencies through this means, and your identity will never be disclosed to the public. We have been able to enjoy that in the area of covering insecurity or, you know, quick attempt in arresting insecurity. And one of the things that is making us to excel in combating crime in the public state. I'm so sorry, Mr. Mohamed, I'm so sorry to cut in. Yeah, I'm so sorry to cut in, Mr. Mohamed, because we have just a minute. I just want to quickly put out something to you. The issue of the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate who's been pointing fingers at the governor for the attack that he calls a near-death experience, and also, you know, he thinks it was an assassination attempt on his life. Would you care to comment on that as we wrap this conversation up? I think it is the issue before the law enforcement agency that I personally don't want to dwell on it, that a governor of a state would descend so low to wage war against a candidate of a political party that is just three months old in the state. I would not want to... But we also know that he was a member of the ruling party at some point. He was very close and a very good friend of the governor before he decided to move to the SDP. Could it be that there is no love lost between the governor and the SDP candidate? Quickly. If whether he was a friend to the governor or he was in the former ruling party before, I don't think I have the locus to make any statements on that. If he was a friend to the governor, then it would be a kind of a private affair which I don't intervene as a public servant or as an aide to the governor. Then he was a member of the ruling party. I should know why he left the ruling party to where he is today. And he would be the person, the right person to give his reasons for leaving the ruling party to where he is today. So I don't want to dwell on the issue that has to do with his person and my principal. So that should be, you know... It's above your pay grade. Yes, I know that. This election is for some. Can you hear me? Yes, quickly, quickly. We have to go, sir. Go ahead. Okay, so we are moving towards a election by November 19, 2023. And we are providing a leading environment. What the government will not tolerate will not allow a civil citizen of the state to be harmed with the name of election that if you are campaigning, you should campaign to people, talk to people, tell them what you want to do for them and let them vote if they want to vote for you. But using election to incite crisis to form a struggle to cause disturbance, the government is ready to make sure that people live in peace while we are going into an election and even after that election. This place is so wide that everybody who wants to contest, they have registered, they have... We have to go. We have to go, Mr. Mohamed. We have to go. But one thing we don't want to focus on is that citizens must be free to go about their lofty business. We have to go. But I hope that whatever the government is turning out to the people and all the political parties, they also leave by that code and you know the public. So whatever the government is putting out there, the ruling party and the government should also abide by it. I want to say thank you. Onungu Mohamed is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kogi State. Thank you so much for joining us. It's a pleasure for having me here to see you. All right. We'll take a short break. When we return, we'll be discussing the new national leadership of the All Progressive Congress. Stay with us.