Gov.
Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday in Lokoja inaugurated a seven-member panel to
probe the use of state funds from May 29, 2003 to Jan. 27, 2016.
The panel
is headed by a retired Kano State High Court judge, Umar Rano.
Mr. Bello
said the terms of reference of the committee were clearly stated in the letters
of appointment of the members.
He
lamented the low development of the state since its creation 25 years ago,
alleging that funds received on behalf of the state were not properly accounted
for.
“While I
am not saying that our state has made or received all the money she needs, I
make bold to insist that our problem is not the lack of money, but the theft of
money.
“If what
we did make or receive were used better this past 13 years, we would not have
the current socio- economic disaster on our hands,” he explained.
According
to him, the state’s past leaders basically engaged in a zero-sum game of
shooting, in which corruption was their sharp-shooter, and the helpless
populace their target.
“For every
kobo they hit, our people lost lives, opportunities, hopes, visions and
dreams,” he said.
“The
result is that in 25 years of existence, Kogi is barely started on her journey
to development.
“This is
an atrocity and it should infuriate any reasonable person. We cannot bury the
years of accumulated theft by politically exposed persons in the faulty
foundations they laid over the years.
“ We must
not also disregard the accumulated hurt felt by our excluded citizenry, and
pretend it did not happen, or that they will forget.
“That can
only earn us a society festering with sublimated anger that will explode sooner
than later with disastrous consequences,” he said.
Mr. Bello
told members of the committee not to see the assignment as a licence to
witch-hunt or settle scores with anyone.
“Everyone
must be accorded their due respect in line with the laws of the land.
“This is
your chance to help this administration put Kogi firmly on the part to
recovery,
“Please do
not allow or do anything to cast a pall of doubt over its impartiality or
integrity,” he warned.
Mr.
Bello’s election as governor was recently upheld by the Supreme Court.
His
immediate predecessor, Idris Wada, was one those who challenged the outcome of
the election.
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