Kogi NUJ Organises One Day Symposium In Commemoration Of Gov. Bello’s Seven Years Anniversary

• Chris Isiguzo described Gov Bello As An Achiever, Developer

By:Abubakar S. H

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi state Council has organised a symposium in commemoration of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s achievements within several years in office with the theme”A peep into Yahaya Bello’s seven years as governor of kogi state and the implications for future administrations”.

The symposium was held at Edge Drive Hotel, Lokoja witnessed the assemblage of all working Journalists in the state.

In his opening remark, the Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh said the programme was designed to take a look at some of the governor’s achievements, praise and charge him for more efforts saying in performing the duties as enshrined in the constitution, media men and women are constitutionally enabled to hold governments accountable to the people for whose uplift any government exist in the first place.

He therefore stressed that Governor Bello has gladdens the hearts of many people especially in his seventh years anniversary because he has been able to secure, bridge, plaster and paint the wall of previous administrations while he continues to build his own, and he is doing so in admiration of of his people, he said.

The Chairman also noted that the governor has done his best to put the state on the right pedestal of development, according to him, “before the end of his administration, the governor can still do more, there are still more ground to cover before the expiration of his administration”.

He emphasized that the governor has also broken the barrier of ethnic jingoism in the state, and has shown himself as a true kogian in his political appointments that cut across different tribal groups, coupled with the provision and execution of meaningful projects and capacity displayed in tackling insecurity in the state.

Speaking at the event, the National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo described the
Reference Hospital Okene as a world class health Infrastructure in the country saying that its a signature of Gov. Bello’s administration noting that it would remain a positive reference point many would always refer to.

While pointing out that unlike many Governor’s in the country who will instead of bringing such edifice as the Reference Hospital and others spread across Kogi State, will prefer to travel abroad and build such facility’s in other countries, described the administration of Gov Bello as one that has done well.

In his response, Gov. Bello thanked the NUJ, Kogi state council for organizing the symposium in honour of him, expressed delight with the chairman of council, explained how he was able to achieve all the projects.

According to His Excellency,” we in Kogi State are not operating on a guess board but on a well thought-out agenda known as the New Direction Agenda. We are Youth-friendly and Ambassador in Governance and has been focused on getting the job done despite the untiring efforts of political opponents to misrepresent my person as the Governor and my administration.

The Governor also noted that his successes so far was a product of a formula adopted geared towards solving the State’s unique challenges.

Governor Yahaya Bello stated he saw the numerous challenges bedeviling the State and applied home-grown formula in solving them.

The Governor appealed to Nigerians not to fall into the plan of few individual politicians bent on creating violence in the next Presidential Election and expressed optimism that the 2023 Election will hold in peace.

He urged Nigerians to remain calm, pointing out that the current challenges facing the country is temporal.

Governor Bello expressed optimism that the APC Presidential Flagbearer, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, will win the election overwhelmingly.

He promised to sustain relationship with the NUJ urging media Professionals to remain objective in their reportage particularly the next week election.

The symposium featured several personalities such as the vice Chancellor, Costech, Proff. Salawu Sadiku , vice Chancellor, Proff. Marietu Tenuche, Guest speaker, Mr. Emmanuel Ojonugwa Okoliko, Ambassador Hamzat Lawal, Dr. Solomon Anyagwu and many other dignitaries.