Kogi Gov vows to punish members who work against party during polls

By Christiana Ekpa

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has vowed that members of his cabinet who allegedly betrayed him during the November 11 governorship election in the state will not go unpunished.

The Governor accused some members of his cabinet of betrayal before and during the election.

Bello, who spoke during a closed-door meeting with stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lokoja, was visibly angry and maintained that he would “cut off” even his fingers if they decided to hinder him from “going far.”

Bello further accused many of his allies of betraying him because of his choice of Usman Ododo as his successor.

Ododo was declared winner of the governorship election, beating off challenges from Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Social Democratic Party, (SDP) Muri Ajaka.

Bello described some of the so-called allies in unprintable words, saying they sold him out.

He said “All of those disgruntled elements” moved against him “after everything I did for them.”

“I was fighting known enemies while enemies within were pulling me down. God punish you all.

“They said if it can’t be me, then it can’t be Ododo. They were busy conniving and conspiring with the opposition.

“They call themselves leaders, but were misleading the people. Shame on you all.”

Bello warned that if he ever heard the “leaders” threaten any of their subordinates, he would deal with them severely.

The Governor pointed a direct finger at a Senator from the state whom he said was “wrecked” by his brothers before he (Governor Bello) revived him from his alleged financial bankruptcy.

“Today, you are a second-term serving senator. You were laughing with us while you went behind to text opposition messages to hinder our party from having 25 per cent in some local governments,” he added