Faleke knocks Bello for comparing himself to Buhari

macfranc007 December 28, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Aanu Adegun

- James Faleke says it is hypocritical for Governor Yahaya Bello to compare himself to President Muhammadu Buhari

- He said there was no basis for comparison between the two

- Faleke says Nigeria had never witnessed the present scale of maladministration since its creation 26 years ago

The former running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu in the 2015 governorship election in Kogi State, James Faleke, has said it is hypocritical for Governor Yahaya Bello to compare himself to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, stated that there was no basis for comparison between the two, alleging that Kogi state had never witnessed the present scale of maladministration since its creation 26 years ago.

He said these at his country home in Ekirin-Ade in the Ijumu Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday while celebrating his birthday.

The federal lawmaker added, “I heard Governor Yahaya Bello compares himself to President Muhammadu Buhari, and I have said it openly and I am saying it again that President Buhari, in character, behaviour, in his observance of religious ethics, in his conduct, relationship with people, he is the complete opposite of the governor.

“When the President was the chairman of PTF, he had every opportunity to own petrol stations all over the country but he did not have one filling station. That is a man of character.

“Throughout his stay as the PTF boss and as military Head of State, he only owned one bungalow in his home town, a three bedroom bungalow. He never lived a lavish lifestyle.

“So, if anybody says he is emulating the President, that person must be of good conduct; that person must behave the way the President behaves in terms of payment of salaries to workers.”

Faleke wondered what the state had done with a series of bailouts it had received from the Federal Government.

He stated, “When the President came on board, he gave all the governors bailout to pay workers. Kogi got N20bn as the first tranche. Unfortunately till today, our people are still in abject poverty and Kogi happens to be a civil service state.

“Hence, when civil servants are not paid, petty traders will not have any business because their business depends on the salaries of civil servants to survive.

“I can tell you that since the present administration came on board, each local government in Kogi State has collected a minimum of N2.1bn from January to December, each month, unfortunately our people are still in abject poverty.

Admitting that he was in the same All Progressives Congress as the governor, he said he would not keep quiet in the face of maladministration.

In what appeared to be his first signal that he will contest the 2019 election, Faleke promised to rescue Kogi State from maladministration in the next governorship election.

“I tell you on the Election Day, it is going to be your ballot paper and the voter card; those are what will decide your future. If you want the situation to remain the way it is, the card is in your hand. If you want to change, the card is also in your hand,” Faleke said.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported the Kogi state government on Friday, December 22, commenced the payment of workers’salary arrears from September to December by 60 per cent.

This is contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Idris Asiru issued to newsmen in Lokoja.

The commissioner said that the state government regretted its inability to pay 100 per cent of the salary arrears across board for the four months.

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