A Lawyer and Public Affairs analyst, Mr. Akoji James Ogbadu has condemned the Social Democratic Party (SDP) supporters who mobilized thugs and miscreants to the EFCC headquarters Abuja on Friday, demanding the arrest of the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello over what the group called “Looting of Kogi State Treasury In The last Eight Years”.
Akoji expressed dismay by the supporters of SDP over the unorganized demonstration of shame at the EFCC. He said as a citizen of Kogi State who overtime appreciates the abundant qualities of Kogi people felt embarrassed by the Simon Achuba led protest. He described the event as efforts and tactics to blackmail the EFCC into arresting the former Governor unjustly. The Public Affairs Analyst believes the EFCC knows how to do their job with laid down procedures and processes.
Akoji said he was a major critic of the former Governor until December 2023 when he took his time to do a comprehensive review of the achievements of the former Governor vis-a-vis the total inflows from FAAC to Kogi State accrued in the Eight Years of Bello.
Akoji stated “I took my time to go through the entire Kogi State Projects Gazette and I was amazed by the achievements of the former Governor.
“He said as a public affairs analyst who has monitored Income and Expenditures of other States in Nigeria, was shocked that the former Deputy Governor who led the protest to EFCC did not take cognisant of the fact that Kogi State Government under Yahaya Bello had their entire financials published on the Kogi State website and it made it easy for public scrutiny and accountability.
Akoji said the most painful issue was the fact that Simon Achuba who served as Deputy Governor under Yahaya Bello in his first term did not realize that the Kogi State financials from 2016 till date are online for the public to see.
He stated clearly that, if Bello alone took N80bn as claimed by Achuba, how will the State under Yahaya Bello have achieved so much.
Mr. Akoji highlighted some projects such as follows:
1. Construction of Hassan Katisina/Mount Patti Road
2. Rehabilitation/ Asphalt overlay of Chari Maigumeri Ring road/street lightening
3. Construction/Rehabilitation of lokoja township Road Lot ll
3. Construction/Rehabilitation of lokoja township Road Lot III
4. Construction/rehabilitation of lokoja township Road Lot I
5. Agassa upogoro Road with spur to Auchi Byepass, Okene
6. Rehabilitation/Asphalt overlay of Obehira/Ihima Road with spur to Obangede
7. Ogori-Magongo Road
8. Construction of Ogaminana/Ebogogo/Total junction spur Ebogogo-Eika-Itakpe Road
9. Construction of Otokiti/Ganaja Dual carriageway
10. Construction of 19.84km Okene Township Roads
11. Grade separation intersection (flyover bridges) at Ganaja junction, lokoja
12. Rehabilitation of 4.7km paparanda square/Nataco junction ( Dual carriageway) lokoja
13. Rehabilitation of 5km lokoja township Road
14. River Niger shoreline protection and Beach Embankment
15. Beautification and Landscaping of Beach Embankment
16. Construction of 9km zone 8 roundabout to GYB junction
17. Rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of 13.71km Itakpe junction -Total junction Okene Road
18. Construction of 3.72km internal road networks for phase II development of CUSTECH Osara
19. Reconstruction of 5.5km zone 8 / crusher dual carriageway
20. Renovation work at school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
21. Conversation of old male hostel to classroom
22. Renovation of old staff office block and demonstration block
23. Ditto,Hall A & B
24. Ditto, library block
25. Renovation of main Governor’s office and other residential (II) quarters Government house lokoja
26. Renovation of DSS official quarters at G.R.A lokoja
27. Completion of debt management office at ministry of finance
28. Construction of admin building for graphic newspaper co-operation
29. Construction of official residence of SSG kogi state
30. Landscaping of Secretariat phase I
31. Construction of a chapel in Government house, lokoja
32. Construction and remodeling of presidential lodge Government house lokoja
33. Construction and rehabilitation of Government house Mosque lokoja
34. Construction of fence and gate house at graphics newspaper co-operation
35. Construction of new hostel, block for school of nursing Obangede
36. Construction of admin building school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
37. Construction of gate house tower and approach fence at school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
38. Construction of fence at school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
39. Construction of clinic for school of nursing and midwifery Obangede
40. Construction of 50 bed capacity hostel block govt. Girls Sec. School Obangede (lot 2)
41. Re-construction of admin block at Okene (lot A)
42. Reconstruction of ministry of justice building including external works lot B
43. Construction of Government Lodge Okene
44. Renovation of Adavi market
45. Ministry of Transport
46. Renovation of FM transmitter house at mount Patti lokoja
47. Construction of office complex for civil engineering department ministry of works
48. Construction of Army camp ( police camp)
49. Renovation of the office building of the secretary to the government of kogi state
50. Construction of proposed remand home and rehabilitation center, lokoja
51. Remodeling/ redesign of kogi state hotels
52. Construction of Muhammadu Buhari civic center
53. 53. Construction of kogi state ministry of justice office complex
54. Construction of ultra modern general hospital complex
55. Construction of ultra modern general hospital complex
56. Construction of rehabilitation of mobile police squadron unit, Oro, Okene
57. Renovation and construction of admin block of specialist hospital, lokoja
58. Construction of GYB model Science secondary school Adankolo
59. Renovation and remodeling of GGSS Oboroke
60. Construction of a new central reference hospital
61. Renovation and remodeling of Old general hospital Okene
62. Construction of senate building of confluence university of science and Tech, (CUSTECH) Osara
63. Construction of computing and informatics at CUSTECH
64. Construction of faculty of basic medical and health science at CUSTECH
65. construction of faculty of engineering at CUSTECH
66. Construction of university library and supply of furniture at CUSTECH Osara
67. External works remodeling and psychiatric building at specialist hospital lokoja
68. Construction of GYB model Science secondary school Ogaminana
69. Construction of GYB model technical college Oboroke Ihima
70. Construction of GYB model Science secondary school, iruvucheba
71. Lokoja, Banda/ kotonkarfe 33KVA trunkline
72. Electrification project
73. Wireless powered traffic signal light system
74. Upgrading of 33KV line at state secretariat
75. Upgrading of 33KV line at kogi state specialist hospital lokoja
76. Installation of solar powered streetlights 120 units along major roads in lokoja: zenith – Govt. Day Sec. School, Andankolo.
Federal university road – Dunamis junction.
Fen junction – Kogi Circle.
House of assembly roundabout completion
77. Procurement and Installation of 388 units of three-in-one solar powered streetlights for Okene Township Roads
78. Procurement and Installation of 404 units All-in-one solar powered streetlights for confluence university of science and technology, Osara
79. Procurement of 3No. Advance fire truck
80. Procurement of accessories and equipment for advance fire truck (3No).
81. Construction of Ibana/Okpo-Ogugu/ Ette Road
82. Idah / Ajaka / Ejule/ Ayingba junction Road
83. Rehabilitation of Ankpa – Abejukolo Road
84. Construction of Ankpa Township Roads (Lot7)
85. Construction of Odenyi/Oguma/Sheria Road project
86. Construction of some selected structures in Attah Igala palace
87. Construction of Ankpa Market
88. Construction of New Ultra-Modern Clinical complex in Prince Abubakar Audu University Hospital, Ayingba
89. Remodeling of community secondary school Ajiyolo-Ojaji
90. Construction of GYB model Science secondary school Idah
91. Odolu-Efu Primary Health care Clinic
92. Agbada water Project
93. Solar power lights in Oganenigwu community
94. Payment of WAEC Fees
95. Payment of JAMB Fees
96. Construction of Bassa Road
97. Provisions of medical equipment to Zonal Hospital
98. Implementation of 100% Hazard Allowance for Medical Practitioners
99. Rehabilitation of Road at the 200 Units, Lokoja
100. And many more
Mr. Akoji further disclosed that Kogi State stands as Number 1 in fiscal accountability and Transparency amongst all State in Nigeria and that the former Governor, His Commissioner for Finance, the State Accountant General, State Auditor General and Auditor General for Local Government are all Chatered Accountants, no wonder the transparency in the income and Expenditures of Kogi State remains an open document online real time.
He advised Rt. Hon Simon Achuba to desist from shameful acts due to political differences with his former boss, as it will put the image and reputation of Kogi State in negative perspectives amongst the Committee of State. Akoji used the platforms to commend the former Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his achievements and urge him to continue to display high level of maturity as he was known for, which earned him several awards on Security, Infrastructural Development and Transparency by the President and other reputable organizations in Nigeria and globally.
