Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has denied reports that he misappropriated the State funds.
Bello spoke with State House correspondents on Monday at the sidelines of the induction of new and returning governors at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
He said his administration had been transparent and could not be termed corrupt.
According to him, the state’s finances, starting from bailout funds to Paris Club refunds and bank statements were published in dailies.
He added that with the little resources the state was generating, his administration has been able to achieve a lot of infrastructural development, security among others.
“This is what was not done for the state in the past 20 years of Kogi State’s existence before I came on board but under three years we were able to achieve all these successes.
“Probably some might think we were using stones or sand to do all these but this is the prudent management of resources and the good hands that we were able to recruit in my cabinet and in governance in the state.
“So those that are making such comment; it is a strategy; it is either that they want me to perform more or they are simply living in oblivion.
”They don’t know anything that is happening in the state and they cannot participate in state’s politics as it stands today because we are doing politics of inclusiveness or exclusiveness, the way it was done in the past,” he said.
On recent remarks allegedly made by the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, that he would not support him for a second term office, the governor said he did not believe the royal father would say so.
He said that the traditional ruler is like a father to him and could not have said such that about a son that restored the real value of the traditional institution.
Bello said he had repositioned the state in terms of security, addressing lopsided employment among others.
“You know what security situation used to be in the state and Ebiraland and today we are having a different story.
“He should not be misquoted by the press or anybody.
“The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is a revered person; we hold him in very high esteem; he will continue to be my father; my great supporter and by the grace of God, he is urging me to re-contest and also to do more than what I have done in this first term,” NAN quoted him as saying.
The governor added that he was giving the traditional ruler assurance that he would not disappoint him in terms of performance.
