I am an epitome of transparency, says Yahaya Bello

Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, has described himself as an epitome of transparency.

Responding to the allegation that he mismanaged the N30 billion bailout fund recently released by the federal government, Bello said those who made the claims were out to tarnish his reputation.

He said he has put in place mechanism for “stringent financial management” in order to make people the biggest beneficiaries of the policies of his administration.

Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), an Abuja-based civil society group, made several allegations against Bello, calling on anti-graft agencies to probe his administration.

But responding in an article written on his behalf by Kingsley Fanowo, his chief press secretary, Bello said he will not be distracted.

“Since the inception of the present administration, transparency and accountability has been the bulwark of its bond of trust with the people of the State. For the first time in the history of Kogi state, government came public on her bank accounts and graphic records of income and expenditure. Not out of compulsion but because of her belief in doing what is right,” the statement read.

“Governor Yahaya Bello has put in place mechanism for stringent financial management by government to make the people the biggest beneficiaries of government policies.  That is why when some insignificant characters tell some lies as faceless as they are, government officials wave it off.

“For instance, it is laughable and ludicrous for these faceless characters to insinuate that the present administration collected N18 billion naira as allocations for 6 months whereas, the actual amount that came to the state in that duration was N13, 118, 150, 265.78.

“Their arithmetic fallacies show they are striving to squeeze truth from falsehood, which is just ludicrous. Those who seek accountability must as a matter of principle come to the table with verifiable information and facts. Failing to do this renders the exercise carried out as an insult to the intelligence of rational thinkers and people of conscience.

“It is also laughable to claim that N20 million is being deducted from the account of each local government area every month and submitted to the office of the chief of staff to the governor. In their confusion, the political desperados failed to tell the world that government has paid six months salaries within six months. The local government councils in the state has accounting officers.”