RIGHT OF REPLY: "KOGI IS NOT SAFE" - SGF

RIGHT OF REPLY: "KOGI IS NOT SAFE" - SGF

Our attention has been drawn to an unsubstantiated health status report on Kogi state credited to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha.

We very much believe this unproven health report is intended to ensure investors are scared from coming to Kogi state. Despite the task force unreliable figures, Kogi emerged the most favoured investment destination of Nigeria in the last quarter of 2020. They felt embarrassed and the best way to hit back is to create a picture of a health crisis in the state. 

We were the first state to procure face masks in thousands and distributed to all the LGAs. We were the first state to set up a Squadron Team to combat the spread of the pandemic. We set up Isolation Centres with state-of-the-art equipment. 

We have carried out sensitisation programmes more than any other state. So if we don't believe COVID-19 exists, we won't be doing all we are doing to ensure it doesn't ravage our state.

What we said and still saying is that COVID-19 is not worth all the commercialisation under the guise of sensitisation going on, just for a few to make billions of naira. This is our position, we do not have to impoverish innocent Nigerians while a few smiles to the banks, in the name of COVID-19, as we can't afford a deeper recession as a country. 

The cases reported in Kogi were fraudulent. So how do we believe NCDC? They have given us every reason to see them as an agency not working in the interest of public good. 

The NCDC data is unreliable and they are inconsistent. We are fine in Kogi state and do not accept their scaremongering. It was an attempt to intimidate our state, scare investors away and cause unnecessary panic. It is an attack on the good people of Kogi State and we will defend our people against the merchants of fear and despair. 

We won't submit the lives and psychology of our people to those who have turned COVID-19 to a business venture and amassing wealth for 2023 general elections, including but not limited to, purchasing the vice presidency slot. 

Our able Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello had earlier advised and proffered a robust synergy between science and common sense; medicine and governance, to combat the pandemic. However, desperate politicians have hijacked the process for their selfish gains. We shouldn't play politics with COVID-19.

We won't sit by and watch the enemies of Nigeria infect Kogi with their fear and marketing for fiduciary reasons. We will not hesitate to seek legal redress against any government official, no matter how highly placed or agency, that attempts to blackmail or peddle falsehood against Kogi state.

Kogi is safe. Investors are coming in. We are improving our infrastructure and doing more for the people. 

We refuse to join hands with naysayers and political jobbers to push our people into more poverty. Enough is enough. We should stop punishing the poor and defenceless unnecessarily. 

Governor Yahaya Bello will not change his position on this. Why must you change from the lane of truth and integrity? They are the people battling with their conscience. They should know that poverty is dangerous. They should desist from oppressing the people of this country. They should stop destroying the good intentions of Mr President. Anyone can aspire to be Vice President. But we must not use our position to misrepresent facts and de-market our nation.

Kogi state is on the path of success and remains on the path of greatness; most importantly, Kogi state leadership is unstirred by the reckless, irresponsible and unscientific claims reported a few days ago. Nigerians do not believe the NCDC anymore as they are subjected to daily abuse by Nigerians. This is perhaps the reason for NCDC's stoppage of receiving feedback and comments on its Twitter handle. They are afraid of the hard truth! 

The samples they collected from Kogi, where are they? They are deceiving this nation. We won't be a party to their deceit and false claims, even in the face of threat and intimidation.

On a final note, this is a stern warning to any person, group of persons or agency thinking of rubbishing the great strides of Kogi state and its leadership, Kogi state will not hesitate to deal decisively and legally with respect to any future unsubstantiated claim or report, health status or otherwise.

Thank you.

Media and Publicity

Kogi State.