The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has revealed that he cut off roads leading to some communities in the State for security reasons with particular interest in protecting the lives and properties of the residents.
Bello is said to have contracted a construction firm to cut off the roads to frustrate elections in certain communities by preventing the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) security agents and other stakeholders from accessing the senatorial district during the Saturday presidential and National Assembly elections.
Operatives of the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday intercepted workers of a Chinese construction firm, CCECC, allegedly engaged by Bello to cut off roads leading to Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The roads lead to the Senatorial district of a Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate in the state, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Speaking on Arise TV on Friday evening, Bello admitted cutting off the roads but cited security reasons.
Speaking on his relationship with Mrs. Uduaghan, Bello said, “I usually avoid talking about her simply because she’s my sister and my subject and I’m bound to provide a level playing ground for everyone to carry out the electioneering process as free as possible and I’ve always provided that.
“Honestly, if you ask me today why she continues to mention my name probably she has not said the truth, why? My name is so sweet in her mouth.
“She goes to bed and dreams it’s Yahaya Bello. If she has any issues with her husband and friends, it’s Yahaya Bello. Anything that goes right or wrong with her it’s Yahaya Bello. ”
On the reason he dug up the road, the Governor added, “So, did I dig some entering and exit roads, yes, I did. I did that because as the chief security officer, I must take every step to protect the lives and property of all at all times.
“Every day, I continue to come up with security measures and improve on it to secure the lives of the people. I study to move ahead of criminals at all times. In 2019 some people were killed and mainly they were our supporters even a day before the 2019 general elections.
“We realised that these criminals did not fly in but moved through the roads and we identified some of these roads. Then comes 2023 and there are indications that these criminals were coming.
“Long before the election, we had mapped out those roads all across Kogi central and other places. All these attacks that were carried out and people killed, these were the roads they passed through.
“And there are other roads people pass through. Those dug roads served as escape routes.
“So what we did was to dig up those roads so that if you commit a crime and try to escape, we’ll catch you. I chose good timing as well because that is when they usually come to commit crimes during the electioneering campaign. We are aware of the machineries that were brought in from different parts of the country.”
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‘Why I Cut Off Roads to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Constituency’ – Yahaya Bello