The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Saturday, said he took proactive steps to avert impending chaos that would have resulted in the loss of lives and property at the annual celebration of Kabba Day in Kabba in the Western Senatorial Zone of the state.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Petra Onyegbule, told reporters that the governor’s inability to make a scheduled appearance at the event was to prevent a possible insurrection that might disrupt peace at the event.
Onyegbule said that the alleged attack on Senator Dino Melaye by some aggrieved Kogi west youths would have been worsened if the governor was present at the event, saying, as the father of the state, the governor decided to stay off to avert further violence.
As the chief security officer of the state, whose job is to ensure the protection and safety of lives and property of the citizens, Gov Bello is committed to making sure that the onerous task of ensuring the safety of the entire citizens was never compromised.
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According to her, the governor has said it countless times that no single life is worth being lost for any political misunderstanding.
“If my appearance would hurt anyone, I would rather stay away and let everyone be at peace. Kogi is for all of us, and together we shall build the state of our dream.”
The governor, however, urged the youths to shun any act of violence that could disrupt peace across the state, stressing that every life is important to him, irrespective of who is involved.
The governor felicitated with the good people of Kabba on the occasion of the event and wished them happy celebrations.
The Governor announced the donation of the sum of N20 million by the State Government to support the progress of the good people of Kabba.
The governor earlier had a meeting with traditional rulers, some elites and political office holders from Kabba/Bunu LGA before he left for Lokoja.
A member of the House of Representatives representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf and other key politicians from the area were present at the meeting.
Earlier at the event on, some aggrieved youths in Kabba town disgracefully sent Senator Melaye out of Kabba Township Stadium, the venue of the celebration, due to his poor representation of Kogi west at the upper chamber.
Melaye, who is representing Kogi West in the Senate, got the shocker when he joined other dignitaries for the celebrations in Kabba.
His supporters had earlier hailed him as he entered the venue of the event, but the tide suddenly changed when some Irate youths jeered and attacked him.
The mob followed him outside the stadium, pelted his convoy with stones and pure water as he hurriedly departed the venue to avoid being completely mobbed.
The mob claimed that he was not representing the zone well in the national assembly and was busy fighting the leaders who are helping them at home.
The Senator escaped been hurt by whiskers but the windscreen of a vehicle in his convoy were smashed by the angry youths.
