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Gov. Bello Urges Politicians to End Use of Thugs

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has said Politicians should stop using thugs and criminals during elections.

Bello made this statement yesterday during his appearance on Channels Television breakfast program, Sunrise Daily. He noted that if politicians stop using this, Nigeria will be safe and secure.

“When politicians begin to stop the use of thugs, touts, or some group of criminals, that is when we will begin to have safety and security.”

Bello stated that political thuggery and use of ‘boys’ during elections was predominant before his succession, but he never got involved, describing it as “dangerous politics.” Bello also stated that contrary to what is in the public space, he won the November 16, 2019 Governorship Poll without the use of ‘boys’ or thugs. Governor Bello was reelected on the platform of the All Progressive Congress in 2019.

According to him: “When I came on board, I inherited a state that was largely divided along several lines. To aspire to be anything politically in Kogi State then, you must have what we call ‘boys’ or thugs or touts and then use it to intimidate people during political dispensations.

“Once the political exercise is over, the so-called boys or thugs or foot soldiers would be abandoned and left to themselves, and by that, they breed into something else or a hydra-headed monster that you will not be able to curb at the end of the day. There are several histories, records, and intelligence to that effect across the country.

“But I refused to play that kind of dangerous or unnecessary politics when I came on board. My ascension to the office is known to everybody across the world. I chose my path immediately and decided to deal with criminals irrespective of political affiliations by simply utilising the laws passed by the Kogi State House of Assembly and the existing security architecture,” he said.

“I won my election free and square. The police, the DSS, the military, and all law enforcement agencies have their facts. Please don’t listen to the lies they peddle out there. When I see those things, I laugh and say how I wished they come to Kogi State to see themselves.

“There was no time in my campaign that any of my supporters or followers goes into the destruction of billboards, signposts, or installations of the state government, before, during, and after the election. I can say this boldly.”

Bello swelled that the State runs an open-door policy, which is going well for the people.

Meanwhile, earlier, Bello had alleged President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to secure the frustrated country politicians.
He said security agencies should uncover those undermining the efforts to make the country safe and called for substantial prosecutions against the saboteurs.

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