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| Yahaya Bello. |
The governor of Kogi
State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello this morning, sent words of felicitation to Muslims
in Kogi State as they join the umma in Nigeria and all over the world to
celebrate this year’s Eid-El-Kabir.
The governor says that
the Hajj is a cardinal tenet of the Islamic faith as enjoined by Prophet
Mohammed (May Peace Be Upon Him) which recognises the duty of every Muslim who
can to perform it. This is why we continue to do what we can to facilitate the
trip to the Holy Land for our people, especially those who cannot otherwise
afford it without some help.
Though small in itself
and increasingly dependent on the resources of the individual pilgrim, our
effort in supporting pilgrimages, Yahaya Bello says, for both Muslims and
Christians, are an important display of our respect for faith in, and worship
of, the Almighty as the greatest force for good in humanity, and the integral
origin of peace for the individual, and for society.
Continuing, the
governor said that during Hajj, the world's largest and most diverse gathering,
over two million Muslims from all walks of life - including hundreds and
thousands of Kogi and Nigerian Muslims respectively - will stand in prayer on
Mount Arafat today. The following day, which falls on 11th August this year (10
Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1440 AH in the Umm-Al-Qura calendar), Muslims around the world
will celebrate Eid-ul-Adha to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice
his son in obedience to God.
We not only mark
Eid-ul-Adha, we perform our own acts of ibada - sacrifice, friendship,
generosity, mercy, forgiveness - indeed every act which proves our love for
Allah and for our fellow humans, with the most widespread being the
distribution of food and other gift items to the less privileged.
I sincerely
congratulate, Yahaya Bello goes further to say, all believers who successfully
undertook the Eid-El-Kabir this year. As they conclude the rites of the Hajj
and prepare to return home, we all join them in offering special prayers for
greater security, peace, unity and progress in our dear state and country, as
well as for the peaceful and successful conduct of the next gubernatorial
elections in Kogi State.
My New Direction
administration has done its best in the last three and a half years to
implement our New Direction Blueprint, our agenda for moving Kogi State forward
to the ‘Next Level’ on all fronts.
Of course, the
progress we have made would not have been possible without the sacrifice,
understanding and commitment of our citizens. In particular, our civil servants
have had to exercise uncommon patience as we laboured to sanitise and digitise
our workforce and payroll.
I am therefore
overjoyed that we have been able to update to July, 2019 payments to every
cleared worker. I appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari's for his roles getting
the the Bailout to us. It is heartwarming to note that today, Kogi State
government no longer owes its Civil Servants. We intend to keep payments prompt
going forward.
I thank the many
individuals, stakeholders, groups, associations, non-governmental
organisations, unions and political leaders from across the state and beyond,
who have, in recognition of our commitment to repositioning our dear state for
more rapid growth and development, supported my decision to seek a second term
in office.
In deciding to
approach Kogites for a renewal of the mandate which Almighty God who rules in
the affairs of men bestowed upon me in such exceptional circumstances about 37
months ago, I am not running on sympathy, but on a record of landmark
achievements, and the need to consolidate them.
It remains my
objective in government to empower our people beyond class segregations, tribal
distrust and religious divides. I will refuse any ambition, in myself or in any
of my aides, which comes at cross-purposes with our collective aspirations for
greatness in Kogi State neither will I permit any sectional agenda to take
root, both within and outside government.
I give our people my
solemn assurance that I will not relent in placing the overall interests of
State above all else if they entrust me with a second term in office on
November 16. The pursuit of happyness, harmony, cohesion, unity, security,
political stability, progress, equity, justice and above all prosperity which
formed the bedrock of my first term will still characterise my second
term.
On this most
auspicious of days, I enjoin the political class, myself included, to put Kogi
State above all else. As we campaign towards the elections, politicians must
rise above unpatriotic selfish interests and divisive agenda in their words and
actions.
Government will
continue to guard jealously the peace and security, especially the
inviolability of the person and property, which the Almighty God has enabled us
to bring our people, and to which Kogites have become accustomed. Those who
will attempt to rupture same or reverse our gains in this regard in their quest
for political power at all costs will find us both vigilant and unforgiving.
As we celebrate the
Eid-El-Kabir, I once again urge all of us to rededicate and commit ourselves to
the injunctions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for piety, sacrifice,
honesty, charity and generosity to the less privileged, impartiality in
governance and true justice for everyone. These virtues and the lessons of
Eid-el-Kabir will surely stand our state in good stead as we continue our
journey into the Next Level in fulfillment.
May the blessings of
Almighty Allah be upon all our compatriots who have undertaken the Hajj this
year, on those of us who could not for one reason or the other, and upon our
dear state, Kogi.
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