The executive members and other stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Yagba East Local Government Area, have declared support for Kingsley Femi Fanwo’s (KFF) 2023 House of Representives’ ambition.

The APC members made the declaration on Sunday when KFF and his team paid a Consultation visit to the party Excos in Yagba East Local Government Area of the State.

It would be recalled that KFF had on Saturday took his Consultation visit to Mopamuro and Yagba West LGAs, where the APC executive members and councilors endorsed his candidacy for House of Representives in 2023 elections.

In his remarks, KFF said the consultation visit was to interact with the APC stakeholders in Yagba and to formally declare his intention to represent them at the Green Chambers of the National Assembly; seeking their support.

Fanwo stressed that he has the capacity, experience and capability to deliver a better legislative representation and surpass the achievements of the current lawmaker representing Yagba people at the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

”Though, in terms of human capacity development, the current lawmaker has tried his best, but we will do better.

”When we get the APC ticket, we will defeat him by God’s grace at the general elections,” he said.

KFF, who is the Kogi Commissioner for Information and Communications, restated: ”By the grace of God, 2023 will be different; APC will win and win massively.

He appealed to the people to forgive in whatsoever way he might have offended them, saying, ”our party must be on the path of truth and fairness, so that it can be stronger and better.

”If we get there, we will do it better. Let us unite ourselves and our party; it has to be somebody among us who has been with us”.

Responding, the APC Chairman, Yagba East, Hon. Kehinde Reuben Atteh, welcome KFF and his team for their consultation visit to Yagba East.

He noted that Yagba people had been lagging behind in everything for several years, saying, ”APC is a good party but some of the people there are too greedy”!

He, however assured KFF and his team of the total support of APC Yagba East, while calling for more unity and proper engagement with people at the grassroots.

Earlier, the APC Mopamuro LGA Chairman, Hon. Charles Omoyele; and the Executive Chairman of Mopamuro LGA, Hon. Sunday Moses , in their separate comments, commended the Yagba East APC leaders and executives for the warm reception.

They stressed the need for the party members to forgive one another and unite together to emerge victorious in the 2023 general elections, especially in Yagba land.

According to Omoyele, APC in Yagba needs someone that will be a rallying point that can stand for the people of Yagba anytime anyday.

”Let us look for a House of Representives member that can best represent the interest of our people and KFF is the best person that can fill that vacuum,” Omoyele said.

On his part, Moses appealed to the people to join hands together to support KFF’s ambition, while urging them to forgive any shortcoming noticed.

He re-emphasised that though the incumbent lawmaker representing Yagba, Elder Leke Abejide has tried his best, but insisted that KFF would perform far better.

He, therefore passionately appealed to the people to support KFF, stressing that he is the only APC House of Representives aspirant that is best fit for the job.

Other party executives in their separate comments, assured KFF of their total support and to stand solidly behind him.

They, however urged him not to disappoint Yagba people when he gets there.

End

The Federal Government is set to establish Gold Processing Cluster in Kogi State as part of its programmes in job creation and solid mineral development in the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade disclosed this during her courtesy visit on Yahaya Bello, the state governor on Monday, February 22.

Dr Akinlade stated that Kogi was selected for the North Central Zone owing to the abundant mineral resources in the state.

She disclosed that the state was blessed with all kinds of mineral resources which the government and the people need to take advantage to create wealth for the people.

“Establishment of gold processing plant as well as other facilities that will help local miners in the state will help in boosting the state and nation’s economies, job and wealth creation. The project is to be sited in Mopa Muro Local Government Area of the state” she said.

Responding, the state governor, Yahaya Bello, commended the Federal Government for showing interest in solid mineral development in the country and particularly in Kogi, noting that the state is home to all kinds of solid minerals while urging more investment in the development of the nation’s steel sector.

Bello noted that the setting up of Gold Processing Cluster in Kogi will again drive more investors into the state which he said will surpass investment inflow into the state in the last quarter of the year 2020 when Kogi recorded highest investment inflow in the country.

The governor assured the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development of his administration’s readiness to partner with the ministry in harnessing solid minerals in the state.

He said his deputy, Edward Onoja who oversees the State’s Ministry of Solid Mineral will provide the needed input owing to his background as a Geo-miner.

The Governor, Government and people of Kogi State express deep sympathy over the demise of 14 passengers of a bus involved in a ghastly accident at Old Akpata, along Lokoja-Obajana Road today.
Preliminary reports showed that the accident involved a bus and a truck conveying cement from Obajana.
Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps have been alerted and bodies of the deceased have been evacuated from the scene of the accident.
It is indeed, a sad occurrence and a shame that we lost such promising souls in such a pathetic circumstance.
As a Government, we will strengthen our road safety measures to ensure that avoidable loss of lives are averted.
We also call on the FRSC to intensify its surveillance along the roads and ensure that road users obey traffic laws as well as ensure that only road worthy vehicles ply our roads. Every life is precious.
The Kogi State Government expresses deep shock over this irreparable loss of lives as we pray that God grants families of the deceased the fortitude to bear their losses.

Kingsley Fanwo
Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications

Officials of the Kogi State Government have resolved to pay 80% more than their statutory obligations in order to widen the health insurance opportunities to cater for the indigent citizens. The Policy will also cover all civil servants in the State.
This was stated Wednesday by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo while briefing newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council Meeting. He said the State Executive Council has ratified the proposal in the interest of those who might not be able to afford the insurance policy.
“The Yahaya Bello Administration is about supporting the poor to be able to access Medicare. The administration has been committed to this since 2016 when we launched an initiative to cater for indigent people who need Medicare. Many people across the State benefitted from the initiative.
“The State Executive Council today had extensive deliberations on the National Health Insurance Scheme. We are one of the very few states that have keyed into the scheme to attract the benefits to our people.

“In line with our democratic inclinations, we are engaging all targeted beneficiaries to let them see the benefits and buy into the scheme to make it a huge success. Public engagement has helped our policy implementation as the people take it off our hands and fly with it.

“But what we are doing that other states are not doing is to make Government Officials pay 80% more than they should pay for their health insurance so that we can spread the advantage to homes that wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford the package”.
Fanwo said the Governor Yahaya Bello Administration has successfully “pushed healthcare to the front seat of government social commitment with the belief that health is truly the bedrock of wealth creation”, assuring the people that Government will continue to “take the right decisions to protect their social interests”.
His words: “They kept asking us why we had no Covid-19 when others around us were declaring figures. But they have not asked us why our border communities are recording deaths as a result of Yello Fever when no one died in Kogi State.
“Where are the news media that falsely claimed people died of strange diseases here? They were sponsored by people who couldn’t fathom the medical miracle in Kogi State. No single person died here because our Health Ministry displayed exceptional capacity to prevent Yellow Fever from ravaging us. We prevent rather than chase an unfortunate situation.
“The nation has a lot to learn from Kogi State Health Management System. We have gone far beyond the expectations of our detractors”, he said.
The Information Commissioner said the Health Insurance Scheme which is in line with the BelloCare Policy in the Health Sector, will further crash the mortality rate of the State, saying the Ministry of Information and Communications will work with its Health counterpart to properly sensitize the people about the Scheme which he said will be flagged off before the end of the year by the Governor.

The NCDC in its daily reports of new cases and latest development on the novel virus listed Kogi State for the first time indicating two cases.

The development has caused stir between the government and the NCDC

While the agency was sure of authenticity of the cases, the state government debunked the test results describing it as a means to lure the state into victim states by force.

Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo said the two cases were far from being Covid-19 related cases adding that the Confluence state will always value the lives and healthy living of every citizens by putting every mechanisms in place to avoid the case in the state.

“The declaration of the Two COVID-19 cases in Kogi State was a beautiful fraud.

“The alleged COVID-19 Patient was an Imam who was stung by bees and was rushed to FMC before moving to Abuja.

“The man who was allegedly tested positive showed no symptom of COVID-19.

“14 Members of his family have been traced and tested but turned out negative.

“Two patients have been referred to the state testing centre today by the FMC and they turned out negative.

“NCDC has said all States of the federation must have COVID-19, even when it was only in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun and Kano States but we reject in its entity this fraudulent inclusion of Kogi State on COVID-19 log.

“We have capacity for testing. We are well prepared to curtail and manage any case of COVID-19 but we will not accept fictitious declaration of positive cases. We will continue to ensure the safety of our people.

The total number of COVID19 cases in Nigeria has risen to 8733 with 2501 discharged while 254 have been confirmed dead from the novel virus.

As far as I am concerned, the allegations were concocted to attract undue sympathy, knowing they have no chance at all in the upcoming election.

When I saw the illogically concocted falsehood on social media, I told my supporters to ignore it and concentrate on our campaign. But the decision of The News to be drawn into the partisanship by publishing the one-sided story.
Let me make it clear that my security aides did not molest anyone not threaten anybody. I have a track record of peace and no matter how hard Tope Atte and The News try to make black white, they will not succeed.
I have never been a member of the PDP. It means that I was in the opposition for over 12 years. I understand the rights of members of the opposition and will never do anything to undermine such rights.
Has Tope Atte told the world how the remnants of PDP vandalized APC Campaign materials in Takete Ide and Orokere? Has he told the world how one Sunday Kayagba led ten PDP members to rally on the road and threatened to attack me?
The strategy of the PDP is to cause crisis in Takete Ide, knowing the Ward is one of the strongholds Of APC in the Local Government Area. It is my responsibility to keep our supporters at bay with the eye on the goal.
This morning, the same Sunday Kayagba was personally vandalizing APC Campaign materials. I told my supporters to leave him. Security agents should take note of this glaring provocation.
On our part as a party and as leaders, we will be loyal to unwavering commitment of our Principal, Governor Yahaya Bello to ensure peace before, during and after the election.
I urge our supporters to keep campaigning hard and sell our policies and programs. We won’t be drawn to their track of violence. I have not met Mr Tope Atte in the last few months.
Let me say clearly here that I do not need violence to win elections convincingly in Takete Ide. My connection with the people has always spoken for me. Mr Tope Atte should check his records: We won all the four elections in February and March without violence. We will win again on November 16; even better now that my leader, Hon. Eric Fiki has joined the party of the Progressives. PDP leaders in the Ward should stop the drumbeats of war. We want peace and we don’t want any harm to our people who have shown tremendous support for our brand of politics.
I will also urge Mr Tope Atte to read his fiction again and see the illogic in it. He should withdraw his malicious publication against my person and members of my family.
Legally and institutionally, we will protect our supporters’ right to franchise.
Let me also assure my supporters across the state that I am still the man of peace they know. I have forgiven Mr Tope Atte and his brother who threatened me via text messages. We are not cowards but we won’t sacrifice our position in the November 16 race. We will defend our people and defend our votes.
We love our respective communities and will continue to do our best for the people regardless of the position of a few people who want to call dog a bad name in order to hand it.
We come in peace, but we mean business.
Let’s Do More.