From James Azania, Lokoja

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has called on friends and perceived foes to put aside differences, politics, ideology or affiliation and join his administration to give the state the best of governance.

Bello is Kogi’s fourth executive governor.

The governor made the call yesterday after taking his oath of office for a second time. The oath was administered by the Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah.

He promised that his second term will be with a revitalised energy in delivering refocused governance.

Bello called on all and sundry to support the government in achieving its laudable programmes for the development of the state.

He said: “My primary allegiance as governor will remain to Kogi State and her citizens, not to party or tribe. Everyone is my citizen and I owe everyone the protections and fidelities inherent in the office.

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“It is on this note that I enjoin all Kogites to look forward to the next four years with optimism and great expectation. We will do everything in our power as government to make sure the state is productive, prosperous and peaceful.”

Governor Bello promised sustained focus on agriculture for improved food security, employment and increase in internally generated revenue, saying the agricultural revolution which he started in his first term would be taking to the next level of development.

“Specifically, rice, cassava, cashew, aquaculture and livestock will remain the bedrock of our activities in the agricultural sector. We will also pay greater attention to human capital development by investing more in training our people for enhanced relevance in a technologically evolving future.

“We will embark on large scale urban renewal projects that would further transform Lokoja into a resilient capital city with modern utilities attractive to tourists,” Bello added.

The swearing in held at the Glass House of the Government House in Lokoja. Governors who attended include Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Atiku Bagaudu (Kebbi); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Abdulrahman Abdulrasak (Kwara); Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo); Maimala Bunu (Yobe) and Baba Gana Zulum (Borno).