Rolls-Royce: Why are our politicians this criminally cruel? — Kakanda

It is all heating up in Kogi State as the people prepare for yet another round of election in a politically active year which began with the general elections back in February.



For all who followed political developments coming from the State, both before and after the general elections, it comes as no surprise that "accidental" governor Yahaya Bello has earned the support of his political benefactors in the February 23rd elections. Call it a mutual thing and you won't be far from the truth.


Partisanship aside, we all can agree that Buhari's administration isn't known for being generous. So, forgive Nigerians for questioning the motive behind the N10b cash gift given to Governor Yahaya Bello at a time the State is heading to the polls to decide their next governor. And yes, you wouldn't expect the president to call it (N10b) a gift for obvious reasons. However, when Bello's former deputy agreed that the money given or returned to the governor is unjustifiable, you've gotten all the answers you need.




But that's not the whole and most interesting part of the story. Governor Yahaya Bello whom many ranked as the worst performing governor since APC came to power in 2015, reportedly gifted a Rolls-Royce worth $450,000 to an influential monarch believed to be capable of influencing votes in the state.

This among other dubious acts by the desperate governor, obviously didn't go down well with critics who still wonder why the electorates who have been subjected to untold hardship for the past four years, still give themselves up for manipulation at the polls or by some traditional chiefs in the country.




Gimba Kakanda particularly, reacted to the news of the gifted Rolls-Royce by Yahaya Bello, calling it an action that is very "disturbing".

What’s the logic of buying a $450,000 Rolls-Royce for a monarch when you can’t pay your workers? Why are our politicians this criminally cruel? Yahaya Bello was expected to justify youth inclusion in governance. Even though he’s not our representative, his actions are disturbing.

— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) October 27, 2019

He said, "What’s the logic of buying a $450,000 Rolls-Royce for a monarch when you can’t pay your workers? Why are our politicians this criminally cruel? Yahaya Bello was expected to justify youth inclusion in governance. Even though he’s not our representative, his actions are disturbing."


You may choose to give the APC the benefit of doubt that the unjustifiable N10b given to the state and the gifted Rolls-Royce won't be used to sway votes on election day. But considering what happened in previous governorship elections especially in Edo, Ekiti, and Osun States, it's hard to see Kogi State being an exception.