Iokoja
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has said that the bitter experience his late mother, Hajia Hawau Bello went through in the hands of her abductors for 93 days in captivity further fuelled his resentment to crime and criminality in life.
Bello said this when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by the state Council chairman, Alhaji Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh paid him a condolence visit on Thursday in Lokoja.
He disclosed that his late mother admonished him to secure lives and property in the state, in view of the the trauma she experienced in the hands of the kidnapper in 2012.
“She asked me to continue to secure the lives and property of the good people of Kogi state and ensure that what she suffered in the hands of the kidnappers in 2012, where she was kept inside a cave for 93 days, no one should ever suffer such condition.
“That is why, aside what is enshrined in the constitution and laws, to protect lives and property and provide welfare for the people, I am always carried and encouraged by the words of my mother to ensure that Kogi state is safe and secured and I will continue to do that.
“I will continue to do that to the best of my ability and with the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, you, the journalists and all our prayerful and wonderful people of Kogi state “he said.
On his late mother, Bello said: “My mother, Hajia Hawau Bello, lived a virtuous life. She came to this world in a very wonderful, extra-ordinary qnd miraculous way, going by history that I was told.
“She lived greatly, very humble but great. In our community then, whenever there was dispute on any issue that required mediation, however tough or hard it might be, when my mother is called upon and she goes in there there is a solution.
“Everybody regarded and referred to her as a ‘solution provider’ whenever there was any dispute and they so much accorded her respect and love for that.
“She brought us up in a very virtuous way, she taught us how to be contented with the little or the much we have, she taught us how to be patient, be prayerful and to respect elders.
“Because she gave birth to me in a miraculous way and the gap between myself and my next sister is over 10 years, nobody would ever imagine that she would have me any longer and I grew up under her.
“She me how to respect others,focused and be brave to confront the challenges of this world.
“She taught me how to be successful in whatever I am doing and she admonished and encouragef me to live in the fear of the almighty God and to touch all lives positively,”
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The governor, who was full of gratitude to God added, “My mother lived gloriously and she departed gloriously.
“How much more glory should I have asked from God? What more should I ask from God? “That a pious woman, a virtuous woman lived up to this age and having her last born rise to the highest position as far as Kogi state is concerned and passing away in a very peaceful manner.
“I should thank Almighty Allah for granting all this great glory and I know that departing this world, she has moved closer to God upon which all her prayers for us will be answered.
“I will continue to live with the fear of the almighty God to discharge my duties and responsibilities, with the fear of Almighty Allah to the good people of kogi state and beyond.
Earlier, Alhaji Adeiza Momoh-Jimoh, the Chairman of the council, commiserated with the governor on the death of his mother and prayed Allah to grant her aljanah firdusi.