BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO
LOKOJA – Kogi State Integrity Group, KIG; a body committed to ensuring transparency in governance, has called on individuals parading themselves as leaders of the group especially in Abuja to desist; saying the group has no tentacles beyond the state level.

The group who made this known in a press conference on Sunday in Lokoja warned those involved to desist, or else face the wrath of the law.

The group said those parading themselves in Abuja or other places were being sponsored by some ‘unscrupulous’ politicians trying to tarnish the image of the organisation.

State Chairman of the group, Barrister Zacchaeus Michael while describing the alleged act of impersonation as treacherous and fraudulent said Kogi Integrity Group is registered accordingly under the law and has chapters in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state only.

“We have not extended our tentacles to any part of the country. We called on law enforcement agencies to apprehend anyone parading himself as leader of the group.

“The group is yet to have any branch outside the state. We therefore dissociate ourselves from any other group of persons parading themselves as the Kogi Integrity Group outside the state. Any impostor claiming the identity of our group should be arrested by the law enforcement agencies “, he admonished

Michael said the effort of the group to ensure integrity and transparency in governance of the state has been fruitful as the state government under the ‘New Direction’ leadership Yahaya Bello has continuously opened his doors to critics who genuinely have the interest of the state at heart.

While commending the efforts of the present administration in tackling unemployment through several skill acquisition programmes, the group however urged Senator Dino Melaye to quit pettiness and stop ‘disgracing’ the state with his ignoble public conduct.

“The recent award received by Governor Yahaya Bello from the Inspector General of Police as the best governor on security should be consolidated through unflinching support of relevant stakeholders; the campaign of calumny by Senator Dino Melaye against the state could bring about breach of peace.

The group however appealed to all civil servants undergoing screening and verification exercise to be more patient as billions of naira would be saved from being siphoned on the monthly basis by ghost workers.