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COVID-19 vaccine? No, thank you – Yahaya Bello, Kogi Governor
BY KAZIE UKO
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has counted himself out of the list of state governors that have lined up to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some state governors have already indicated intention to be inoculated with the vaccine in public glare on Saturday.
But Yahaya Bello featuring on Channels Television Politics Today on Friday, told anchor person Seun Okinbaloye, that he has more serious issues of governance to contend with in Kogi than to bother with the COVID-19 vaccine.
“COVID-19 is not our business in Kogi State. We have more serious issues that we’re attending to in Kogi. Insecurity, we met on ground and several others. Disunity, we met it on ground and we have united Kogi State, today, not COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is just a minute problem of what we’re treating or handling in Kogi,” an unfazed Bello responded to a question whether he would allow citizens take the vaccine.
READ: Kogi State Gov Yahaya Bello warns COVID-19 vaccine meant to kill
He continued: “If the federal government is gracious enough and give us the COVID-19 vaccine, we will equally sensitise our people and whoever wishes to take will come and take. But I’m not going to subject the people of Kogi State to vaccination or I will not make them guinea pig.”
When told that President Buhari will be taking his own shot of the vaccine on Saturday and directly asked if he would also take it, Bello went into long rhetoric about how he loved the President and finally demurred.
He said: “If he (Buhari) needs to take the vaccine and he takes it, it is a welcome development. As far as I’m concerned, I, as a person, I don’t need to take vaccine, nothing is wrong with me. I’m hale and hearty, 100 percent healthy. I can give you my health report anytime you desire it… I won’t take any vaccine.”