Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, says COVID-19 is not the business of the people in his State, adding that he would not participate in the public vaccination of governors and that he would not force the people of Kogi to take it.
Bello disclosed this while speaking on a Channels Television programme on Friday.
The governor has repeatedly denied the existence of the virus in his state saying COVID-19 is the “minute aspect” of what the state is currently addressing.
He said, “It is a disease that has been imported, propagated, and forced on the people for no just cause. Whether medical experts and scientists, believe it or not, COVID-19 is out to shorten the lifespan of the people, it is a disease propagated by force for Nigerians to accept.”
When asked during the programme if he would take the vaccine publicly as expected of governors, Bello said, “Mr. President is the leader of this country, I respect him so much, all of us respect him so much, we love him and he is leading by example. If he needs to take the vaccine and he takes it, it’s a welcome development as far as I’m concerned.
“I, as a person, don’t need to take the vaccine. Nothing is wrong with me. I am hale and hearty. I am 100 percent healthy; I can give you my health report anytime you desire it. So, if I’m not ill, I won’t take any vaccine.”
He was also asked if he would encourage the people of the state to take the vaccine, and he said anyone interested could go ahead.
He said, “COVID-19 is not our business in Kogi State. We have more pertinent issues that we are attending to in Kogi State. Insecurity and disunity that we met have been tackled. COVID-19 is just a minute aspect of what we are handling in Kogi State. There has been an outbreak of Lassa fever and this we handled without making a noise about it.
“If the Federal Government is gracious enough and gave us COVID-19 vaccine, we are equally going to sensitize our people to it and whoever wants to take it should come forward and take the vaccine, but I am not going to subject the people of Kogi State to vaccination; I won’t make them guinea pigs.”
