Buhari Arrives In Kogi To Inaugurate Governor Bello’s Projects Shortly After Deadly Explosion At Monarch’s Palace

Nigeria's number one man, President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Kogi State.

Buhari landed in Lokoja, Kogi State capital to inaugurate Governor Yahaya Bello’s legacy projects across the state.

The state governor thanked the president and his entourage for honouring his invitation to inaugurate the projects that would connect the state with neighbouring states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, at the event on Thursday.

The governor added that he wished the president would spend up to a week during his next visit to the state because there are thousands of projects built by his administration to enhance the socioeconomic prospect of the state.

Kogi State earlier declared today (Thursday) a public holiday in preparation for the President’s visit.

A statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, on Sunday, urged the people of Kogi State to come out en masse to receive the President and display the hospitality they are known for.

The state government also urged all labour unions and security agencies in the state to ensure full compliance.

The statement reads, “The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR shall be visiting Kogi State on the 29th of December, 2022 to commission legacy projects across the State.

“In view of this and to ensure a hitch free reception of Mr President, the Government of Kogi State under the leadership of His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello wishes to announce that Thursday 29th of December, 2022 has been declared as a public holiday.

“The decision is to enable the people of the state to receive our President. We urge all our labour unions and security agencies to ensure full compliance.

“Government wishes to call on the people of the State to come out enmasse to receive Mr President and display the hospitality we are known for as he will be commissioning life-touching legacy projects across the State.”

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported a bomb blast at the palace of the paramount traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim on Thursday morning.

An eyewitness told SaharaReporters that a car with explosives was driven into the palace, exploding some minutes after and ripping through the place.

Sources told SaharaReporters that three people were killed in the explosion, with some others injured.

According to an eyewitness, "a car with explosives was driven into the palace this morning and shortly after, the car exploded.”

The source said the identity of the driver could not be ascertained at the time of filing the report.

Although SaharaReporters could not independently ascertain the circumstances surrounding the bomb blast, sources claimed that it might be connected with the refusal of the monarch to accept the new palace reportedly built for him by Governor Yahaya Bello.

According to one of the sources, "President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting Kogi State today and there is a part of the story that Governor Yahaya Bello built a palace for the king but the king refused to move into the palace because he claims that his palace is better than the one built by the governor.

"The king was supposed to have moved to the place before today that Buhari would visit the state but he did not move in. So, people are speculating that the explosion could have deliberately been triggered in his palace to force him to move to the new palace built by Governor Yahaya Bello."