Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Richard Elesho/ Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has said the State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello is yet to be briefed by the House of Assembly on why it suspended Five Local Government Administrators in the State. It also inferred that until the Governor is communicated, the administrators are not expected to vacate their respective offices and functions. This was contained in a Press Statement signed by Mrs. Petra Onyegbule, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bello.

In reaction to the suspension of the Council Administrators, Petra noted that although Bello will continue to hold the Assembly in high esteem and respect the principle of Separation of Powers, he urged the lawmakers “to avoid the temptation of giving room to destructive politics”. The statement therefore emphasize that “until such communication is done, the administrators would not be expected to leave a vacuum in the administration of their respective Local Government Areas”.

It will be recalled that the Kogi State House of Assembly yesterday wielded the big stick against some Local Government Administrators accusing them of offenses bordering on truancy and financial recklessness.

It suspended Five of the administrators including Taofiq Isah, the administrator of Ijumu Local Government who was also Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON. Other suspended Council bosses are Baron Okwoli- Igalamela/Odolu Local Government, Moses Olorunleke- Kabba/Bunu Local Government, Abdulrahim Ohiere- Okehi local Government and Moses Akande- Ogori/Magongo Local Government.

The suspension was effected under matters of urgent public importance brought by Friday Sani (Igalamela/Odolu) and seconded by Sunday Obaro (Mopamuro). The affected administrators were directed to handover all government properties in their custody and the rein of leadership to Secretaries in their respective councils until the outcome of ongoing investigations by the Public Accounts/ Public Finance and Appropriation Committees of the House. Sani accused the administrators of perpetually abandoning their duty posts while turning Lokoja the State Capital to their home and thereby undermining the Assembly.

While residents are rather unsure over the discordant tunes coming from both the legislature and the executive, Government has appealed for calm and good conduct by the people.