Group blasts Kogi Assembly over plot to impeach Deputy Governor

Kogi Patriotic Group has berated the Kogi State House Assembly over plans to remove the state deputy governor, Elder Simon Achuba over his revelation of corrupt practices in the state.

A statement by the spokesperson of of the group, Abdul Abdul, issued on Wednesday described the decision of the Assembly members to embark on such act, as an evidence of rubber stamp and working with the state government to perpetrate corrupt tendencies.

He said the state lawmakers rather than embark on investigation of the grievous allegations of financial misappropriation, against the state government, has resorted into witch hunting the deputy governor.

Abdul alleged that the decision of the state lawmakers, was in line with their plans “to install the governor’s Chief of Staff, so as to create immunity to unleash the thuggery activities on the people of the state.”

He urged the lawmakers not to embark on such illegality, “capable of overheating the polity towards the November governorship election in the state.”

Abdul said the action of the lawmakers was “a glaring collusion with the state government, having underplayed their oversight functions of scrutinizing the books of the state, creating room for wanton fraud and financial profligacy.”

He described Kogi lawmakers as inexperienced set of people, who are only interested in their personal welfare rather than the state and its people.

Abdul advised the deputy governor, Simon Achuba to immediately proceed to court to halt the current moves at removing him.

He appealed to the political class to rally round the deputy governor, in his quest to liberate the state from the shackles of bad leadership.

Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday commenced the impeachment process of the state Deputy Governor over his action and utterances at the Channels and AIT televisions. https://dailypost.ng/2019/08/07/kogi-assembly-begins-impeachment-deputy-gov-achuba/

The members described the action as a gross misconduct against the governor of the state Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the people of the state.

The impeachment process was sequel to a petition signed by 21 members of the House which was presented on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Hon. Abdullahi Bello representing Ajaokuta state constituency on Wednesday at plenary.

Parts of the petition read “We the members of the Kogi State House of Assembly have in the past few weeks and days watched keenly the actions and utterances of the Deputy Governor of Kogi state , Elder Simon Achuba , both in public and national television with regards to the government of Kogi state , the governor of Kogi state and other key officials of the state government especially the allegations of crimes, financial misappropriation and non performance levelled against them.

“It is our belief that these actions and utterances of the Deputy Governor amounts to gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office.”

The petition also alleged that the committee of the Kogi state government set up to look into the Iyano crises in Ibaji local government, made some finding that indicted the Deputy Governor over his actions in relation to the escalation of the crisis .

“It is our view that that Deputy Governor is guilty of gross misconduct and he ought to answer to and or substantiate all these allegations”, the lawmakers said.