Police, Bello’s Supporters allegedly shut down Kogi Assembly
The Kogi State House of Assembly Complex was on Tuesday prevented from holding its plenary following a crisis that erupted over the alleged plan to remove the Majority Leader of the House, Matthew Kolawole.
It was alleged that the State Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu who had earlier assured journalists that the plenary was going to be peaceful, could not act when the supporters of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello stormed the assembly, raising suspicion that he was allegedly working on the order of the governor.
Source learned that the development was an alleged attempt to halt the planned removal of the Majority Leader of the House, Matthew Kolawole, who is said to be a staunch supporter of the state governor.
The source further said the State Commissioners of Justice and Finance; Mohammed Ibrahim and Idris Asiwaju were also slated to testify before the House of Assembly how the state government utilized the bailout funds and the two tranches of the Paris-Club loan refunds received from the federal government.
He said: “The Kogi state House of Assembly is locked as we speak. Governor Yahaya Bello and the state Commissioner of Police stormed the complex this morning with some officers and thugs invited by one Hon. Bello who represents Ajaokuta state constituency to lock up the premises in order to prevent plenary from holding today.
“The reason is not unconnected to the perceived failure of the plot to impeach the Speaker and replace him with the Majority Leader who is a staunch ally of the governor. But, the Speaker himself having control of the House, has also staged a counter plot to have the Majority Leader removed today.
“Also, the governor has paid some arrears owed workers and pensioners in the state with the funds received from the federal government. However, the House had planned, today, to hear from the Commissioners of Justice and Finance how the funds were expended by the state before this incident happened.”
Commenting on the incident, opposition youth leader in the state, Austin Okai, described the action of the Governor and the Police Commissioner as a plot to truncate democracy in the state and institutionalize autocracy where in the legislature is suspended from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
He said: “This is unheard of anywhere in the world that members of the Executive arm of government will physical storm a legislative complex in the company of security operatives in order to prevent legislators from doing their job.
“It is impunity in its highest form and must be put to a stop before it leads to an oppressive regime.”
But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mrs. Petra Akinti Onyegbule has denied that Bello was at the Assembly, saying issues relating to the State Assembly do not really concern her principal. She promised to issue a statement on the allegation.
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