Tension as Kogi state APC disowns Governor Yahaya Bello
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| Kogi state APC chairman Alhaji Hadi Ametuo and Governor Yahaya Bello, when the going was good |
The Kogi state APC has a vote of no confidence on Governor Yahaya Bello, accusing him of sidelining members of the party’s executive council in the state.
After deliberations in the state capital, Lokoja on Monday, April 11, the party’s leadership resolved to formally lodge a complaint with the APC headquarters in Abuja.
Theparty has since forwarded the letter to the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Tuesday, April 12 and signed by all the 34 members of the state executive council.
In the letter, the party chieftains accused Governor Bello of sidelining members of the party and hobnobbing with members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They accused the governor of not appointing any APC member in the state, even as they alleged all the 45 appointments made so far by Governor Bello are members of the PDP.
The party members also accused the governor of being behind the crisis in the Kogi state House of Assembly, adding that ”from now henceforth, we will have nothing to do with the government of Yahaya Bello”.
They also asked the national leadership of the APC not to accept any ministerial nomination from Governor Bello, advising the national leadership to work with the state party leaders to appoint the late James Ocholi’s replacement.
Ocholi died recently alongside his wife and son in a road accident along Abuja/ Kaduna expressway.
NAIJ.com recently ran an exclusive story detailing how Kogi state politicians are lobbying to replace the late Ocholi few weeks after his death.
Shedding more light on the issue, the Kogi state APC publicity secretary, Ghali Usman, confirmed the meeting and the decision taken.
According to him, the only time the party chieftains met with Governor Bello ‘‘was before his inauguration when he went to collect his certificate of return.”
He added: ”Since then we have no idea of what is happening in the administration.
”The governor asked us to submit all we need before his inauguration which we did in writing, but he has since ignored our list and continued to appoint PDP people.”
Meanwhile, a source close to Governor Bello has dismissed the allegations raised by the party leadership in the state. According to the source, the party leaders are just professional politicians who are not comfortable with the appointments Governor Bello has made so far.
”Governor Yahaya Bello has appointed technocrats since he came on board and they are not comfortable with it because they are professional politicians.
”Why are they not talking about the fact that there is massive construction going on in the state? Why are they not talking about issues that resolve around governance?” the source asked.
The source added: ”You have to understand that majority of the party excos are loyalists of the late Abubakar Audu and by extension, Honourable Faleke.”
On the allegations that the governor instigated the crisis in the state assembly, the source refuted the claims, saying that the lawmakers are adults and if they can not resolve issues among themselves why should the governor take the blame.
NAIJ.com attempts to reach the special assistant to Governor Bello on media and strategy, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmaleek were not successful at the time of writing this report.
NAIJ recalls that Alhaji Yahaya Bello was declared the winner of the Kogi state supplementary election held on Saturday, December 5 2015 after the death of Late Prince Abubakar Audu paved the way for his emergence as APC’s candidate.
In the letter, the party chieftains accused Governor Bello of sidelining members of the party and hobnobbing with members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They accused the governor of not appointing any APC member in the state, even as they alleged all the 45 appointments made so far by Governor Bello are members of the PDP.
The party members also accused the governor of being behind the crisis in the Kogi state House of Assembly, adding that ”from now henceforth, we will have nothing to do with the government of Yahaya Bello”.
They also asked the national leadership of the APC not to accept any ministerial nomination from Governor Bello, advising the national leadership to work with the state party leaders to appoint the late James Ocholi’s replacement.
Ocholi died recently alongside his wife and son in a road accident along Abuja/ Kaduna expressway.
NAIJ.com recently ran an exclusive story detailing how Kogi state politicians are lobbying to replace the late Ocholi few weeks after his death.
Shedding more light on the issue, the Kogi state APC publicity secretary, Ghali Usman, confirmed the meeting and the decision taken.
According to him, the only time the party chieftains met with Governor Bello ‘‘was before his inauguration when he went to collect his certificate of return.”
He added: ”Since then we have no idea of what is happening in the administration.
”The governor asked us to submit all we need before his inauguration which we did in writing, but he has since ignored our list and continued to appoint PDP people.”
Meanwhile, a source close to Governor Bello has dismissed the allegations raised by the party leadership in the state. According to the source, the party leaders are just professional politicians who are not comfortable with the appointments Governor Bello has made so far.
”Governor Yahaya Bello has appointed technocrats since he came on board and they are not comfortable with it because they are professional politicians.
”Why are they not talking about the fact that there is massive construction going on in the state? Why are they not talking about issues that resolve around governance?” the source asked.
The source added: ”You have to understand that majority of the party excos are loyalists of the late Abubakar Audu and by extension, Honourable Faleke.”
On the allegations that the governor instigated the crisis in the state assembly, the source refuted the claims, saying that the lawmakers are adults and if they can not resolve issues among themselves why should the governor take the blame.
NAIJ.com attempts to reach the special assistant to Governor Bello on media and strategy, Mr Abdulkarim Abdulmaleek were not successful at the time of writing this report.
NAIJ recalls that Alhaji Yahaya Bello was declared the winner of the Kogi state supplementary election held on Saturday, December 5 2015 after the death of Late Prince Abubakar Audu paved the way for his emergence as APC’s candidate.
