From Ahmad Ibrahim, Lokoja
The faceoff between Governor Yahaya Bello and his Deputy, Elder Simon Achuba has taken a new dimension, following moves by the state House of Assembly to impeach the latter.
The members of the legislative arm have described the action of the deputy governor in condemning the state governor and the state government, through the media, as a gross misconduct and an affront against the people of the state.
The impeachment proceeding was sequel to a petition signed by 21 members of the Assembly which was presented on the floor of the House by the Majority Leader, Hon. Abdullahi Bello representing Ajaokuta state constituency during the plenary yesterday.
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 nonperformance levelled against them”.
The lawmakers therefore posited that it is their firm believe that the actions and utterances of Hon. Achuba amounts to gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office as the state deputy governor.
The petition further alleged that the committee of the Kogi State Government set up to look into the Iyano crises in Ibaji local government , made some findings that indicted the deputy governor over his actions in relation to the escalation of the crises in the area.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole has however, directed that the petition should be transmitted to the deputy governor, giving him two weeks to reply while investigation into the alleged misconduct has commenced.
