2019 Poll: Kogi Gov Dumps His Deputy, Picks Chief of Staff

 

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, may have finally dumped his deputy, Chief Simon Achuba, and allegedly picked his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward Onoja, as running mate.

It was gathered that his decision to pick his Chief of Staff was to ensure absolute loyalty as there appears to be cool war between the governor and his deputy.

Media investigation revealed that posters and flayers of the governor and his Chief of Staff as his running mate littered streets of Lokoja indicating that Bello must have finally dumped Achuba.

The deputy governor in the last two years have been absent from all government functions and has not been paid his salary and entitlements for over 24 months.

Also, power supply and water were disconnected from the deputy governor's quarter by the governor.

Source close to the Government House alleged that the choices of Onoja by the governor was part of the agreement before Bello took over the mantle of the leadership in the state.

According to the source, when the governor assumed office, it was the Chief of Staff that appointed 90 percent of the political appointees in the cabinet.

He also disclosed further that at time, the Chief of Staff sacked some appointees on his own without the knowledge of the governor.

It was also gathered that the faceoff between the governor and the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, may not be unconnected with the CJ's refusal to play ball in the alleged plan to remove the deputy governor from office and replace him with his Chief of Staff.

Effort to speak with the Director General of Media and Publicity to the governor, Mr. Kingsly Fanwo, to respond to the allegation proved abortive.