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Disquiet over alleged rift between Kogi governor, deputy

By John Akubo, Lokoja
25 October 2018   |   4:00 am
Close watchers in Kogi State have alleged strained relationship between Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and his deputy, Simon Achuba.

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello

• Our relationship is normal, says Bello
Close watchers in Kogi State have alleged strained relationship between Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and his deputy, Simon Achuba.

The Guardian learnt that the rift had been on in the last seven months, in what observers described as the governor’s deliberate effort to frustrate his deputy out of office.

Although Achuba has failed to officially spoken on the issue, it was leant that electricity and water supply to his office has been rendered epileptic.

A source told our correspondent that the salary of the deputy governor has not been paid since February this year, even as his wife’s remuneration was allegedly also stopped in March.

Those who insist that all is not well with their relationship, said the administrator of his Ibaji local government, Tom Offor, was allegedly removed recently without Achuba’s knowledge.

It was leant that Offor was attending an official function with the wife of the governor, Rashida Bello, in Ibaji when his removal was announced in the media.

According to sources, efforts by the deputy governor to question his removal yielded no fruits, as the governor denied any knowledge of the development.

But, the governor in his reaction has disclosed that the relationship between him and his deputy remains cordial.

Bello, who spoke through his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the story of any crack between him and Achuba was a creation of mischief-makers.

The governor explained that both of them have been working together for the development of the state, and expressed concern about the fabricators’ antics, who are using the current political environment to fly the rumour.

According to Fanwo, the deputy governor represented his boss recently at the inauguration of the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, stressing that the removal of Ibaji local council boss was a normal government routine.

He added that Offor was only redeployed as senior special assistant to the governor on power.

Fanwo dismissed the allegation that the administrator was funding the deputy governor’s ambition as a ruse, declaring that it was not in the culture of administrators in the state to service individuals, but the grassroots.

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