This week, a letter from the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba, was addressed to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, requesting to be paid by the state government. The letter by Falana & Falana Chambers also reflects that the deputy governor could eventually be suing his boss for salaries and allowances owed him. This figure is said to amount to N819.7 million.
Yahaya Bello has since issued a rebuttal of the allegation and also asked Achuba to go to court. In a statement released by one of his aides, Bello maintained that monies which are not available let alone approved yet cannot be paid to any official. This response pretty much confirms the allegation.
While the Kogi State government is notoriously renowned for owing salaries to teachers and civil servants running into several months, Deputy Governor Achuba may only be having a taste of what the state’s workers have been experiencing from his government and Bello’s. Could it also be that the governor has failed to himself and his aides within the period that his deputy has been left unpaid?
In addition to this allegation of non payment of salaries, the deputy governor has just alleged again that Governor Bello is after his life. This would not be the first time the Kogi State governor has been accused of threatening the life of an individual by using state instruments. The Senator who contested the Kogi Central senatorial seat under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Barrister Natasha Akpoti, also in February accused Yahaya Bello of being after her life. She even went further to write President Buhari an open letter with all the allegations in detail.
On the other hand, Senator Dino Melaye who represents Kogi West senatorial district is now a major political opponent contesting against Bello in the November gubernatorial elections. It is very clear that both political bigwigs are archenemies. When mobilization for the failed attempt at recalling Melaye from the Senate got stirred up, there were insinuations that Bello was the brain and financial power behind the plan to scheme Melaye out of the parliamentary seat. Just a few days ago, Melaye released one of his famous tease songs throwing jibes at the incumbent governor whose accent to power he supported in 2014.
Analysts consider the ascent of Gov Yahaya Bello into power as controversial. This is not particularly helpful to the credibility of the governor who neither campaigned nor was voted for in 2014. With all of the scandals surrounding the governor, the support which he enjoyed in 2014 may no more be handy as he seeks a second term in office.
Come November at the gubernatorial elections, it might be too late for Bello to realise he has been betrayed and abandoned by his former supporters, past political allies, and the Kogi citizenry which he keeps treating unfairly.
Reference
Sahara Reporters
Featured image source: The Herald NG
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