Crisis Brewing In Kogi As Gov. Bello ‘Withdraws Deputy’s Security Aides

The deputy governor of Kogi state, north-central Nigeria, Simon Achuba, has alleged that his boss, Governor Yahaya Bello, ordered the withdrawal of his security detail.

Addressing newsmen at his official residence on Sunday in Lokoja, the state capital, the Kogi number two citizen said he was on the verge of traveling to his hometown in Ibaji with his security aides when governor Bello allegedly called them for a briefing.

According to Achuba, on getting to the government house, Bello’s ADC took them to the office of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) to make a statement.

He said: “They accused my ADC and orderly of gunrunning but both of them denied the allegation.

“As I’m speaking now, they are under detention in the Government House. I informed the Commissioner of Police about the situation but till now he has refused to take any action.

“I’m a member of the All Progressives Congress. I reported to the national leader of the APC but nothing has been done.”

He also said that “My imprest was stopped for no reason and it was ordered by the governor.”

“I live as deputy governor in the house without security, I travelled home without police, my life is in danger,” he added.

Lamenting that light and water to his residence had been cut off and that he currently lives in darkness, Achuba appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to restore his security aides.

But Concise News understands that the governor’s media aide Kingsley Fanwo has denied the allegations.

“It is not the responsibility of the governor to give security even to himself; the security heads do. So the governor is not responsible for posting security to the deputy governor,” he told TheCable.

The Kogi government had earlier this month accused Achuba of collecting bribe, following the rift with Bello.

Speaking at a townhall meeting in Ibaji area of the Confluence State on Thursday, January 31, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Edward Onoja, accused Achuba of accepting kickbacks from contractors working on some roads in the area.

But reacting to the allegation, the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters to Achuba, Honorious Aromeh, said Onoja was telling lies to cover the governor’s maladministration.