Kogi legislators impeach Speaker, others

KOGI State House of Assembly Speaker Abdullai Bello and four other principal officers have been impeached. The Speaker was replaced by Lawal Jimoh who represents Okene II.
Of the 25 members of the House, 17 signed the impeachment letter.
Bello’s impeachment came 16 months after he was elected Speaker and nine months after he was sworn in on January 27 as acting governor, a few hours after the incumbent helmsman, Idris Wada, took office. The rivalry was eventually resolved in Wada’s favour.
Other affected principal officers are Deputy Speaker Emmanuel Mebije, Majority Leader Yakubu Yunusa, Chief Whip Saidu Akawu Salihu and Minority Leader Adeyemi Abidemi.
Gowon Paul Haruna, representing Dekina 1 Constituency who moved the motion during the emergency meeting, said the majority members of the Assembly had lost total confidence in the leadership of some of the principal officers.

He alleged that the leadership of the Speaker did not respond positively to the recent killings in Okene and the flood, which submerged nine local councils.
According to him, the Speaker, who was directly affected, was nowhere to be found during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan and other eminent personalities to the state.
He also alleged that during the appointment of liaison officers by the governor, the Speaker, having had a meeting and agreement with Wada and his interest fully taken care of, alongside with other principal officers, re-convened the House for what they described as emergency sitting since it was on Sallah break.
He added that during the said meeting, the House rejected the appointment of Liaison Officers 1 and 2 as illegal, just to paint a picture that it was not aware of same.
His words: “ The above series of acts of misconduct and high-handedness, amongst others against the Speaker and other principal officers of the House, was brought to their notice in the spirit of giving them a fair hearing which was rebuffed by them because they paid deaf ears to same even when it borders on the affairs of the people of Kogi State.”
The motion was seconded by Shehu Idris from Lokoja II Constituency.
Also elected were Atule Christopher Okoche (Deputy Speaker), Aliyu Akuh (Majority Leader), Suleiman Babadoko (Chief Whip) and Sunday Raishiwe Shigaba (Minority Leader).
The new leadership of the House, who paid a courtesy call on Wada, led by Jimoh, assured the governor of good leadership.
The governor, while emphasising the resolve of the Executive not to meddle into the affairs of the Legislative arm, congratulated the newly-elected principal officers and sought their co-operation to move the state forward.
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