Gov. Bello to Reshuffles Cabinet, Replaces SSG.

Kogiflame.com

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello any moment from now will reshuffle his cabinet by dropping some of his political appointees and the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr. Mrs. Folashade Ayoade Arike.

Sources close to the seat of power in Lokoja on Monday disclosed to our reporter that the likely affected political appointees were those who could not delivered during the last Presidential elections in the state.

According to the source,
since his own election is fast approaching, governor Bello is not certain what formula will be adopted by the national leader of APC during the primary election.

The source said the uncertainty that have befalled the governor has made him to start taking drastic decision in order to get the party ticket.

However, since it was alleged that the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr. Edward Onoja is the only person that the governor listen to, his office and at time his resident has become a Mecca as political appointees now besieged him for a way out.

On the issue of the SSG, our reporter gathered that Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade needs to vacate her position following the re-election of Prince Mathew Kolawole as Speaker of the State House Assembly.

It was gathered that the Speaker and the SSG come from the same region while the Speaker is from Kabba-Bunu local government area, the SSG comes from Yagba East local government area of the state as both of them hails from Okun speaking area of the state.

By this, the need for SSG replacement from Lokoja/Kogi axis became very necessary  to occupy that position.

The source further confirmed that the SSG will be replaced by a former APC aspirant for Lokoja/Koton Federal Constituency, Alhaji Seidu Akao Salihu.

One of the political appointee name with held who spoke with our reporter said,  “The State exco is still deliberating on who will replace the SSG. But from all indication, she will be removed. From the look of things, she will be compensated with the position of a Senior Special Assistant to the governor.

“The SSG has tried for this government and also this government has done well for her by appointing her into this juicy position. I believe when the governor returns back to the State, it will be officially communicated to the public ” the source hinted.

Last week, some party faithful from Lokoja/Kogi/Koton Karfe have allegedly accused the Gov. Bello-led APC government of neglecting their people in the appointment of people into juicy offices in his cabinet.

The President of Lokoja/Kogi advocacy for good governance, Comrade Ibrahim Haruna, in an interview with newsmen last week, said that the exclusion of a section of the state in governance is the “mother of all corruption”.

Haruna said that all well meaning Kogites, especially the people of Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, irrespective of their ethnic and other considerations, have been supportive of the APC administration, but wondered why the party leadership are neglecting a people whose votes brought them to power.

“But the truth is that corruption stares us in the face on a daily basis, especially with regards to exclusion and disregard to the plights of our people in a matter they are supposed to be key players. I don’t want to talk much, but that is my position. What we are seeing now is the mother of all battle against our people,” he declared.

Meanwhile all effort to speak with the Director General Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Kingsly Fanwo on the issue proved abortive.