The Kogi State government has labeled the Deputy Governor of the state, Elder Simon Achuba as enemy within alleging he received kickback from contractor.
According to the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Chief Edward Onoja an investigation was ongoing into the alleged undue interference of the Deputy Governor in accepting kick-back from the contractor in charge of the road contract awarded by the government in his area.
He made the allegation over the weekend at a Town Hall meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC) convened by Engr. John Ibrahim Ocheje, which took place at Onyedega in Ibaji local government council of the state.
He blamed Achuba for the failure of the government to deliver its mandate for the good people of Ibaji local government area.
He noted with disappointment that since the inception of the Fourth Republic the area has continued to give political supports to the opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without any benefit to show in terms of infrastructural developments or the elevation of any of their sons or daughters to the higher position of the state.
Recalling his roles in the nomination and the subsequent emergence of Elder Simon Achuba to the Deputy Governor position, he revealed that he took many factors in consideration before backing the Ibaji people to produce the “Number Two Position” of the state.
According to him , “Kogi East as a district is under-developed but there are three major Local Government Areas in the district that suffer most.” He cited Bassa, Ibaji and Olamaboro to be the three areas while remarking that Ibaji is worst amongst the most neglected areas.
In his deliberate attempt to favour Ibaji, the Chief of Staff said he stood beside Elder Simon Achuba for the Deputy Governor position so that he might use his position to influence needed developments to the area and also to address the people’s sense of marginalisation.
“I took position on the Deputy Governor office in favour of Ibaji against all odds,”.
Disappointed however, the Chief of Staff said the reverse was the case on the side of the Deputy Governor Elder Simon Achuba whom he regretted supporting.
He felt that the personal interest of the latter did not betray him but his own very people.
However, in a swift reaction, Hon. Aromeh the Senior Special Assistant on political matters to the deputy governor described the CoS as a sinking man.
According to Aromeh, the comments made by the CoS, clearly portrayed him as a man with the spirit of lieying wondering how a person in the capacity of the governor’s aide would sit in public to derogate the office of the Deputy Governor by formulating lies all in an attempt to cover inadequacies of a government .
He added that the CoS is telling the world that the present government has failed, while calling on him to go for a psychiatric test.
According to Aromeh , ” Who was the contractor that alleged that the Deputy Governor collected kick back. Was it because the Deputy Governor also collected kick back that Bassa road is not completed. Was it because the Deputy Governor collected kick back that roads in the Western and Central Senatorial Districts are not done. Was it because the deputy governor collected kick back that made projects ongoing to be inconclusive, and why the government cannot commission a project in three years, while workers and pensioners are not being paid salaries and pension for between thirty and thirty five months”.
The SSA described as a blatan lies that the Deputy Governor tried creating disaffection between the Attah Igala and the Government, pointing out that, ” The Attah Igala is a father to the Deputy Governor and all their discussions at all time centres on the growth of Igala land.
He said if the Deputy Governor is telling the traditional ruler not to support government, is he not also telling the Royal father not to support him?.
He lamented that a situation where Chiefs were graded and upgraded without the knowledge of the Chairman of kogi Council of Traditional Rulers, and Chairmen of Local Government Traditional Councils called for questioning stressing that the strains relationship between government and the traditional institutions should not be traced to the Deputy Governor.
He noted that the Deputy Governor is not aware of any committee investigating him because he has not been found wanting in the discharge of his duties, describing the efforts to paint Chief Achuba black by Chief Edward Onoja in order to win the support of Ibaji people will fail.
He noted that the people of Ibaji knows who is their enemy and they could point to Edward Onoja and his twins government who in three years could not boast of a single project in the LGA.
According to Aromeh, the people of Ibaji LGA are angry with the present administration for not able to fix the road to Onyedega after the flood, describing the action of Chief Edward Onoja as attempt to score cheap popularity, by calling the Deputy Governor unprintable names.
He assured that the plan is not enough to sway Ibaji people who have made up their minds about the present administration and the cabals misleading the governor.
