– Governor Yahaya Bello sent Hon. Simon Achuba’s name to the House of Assembly for confirmation
– Governor Yahaya Bello moves to please Igala people
Governor Yahaya Bello appoints deputy governor
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has appointed Hon. Simon Achuba as the deputy governor of the state.
According to a post on the Facebook page of APC, Bello in a letter to the House of Assembly, asked the lawmakers to confirm Achuba as his deputy based on the refusal of Hon. James Faleke, the running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu, to accept the office.
Faleke, who is a House of Representatives member, was the running mate to the late Audu in an election that was inconclusive following the death of Audu.
Faleke, who was expected to step in with Bello as the deputy, declined on the ground that he was rather the one to be sworn in as governor following the death of his boss and not Bello.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) after several failed attempts to convince Faleke to accept the deputy governorship position went ahead and inaugurated the administration of Bello on January 27 without a deputy governor.
Since Bello assumed office a fortnight ago, the state had been without a deputy governor, a development that had generated intense debate in the public square.
Meanwhile, the appointment of Hon Achuba is an attempt to appease the Igala nation which had hitherto been outraged by the death of Prince Audu. Moreso, the Igala people of the state had since its creation ruled Kogi, a position it was not willing to relinquish, which had generated bad blood among the various ethnic groups in the state.
The letter reads: “In line with the provision of Section 186 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, I have the pleasure to forward herewith, the name of Hon. Simon Achuba for approval of appointment as the deputy governor of Kogi State.
“Hon. Achuba (JP) hails from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State and was a two-time honourable member of the state House of Assembly from 1999 to 2007 where he was Deputy-Speaker during his second tenure.
“In view of the above, it will be highly appreciated if the request is treated and approved with utmost speed to pave way for his assumption of office.”
The state’s House of Assembly has fixed today for the screening and possible confirmation of Hon. Achuba.
Yahaya Bello was sworn in as the governor of Kogi state, on January 27 without a deputy taking the oath of office with him.
Faleke, who was the running mate to late Audu has refused to be deputy to Bello, insisting that he is suppose to be the governor.
Meanwhile, Mallam Abdullahi Kabiru, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi state recently alleged that former vice president Atiku Abubakar, is making moves to impose his loyalist to take the position of the deputy governor in the state.
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