By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended nine of its 25 members for gross misconduct, terrorism, electoral violence and anti-party activities during recently concluded General Elections in the state.
The Nigerian Post reports that the decision to suspend the members and Council chairmen was reached at Thursday plenary sitting following the adoption of letters from Governor Yahaya Bello and the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Bello Abdullahi.
The Governor in his letter to the Assembly had urged Speaker of the APC-dominated House, Prince Matthew Kolawole to investigate the culpability of the members in the alleged offences.
The Honourable members include Hon. Kilani Olushola, Ijumu; Suleiman Attajachi Musa, Idah; Bello Hassan, Ajaokuta; A.T. Ahmed, Okene I; Moses Akande, Ogori-Magongo; Aderonke Aro, Yagba-West; Daniyan Raiyi, Bassa; Muktar Bajeh, Okehi and Atule Egbunu, Ibaji.
A letter from the state Secretariat of the APC to the Assembly, signed by the chairman, Bello Abdullahi also intimated the House the legislators and the chairmen had been suspended by their ward executive councils of the party.
It said, “The under listed individuals have been suspended by their Wards Excos of All Progressives Congress with immediate effect for gross misconduct, insubordination and Anti-Party activities in the just concluded General Elections.”
The party chairman urged the House to effect the suspension in the Chamber to serve as deterrent to others in subsequent elections.
The House also suspended four council chairmen and placed three others on investigation based on the letters from the governor and state party chairman alleging their culpability.
Moving the motion for adoption, the Deputy Speaker, Alfa Momoh Rabiu (APC-Ankpa II) said that by the virtue of the positions of the legislators and Council Chairmen, it was regrettable for them to break the law of the land.
“Law makers should not be seen as law breakers. The state is above all of us. Let the law take its cause. They should be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into their alleged offences”, he said.
The Council chairmen involved are Ogori-Magongo, Goke Oparirison and his Vice Chairman; Kabba-Bunu, Moses Olurunleke and his Vice; Bassa, Muktar Mohammed and his Vice; Yagba-West, Pius Kolawole; Ajaokuta, Mustapha Akaaba; Adavi, Joseph Omuya and Ibaji, Williams Iko’ojo
The motion was seconded by Prince Collins Musa (APC-Omala) who, along with others aligned himself with position of the Deputy Speaker that the legislators be suspended.
Ruling on the matter, Speaker Matthew Kolawole said that the nine law makers and four Council chairmen remain suspended pending the outcome of investigations into the allegations.
He however said that decision on Bassa, Ogori and Yagba-West would be put in abeyance pending the outcome of the House Committee investigating the allegations against them.
