Kogi Deputy Governor:Atiku Accused Of Bribing Leaders To Install His Loyalist

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may be pushing for loyalist to take the position of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mallam Abdullahi Kabiru has alleged. Mr. Kabiru in a statement he issued to the media yesterday, accused the ex-VP of “causing disarray in the leadership hierarchy of Kogi State All Progressives Congress in his bid to impose his loyalist, and former member of Kogi State House of Assembly, Simeon Achuba as replacement for Hon. Abiodun Faleke who turned down the offer of Deputy Governor after demise of Audu Abubakar his Principal and Governorship Candidate of APC who was already coasting to victory in the race for Kogi State Governorship seat before he suddenly died last November”. According to him, “In the past days, Atiku, according to our dependable sources has been pulling the strings with a view to ensuring that Simeon Achuba becomes Governor Yahaya Bello’s Deputy, and that this has led to massive rancour in the leadership of APC in Kogi State”. The APC Chieftain alleged that ‘’We are conscious of Atiku Abubakar’s moves to impose on us Simeon Achuba as our next Deputy Governor, but I can assure you that we are not going to cave into that. Again we’re also not unmindful that lots of resources have been deployed in the past few days, including millions of naira to bribe people into buying the idea of Achuba becoming the next Deputy Governor of Kogi State, but let me say with all emphasis at my disposal that all these clandestine moves shall end up in vain’’.

It will be recalled that the leadership of the State Legislature has been embroiled in a tussle, which has led to the impeachment of Momoh Jimoh and Ali Akuh as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectivelAlso in the race for Deputy Governor of Kogi State, are Hon. Tim Diche, a former Governorship aspirant, Hon. Ikani Okolo, a member representing Dekina/Bassa Federal constituency in the House of Representatives and Ambassador Aisha Audu Emeje, widow of late Audu Abubakar, who is believed to be favoured for the position of Deputy Governor in Kogi State.