Lay Down Your Arms, Let’s Reunite You with Society, Borno Gov Begs Boko Haram
The cold war between the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba, and the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, has taken a dangerous dimension as Achuba yesterday expressed that his life is in danger, alleging that the governor is after his life.
He disclosed this threat to his life while addressing journalists at his official residence in Lokoja, the state capital.
But in a swift reaction, the Kogi State Government has denied the allegation, describing it “as bogus and an exhibition of a blind rage by an angry suckling with a long-term pattern of abnormal behaviour characterised by exaggerated feelings of self-importance.”
It urged the deputy governor to provide evidence to support his allegation.
The deputy governor alleged that fromallinformationavailabletohim, he suspectedstronglythatthegovernorhad mobilised his government machinery to attack him.
According toAchuba, “This is what I want to put to the public, and draw theattentionofthe Inspector General of Police (IG), the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) and other law enforcement agents that if anything happens to me and my family or any of my staff, he should be held responsible.
“You cannot forcibly continue to rule the people; you are called to serve, and it is on this note that I want to appeal to law enforcement agents and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to beam his light on Kogi State because of the level of insecurity that is currently affecting the state.
“The insecurity in the state today and the fear of the people is not about arm robbery; it’s not even about kidnapping or ritual killing anymore, it is about the gunmen of the governor who terrorise the public without restrain.”
He noted that as a deputy governor, he has been traveling for the past two years, and the governor has refused to pay him his allowances.
“My salary is N385, 000. How can the governor assume that I should run the office of the deputy governor if there is no other money aside my salary?
Meanwhile, the state government has denied the allegation of threat against the life of the deputy governor.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Onogwu Mohammed, the state government described the allegation as “bogus and an exhibition of a blind rage by an angry suckling with a long-term pattern of abnormal behaviour characterised by exaggerated feelings of self-importance.
“The Kogi State Government is appalled that a deputy governor, who should epitomise leadership and good example in all senses, could descend so low to employ smear campaign against the person of Governor Yahaya Bello, and we state without equivocation thatAchuba has no shred of evidence for his reckless surmising, which is nothing but a scripted venture in ruinous adventure.
“We do not train assassins, and as such, the state government or her personnel cannotbeinvolvedinsending assassins to murder any soul let alone a deputy governor of our dear state.
“Despite these unsubstantiated ramblings, however, we deemed it fit to clear the air by letting the public know that the state government would not be dragged into any form of political gerrymandering concocted for the furtherance of any person’s political interest or notoriety.” Michael Olugbode Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara, has appealed to the indigenes of the state involved in insurgency to lay down their arms to give room for integration with the rest of the society.
Umara gave this advice during a visit to Jakana, which had witnessed Boko Haram attacks in recent days.
The governor, who paid sympathy visit to the village on the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway yesterday, also appealed to the people to volunteer report on the movement of insurgents to military and security operatives.
He said information dissemination is important, adding that the people should endeavour to promptly provide credible information on the activities of terrorists.
The governor who spoke to journalists after his visit to Jakana, said: “Another message that I’ve conveyed to the people of Jakana, is that let them appeal to their sons and daughters involved in terrorists activities to desist from collaborating with the insurgents, if any.
“We shall use the corridor of federal government, which is Operation Safe Corridor of the army for any willing member of Boko Haram to surrender for rehabilitation and re-integration.
“We’re also looking for the possibilities of re-establishing a police outpost in this community.”
He appreciated the efforts of federal government, military and police for maintaining law and order in the state.
He pleaded with the villagers not flee to Maiduguri, the state capital, stressing that the security situation is under the control of military.