In the past few days Kogi State has been in the news. The ‘Conference state” bubbled back into public consciousness yesterday when the news of the impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Momoh Jimoh, broke.
The impeachment of the Speaker, along with two other principal officers, his deputy, Hon. Ali Akuh and minority leader, Hon. Hassan Bello, was said to have been endorsed by 17 of the 25-member House.
They were accused of financial recklessness, incompetence, greed and betrayal of members.
Addressing pressmen in Lokoja, chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. John Abbah stated that the action of “17 members” of the Assembly to remove Jimoh-Lawal as Speaker should not be seen as novel, but imperative, in view of the demand to remove the Speaker before now.
He explained that there had been previous moves to remove Jimoh-Lawal as speaker, but that they have been managing him, stating that when the 17 members could no longer manage him and others, they had no option but to move against him.
However, sources said the impeachment of the Speaker may not be unconnected with highwire politicking in the state to placate the people of Kogi East.
The newly elected governor, Yahaya Bello and the impeached Speaker are from the same Okene Local Government Area. He might have been sacrificed to ensure power balance in the state.
Meanwhile, member representing Ogori/Magongo Constituency in the House, Hon. Godwin Osuyi has emerged as the new Speaker.
Osuyi said that the impeachment had nothing to do with the political situation in the state.
He pointed out that all the 25 assembly members are capable of being Speaker of the House, and that if any is not competent, such can be removed.
But in a swift reaction Jimoh-Lawal insisted he remains the Speaker. He said due process was not followed in the said impeachment.
He said the signatures of lawmakers that reportedly supported his impeachment were forged, saying the police will be invited to investigate the matter.
“I remain the Speaker,” he asserted.
The Kogi State House of Assembly is made up of 14 PDP members and 11 APC members.
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