Following reports in some news media alleging crisis in the Kogi state House of Assembly, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Bello Balogun (APC Ajaokuta) has fired back at what he described as “ill-considered statements by irresponsible news reporters who are bankrolled by enemies of Kogi State, the APC and the high flying governor of the state Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello.”

Hon. Abdullahi Bello described as “straight out of hell” a “demonic publication” by Kogi Flame, an online news publisher titled “Crisis Rocks Kogi Assembly.”

The report made no secret of the publisher’s desire to demonise the House Leader, fan the embers of war in the peaceful 7th Assembly, misrepresent facts, misinform the unsuspecting public as well as tag the lawmaker who has been nothing but committed and supportive of the policies, programmes and aspirations of the government of Governor Yahaya Bello as untrustworthy.

The House Leader further stated in ‘categorical’ terms that “there is no crisis of any kind in the Kogi State House of Assembly.

“All that transpired on Tuesday and Wednesday (16th and 17th of March), were basically procedural and done in tandem with the Kogi State Assembly House Rules.

“For the avoidance of doubt the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole (being 1st among equals) must deliberate and agree with all the Principal officers of the House in the event that there is need to adjourn abruptly, plenary from a date that had hitherto been communicated to members and the public.”

Hon. Abdullahi Bello stressed that he was surprised when a hastily hand written proclamation was issued and served lawmakers by the Clerk of the House (on the Speakers instruction) in the evening of Tuesday the 16th of March, adjourning the Plenary that was already slated for the 17th of March 2023.

This is against Order 5 Section 22(2) House Rule which states that “Whenever the House stands adjourned … and it is represented by the Leaders of the Political Parties in the House to the Speaker that the public interest requires that the House should meet on an earlier or later date or time than that on which it stands adjourned,the Speaker may give notice accordingly and the House shall meet on the date and time stated in the notice.”

Hon. Abdullahi Bello only acted as any other responsible House Leader should act upon getting complaints and reports from the majority of Members by calming frayed nerves and stating that they should discountenance the ‘handwritten proclamation’ and prepare to sit whilst he awaited correspondence from the Speaker. He also, published a confirmation of the said initial adjournment when he was informed of the tight schedule of both the Speaker and his Deputy.

The House Leader, Hon. Bello Abdullahi Balogun emphatically condemned the “ill conceived, self serving and overly inaccurate representation of happenings in the Assembly by unprofessional news reporters.

Reacting to unsubstatiated claims by the news report that he is working in support of the Kaduna state governor ahead of the next presidential election, Hon. Abdullahi Bello stated that “there is no person in the Kogi State House of Assembly that is more loyal, physically, mentally and spiritually prepared for the ascension of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.”

Hon. Abdullahi Bello is an astute lawmaker unknown for shying away from his beliefs. He has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the “GYB to PYB 2023” project by embarking on personal advocacy visits to eminent personalities that cut across Nigeria. He also, joins other members of the Assembly on various impactful advocacy visits to various States in the country to attract massive support for the governor’s presidential aspiration.

“This failed attempt to brew up crisis in the 7th Assembly through dubious journalism is undoubtedly the handiwork of enemies within the party or members of other parties that have overtime masqueraded as APC members in Kogi State.

“Treat as fake news any report of crisis in the Kogi State House of Assembly. I, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, House Leader and member representing the good people of Ajaokuta State Constituency is the most committed person to ensuring that there is peace and harmony in the Kogi State House of Assembly. I am equally no less commited to ensuring that our amiable governor is elected president in 2023,” he concluded.

Credit: GYB2PYB SURE PROJECT