Simon Achuba
Mr Simon Achuba has insisted that he is the deputy governor of Kogi State and any other person parading himself as deputy governor is an impostor who should be jailed.
Achuba disclosed this while reacting to questions during an interview on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily.
When asked if he wants to be reinstated or continue his relationship with the present administration he said, “The idea of being reinstated does not exist. I am the deputy governor and there’s no other one.
“Anybody who is parading himself as the deputy governor is completely an impostor and nothing more. As far as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned that person must be an impostor and when law enforcement agents are effective, such person should have been arrested and kept in a dungeon for trial.”
He also insisted that his removal is unconstitutional and the action of the Kogi State House of Assembly will be questioned by the court of law.
“There can’t be two deputy governors in a state. There can only be one at a time. The only deputy governor that Kogi State has now is me. That the Chief Justice swore in somebody does not give it legality in any way. The action of the State Assembly and everyone who participated in the process will be out to test in court because we are in court already,” he said.
The new deputy governor of the state in reaction to Achuba said the Kogi State House of Assembly simply did their job and he deserves to be congratulated on his new appointment as new deputy governor.
“A process was followed. From the executive-legislative – and judiciary. The process was initiated by the legislative arm. The Assembly is doing their job and it is their right to do so. The matter is in court and we believe the judiciary will do justice to it,” he said.
The Kogi State House of Assembly on Monday confirmed Mr Edward Onoja as the deputy governor of Kogi State. He was confirmed as deputy governor on after he was screened by members of the House at the legislative chamber of the Assembly complex in Lokoja, the state capital.
He was subsequently sworn in by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajana, as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.
The swearing-in ceremony was held on Monday at the Government House in Lokoja, the state capital. Onoja before his new appointment was the former Chief of Staff to the state governor, Mr Yahaya Bello.
