Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The Member representing the good people of Ijumu in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusola Kilani has petitioned Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over what he called “unfounded and ridiculous allegation” of terrorism and electoral violence leveled against him.
Recall that Governor Bello had last week through a letter sent to the State House of Assembly and read by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole tagged Hon. Kilani and eight (8) others (Members of the State House of Assembly) as Terrorists or engaging in Terrorism.
Other members who also accused are; Bello Hassan (Ajaokuta), Muhammed Lawi Ahmed (Okene 1), Moses Akande (Ogori)Magongo) Aderonke Aro, (Yagba West), Daniyan Ranyi Bassa), Atule Igbunu (Ibaji) Atajachi Musa (Idah) and Muktar Bajeh (Okehi).
But in a petition by Hon. Olusola Kilani, written by O.M.Atoyebi SAN & Partner, of Omaplex Law Firm, said the Governor has perfected a plan and hatched a cladestine move to set the machineries of Kogi State Government against him in bad light as a terrorist to settle political scores, especially given the grave penal and social consequences which the allegations carry in the present day Nigeria.
The motives behind the unfounded allegations to label him a Terrorist, Hon. Olusola noted in the petition he disclosed is because of the just concluded election in which the Governor mandated him the Lawmaker and other mentioned members of the State House of Assembly to deliver their respective Constituencies at all costs whether by ‘Legal or Illegal” means which the Lawmaker said he rebuffed being a law abiding citizen and ardent follower of Mr. President stance and insistence on having a free and fair election.
The Lawmaker said it is instructive to note that the Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole as Speaker acted the script of the Governor even without a basis of proof, said the allegations against him was because of failure to circumvent the electoral act against the wishes of the people by ensuring victory at all costs in his constituency for the APC candidate in the just concluded 2023 House of Assembly Polls.
The Lawmaker in the petition said, the Governor was miffed by his Patriotic Acts, vowed to deal ruthlessly, politically with him , hence the letter by him to the Speaker which was acted upon leading to his suspension.
The petition has been received and acknowledged by the Department of State Security. Other entities copied the petition include; the Inspector General of Police, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the High Commissioner- Embassy of the United Kingdom, the Consular General- United States of America Embassy and the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice.