A former governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dr. Goodman Akwu has
condemned the extension of tenure of local government administrators by
the State House of Assembly in the state.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja, the politician explained that the
action of the State lawmakers had demonstrated weaknesses, compromise
and complicity, thereby creating another constitutional crises.
He wondered how justice had continued to elude people of the State
under Yahaya Bello’s led administration, adding that those
administrators had stayed close two years illegally.
Alleging that the State lawmakers were bribed to do so, he vowed to challenge the development in court, if it was not reversed.
“My attention has just been drawn to the illegality been perpetuated
in Kogi state by the Executive and legislatures, no doubt the
collaboration is for a purpose. We heard Ghana must go was the secret
behind the development,” he claimed.
He described the extension as alien to the Constitution and Kogi
State local government laws, saying that the administrators as
appointees of the executive have looted local government accounts as
well.
“My heart bleeds to hear that Kogi State House of Assembly has
granted, yet another extension for the illegal administrators to remain
in office and continue to steal tax payers’ money again”, he said.
Kogi State Local Government Law provides: “The tenure of the
legislative council shall be three (3) years commencing from the date
the members were sworn in.”
“That in the event of expiration of office of the tenure of the
Chairmen and council and before there will be another election, there
shall be a Transition Committee for the council.”
“The Transition Committee shall have five(5) members drawn from the
Local Government Area in consultation with member(s) of the House of
Assembly representing the Local Government Area.”
“(The tenure of the Transition Committee of each Local government
shall not exceed one-third (1/3) of a normal tenure of Local Government
councils as approved for in section (I) of this Law.”