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All is not well with political office holders in Kogi State as Governor Yahaya Bello is set to weed out those perceived to be the ones used to subvert his seeming hold on the state delegates as played out in the APC presidential primaries.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that the State APC went to the primaries with 63 delegates, and the Governor scored 47, leaving many to question where the rest went and how co – contenders for the ticket were able to get the rest from Bello’s grasp.
The Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Arike Ayoade, the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Idris Asiru are among the rumoured seeming untouchables to be weeded out.
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If this happens, many people in the state are already salivating for what the fallout would be from such a bold step by Governor Bello.
There is an overwhelming belief among the people, especially within APC supporters that many who ‘betrayed’ the Governor are those from the Western Senatorial District, especially those from the Yoruba – Okun speaking part.
Member of the National Assembly representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon James Abiodun Faleke originally hails from there.
Hon Faleke is seen to be eyeing the governorship of the state, having been the running mate to the Late former Governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu whose death threw up the incumbent who came second during APC primaries in 2014.
The cabinet reshuffle, Hon David Omachoko, a political commentator in the state said, is to enable Governor Bello make efforts to regain control of the state politics, especially within the ruling APC.
“I expected the Governor to have reshuffle his cabinet long ago. There are too many unimportant and unnecessary appointments in his administration and it is draining the state of the resources it doesn’t have.
“This reshuffle is very important. It is also about Governor Bello’s political future. If Bola Tinubu is elected president, I am certain he would want someone he has trusted and gave political mentorship, like Faleke, to take over as the next Governor. This is an absolute certainty.
“So, continuing to allow people who subverted his directives to continue to be in office is so slighting and politically naive.”
TheNewsGuru.com has learnt exclusively that many commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Board Members and directors would be relived of their appointments.
A few of those who are removed from their positions would however be returned, with many losing it, especially Local Government Chairmen who are rumoured to have connived with some of the delegates.
It is still unclear whether Governor Yahaya Bello would continue with his rumoured ambition to install his current Chief of Staff, Abdulkareem Asuku as a successor and betray the rumoured arrangement he had with his Deputy, Edward Onoja as successor.
Speaking on the issue, a source close to government told our reporter that everything has been concluded and all documentations done to rejig the cabinet.