THE succession struggle that broke out in the wake of the sack of Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris was apparently resolved yesterday with the assuming of office by Capt. Idris Wada (rtd), winner of the December 3 governorship poll.
Last Friday, a Supreme Court judgment outlawed tenure elongation for five sate governors, including Ibrahim Idris. The succession crisis was occasioned by the swearing-in of Wada and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bello on the same day at the weekend.
But this confusion has abated following the truce meeting held in Abuja at the instance of the Presidency in which Wada and Bello were in attendance. Vice President Namadi Sambo chaired the meeting. Also in attendance were Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Abubakar Baraje, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke.
The meeting was said to have prevailed on the speaker to revert to his original position as speaker to allow the erstwhile governor-elect assume office in the interest of peace pending a better interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment.
Wada and Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi were received by dignitaries and stakeholders at the Lugard House where the new governor assumed office at exactly 1:05 p.m. Wada proceeded to the Government House Mosque where he worshipped.
Subsequently, he held a state security meeting with commanders of the services and security agencies. He later met with members of the state executive council shortly, preaching peace, harmony and reconciliation.
The residents of Lokoja, the state capital, however, became apprehensive over the presence of stern-looking policemen at strategic locations in the city.
Earlier, erstwhile acting governor, Alhaji Bello had announced the sack of the Secretary to the State Government and all political appointees in the state, a decision reversed by Wada upon assumption of office.
Rising from over five hours of deliberations, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday endorsed the swearing-in of Wada as Kogi governor following his emergence as the governor on December 3, 2011. The commission based its decision on the fact that prior to the Supreme Court judgment on Friday, the elections had been concluded.
Addressing a press conference, in his office, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, however, advised those who were not satisfied with the position of the commission to go to court to seek redress, saying as a law-abiding body, INEC was prepared to, at any time, obey any court order.
