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By Amuda Dan Sulaiman FAB.
Governor Yahaya Bello of State, may have swallowed its pride on the planed parallel State All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat as he has awarded contract for the renovation of the secretariat housing the Haddy Ametuo-led state executive committee.
Following media bombardment on Governor Bello over the constitution of a factional state executive and opening of a parallel party office, it was gathered that the governor’s Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja, recently visited the secretariat to make an on-the-spot assessment of the building.
When asked of his mission, Onoja, who disguised as a contractor, it was learnt, told the security man on duty that the state government wants to undertake some repairs in the building.
The contract for the renovation work, according to sources, was awarded without the consent of neither the occupants nor owner of the building.
However, there were speculations that the clandestine move by the governor may not be unconnected with the non recognition of his factional executive by the national leadership of the party.
When our correspondent visited the state APC secretariat located at Murtala Muhammed Way, opposite Lokoja local government secretariat, the renovation work was ongoing.
On who mobilized them to the site, one of the labourers who never wanted his name in print, told our reporter that, “na oga Edward Onoja bring us here and na him they pay us”.
Omeiza Salihu, a staff of the secretariat, told our correspondent that; “we have rented this secretariat long before Bello become the Governor of this state. It was late Prince Abubakar Audu that have been paying for the rent.
“When Audu died, some politicians in Abuja continued with the payment of the rent. Bello has never given us money to pay for the rent of this place.
“The party chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, has been the one paying our salary. As I talk, he is not owing us,” Salihu explained.
When contacted, Muhammad Musa, a staunch member of the APC from Lokoja local government area, described the
steps taken by the Kogi State government as unjust.
Musa said; “how can a responsible government award contract for the renovation of someone’s building without informing the owner or the person paying the rent. How will the government embark on such project without a tenancy agreement? After all, this is not a military era.
“Will the governor be happy if someone just enter into his private residence and start renovating it without his consent or approval?
“Well, I am waiting to see the reaction of the property owner or the occupants. If nothing is done, I will personally take the government to court so that it will serve as a deterrent to others who take laws into their hands,” Musa concluded.
However, efforts made to get the reaction of Edward Onoja, on who awarded the contract for the renovation work were unsuccessful as several calls put through to his mobile phone rang out without a response, neither did he respond to text message forwarded to him.
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