To ask why the Attorney General of the Federation, is specially interested in the affairs of Kogi state will not be out of place at this point in time in view of his latest advice to the IGP concerning the sealing of the House of Assembly pursuant to its takeover by the National Assembly. In the recent past, a similar twisted and compromised advice not sought by either INEC or APC from the AGF eventually resulted in the inconclusive saga that Kogi state has been embroiled in and yet to extricate itself from.
Since the imbroglio contrived by Alh. Yahaya Bello in his convoluted attempt to foist one of his lackeys as Speaker of the state assembly, various absurdities are being perpetrated daily which culminated in the resolution of the House of Representatives and the concurrence of the Senate that affirmed the closure of the state assembly.
Curiously, when five obviously not honourable members of the assembly forged the signatures of their colleagues to legitimize a purported impeachment in an assembly of twenty five members, the AGF feigned ignorance about the illegalities In the conduct of the notorious five. Even when the illegally anointed factional speaker of five started presiding over plenary without forming a quorum, the AGF not only turned a blind eye but virtually went to sleep.
Amidst this contrived commotion, the state governor went about governance as if all is well. In an interview, Alh. Bello stated that he is unaware of any crisis in the state assembly and even affirmed that “his” speaker is presiding over a House of assembly that has relocated to a corner in Lugard House. While many expressed indignation that the factional speaker was sworn in by a Deputy Governor expressly cleared and confirmed days earlier, the mind boggling financial impropriety that is allegedly being engaged in presently gives reason for all reasonable Kogites to be worried. Or what can possibly explain or justify the borrowing from Zenith Bank by Alh. Yahaya Bello without approval from the state assembly.
Unfortunately, Kogi state is being administered by a selected elite group of ex-bankers who lost their jobs dishonorably after fraud related issues were raised against them. Those with deep perception agree and argue that Alh. Bello is very comfortable with the present chaos in the Assembly and will prefer its perpetuation to ensure the present sleaze associated with the state accounts remain unchecked. And sadly in the midst of these, governance is in pause mode with anguish and agony being the lot of the people of the state.
No matter the long Epistle according to Saint Malami, nothing in law and logic can ever justify and rationalize the macabre display of impunity and illegalities ongoing in Kogi State as it concerns the state assembly.
From the advice, it is obvious the AGF will want to witness a state in chaos and anarchy before he will accept the plain truth that Kogi state is presently sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The alacrity with which the AGF woke from his hibernation as soon as the closure of the house was effected by the IGP based on directives from the National Assembly speaks volume.
When a Northern Elder statesman referred to the AGF as a charge-and-bail lawyer many were aghast but recent pronouncements from the AGF should really be a cause for concern. If the Chief Law Officer of the nation is observed to be aiding and abetting malfeasance and seen to be perverting the course of justice, then there is real trouble.
The AGF needs a perusal of his job description to enable him understand that poke nosing in affairs outside his purview is unbecoming of his office. Being Attorney General does not confer Legal Adviser status on the AGF to advice INEC, the Police and certainly not Kogi state government. Kogi state is in chaos since the mischievous advice of the AGF; a precarious situation the state is hoping on the judiciary to rescue it from.
A lot needs to be done and the AGF is expected to be less meddlesome in affairs and issues outside his “jurisdiction”.
The intriguing politicization of every facet of life in Kogi state is not only saddening but insulting. The state is more concerned about how to overcome the challenges the contrived inconclusive saga have placed in its path.
Every patriotic Nigerian should not engage in any act capable of aggravating the confusion in any part of the country especially a Minister of the Federal Republic. Enough of this busybody. This laughable attempts by AGF to assume the position of judge and jury is worthy of condemnation. As a member of the executive, the AGF ought to understand and appreciate the illegality in his ploy to ascribe judicial powers only reserved for Judges to himself.
The need to separate the Office of the AGF from that of Minister of Justice is once again brought to the fore to curtail the excesses and abuses of politicking on the socioeconomic life of the people as the prevailing situation in Kogi State have revealed.