Alleged plots to remove Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Mathew Kolawole, has been described as untrue.
Addressing newsmen after plenary on Tuesday, House Committee Chairman on Information, Hon. Sunday Shigaba dismissed the rumour of N200m bribe from the state government.
He stated that there are no pressures on any lawmaker from the executive arm of government to change the current leadership in the House.
Kolawole was elected Speaker on 3rd August following the resignation of former Speaker Umar Ahmed Imam.
The planned impeachment of Kolawole, according to information circulating on the social media, is related to an alleged N200 million bribe scandal.
It was reported that some lawmakers were shortchanged in the sharing of the alleged N200m bribe and, in cahoot with angered state government, have decided to remove Kolawole from his position as Speaker. Member representing Lokoja II constituency, Hon. Idris Ndako, was allegedly penciled as his replacement. Ndako defected to the ruling All Progress Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
However, Shigaba said the allegations are products of mischief makers who are bent on creating trouble where there is none. He dismissed the claims that the Assembly is heading towards another round of crisis.
“I want to put this on record that no member of the Assembly has claimed knowledge of such a request or such approval and subsequent collection of #200 million bribe from the executive.
“It should be noted clearly here that we are honourable members, elected from our various constituency and it is not the first time a member or members have defected to another party. To the best of our knowledge, we have not been lobbied by anyone.There is no plan whatsoever to change the leadership of the House from Kolawole to Ndako.
“Of course, any member of the Kogi State House of Assembly have a right to aspire for any position the but that doesn’t mean that the aspiration will translate to reality. As far as we are concerned, we are united and focused. We have our leadership under Prince Mathew Kolawole and there has not been any pressure from any where to remove him from office.
“We are not in crisis in any form. No crisis is looming, but of course we are taken aback when rumors and information start springing up from left and right that such thing is going on,” he said.
He stressed that the 25 members in the Assembly remains united and committed in the discharge of their legislative business.
