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Our attention has been drawn to a malicious publication by a disgruntled individual who have refused to disclosed his identity but decided to hide under the aegis of ‘The Leakages’, an online medium surreptitiously aimed at maligning the good rapport that is currently existing between the executive and the legislature in Kogi state.
Ordinarily, we would have preferred not to dignify this unfounded falsehood, but we find it expedient to set the record straight for the sake of the reading public and for the benefit of Kogites whose sensibility might be assaulted via this malicious falsehood the writer posted on the online platform.
It has become imperative for us to sensitize the general public against being misinformed by the desperate and ill informed blogger whose stock in trade is to attempt dragging the good name and image of the Honorable Speaker, Rt Hon Prince Mathew Kolawole into disrepute.
The blogger who was not courageous enough to reveal his identity for reasons best known to him has demonstrated stark ignorance about the workings of the revered Kogi State House of Assembly presently under the amiable leadership of Rt. Hon Mathew Kolawole, a leader who has an impeccable character and credibility.
Peddling falsehood meant to vilify the person of the Speaker leaves much to be desired as though the writer intended to soil the image of the Speaker and that of the sixth Assembly; he has succeeded in displaying the fact that he is a poor student of history as it concerns transparent investigative journalism.
While the feeble minded author has failed to reveal his source of information, all he wrote are figments of the shallow imagination of a callous fellow who derives pleasure in running down people who have impacted people’s life positively and are recording huge success in various fields of endeavors.
To set the record straight, on 2nd August, 2017, some hoodlums besieged the state Assembly to disrupt the plenary session and in the process, Hon. Friday Sanni, Member representing Igalamela/Odolu State Constituency was assaulted.
The act which was not in the character of the entire House was condemned by all the members with the current Speaker who was then the House Majority Leader taking the lead.
It is instructive to add that Rt. Hon Mathew Kolawole was among those rescued by security agents at the Assembly complex on that fateful day.
That the act was an ‘order from above’ according to the anonymous writer is an unsubstantiated claim as every well-meaning people including the peace-loving Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello did not only condemn the ignoble act but also immediately ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident and also directed his State Security Adviser to beef up security around the Assembly complex.
This has lent credence to the fact that the writer’s claims are not only baseless but phantom.
While we empathize with the victim of the attack, it is callous for a shallow minded quack to assume that the crisis was a prelude to the leadership change in the Assembly as the resignation of Rt. Honourable Imam Alfa which paved way for Rt. Hon Mathew Kolawole to become the Speaker bore no relevance to the crisis that erupted in the House and the invitation of some government officials to provide the House with update on the screening exercise and the disbursement of Paris Club refund.
Instructively, Rt. Honourable Imam on the 17th August 2017 pledged his support and loyalty to the new leadership.
He would never have done so if he was coerced to resign as claimed by the writer.
While canvassing for the support of members for the new leadership of the Assembly, Rt. Hon Imam was quoted as saying;
“My reign as the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly for one year, a week and a day cannot be complete without thanking all the entire Lawmakers, management, staff and Assembly Press crew who have in various ways cooperated with my leadership for me to succeed. The support that you have showed me should be moved to the new leadership. We are all critical stakeholders; therefore all hands must be on deck to move the Assembly forward. Mr. Speaker, you are privileged to have two former speakers on the floor, a former Deputy Speaker and five respected ranking members who are willing to see you succeed immensely”
For the writer to conclude that the Speaker who is first among equals can on his own discontinue an ongoing investigation speaks volume about the writer’s knowledge about the conduct of legislative business.
It is however difficult to pardon such folly as demonstrated by the writer especially when his main target is to run down the person’s and office of Honourable Speaker.
Consequently, we want to counsel the writer to be subjected to professional training and objective reportage so as to be insulated from blunders in the course of his professional duties.
– Femi Olugbemi
Chief Press Secretary to the Honourable Speaker,
Kogi State House of Assembly
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