The member representing Ijumu constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusola Kilani Olumo, has petitioned the Department of Security Service (DSS) over what he called “unfounded and ridiculous” allegation of terrorism and electoral violence leveled against him and other lawmakers by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
In a petition signed by his lawyer, Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi SAN, Kilani exposed the hatchet plan by the Governor to deal with him and other lawmakers for failing to obey his marching orders to win the just concluded House of Assembly elections “by all means”.
Recall that Governor Bello had earlier, through a letter sent to the State House of Assembly and read by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole, tagged Hon. Kilani and eight other members of the State House of Assembly) as terrorists or engaging in terrorism.
According to the petition, other members who are wrongly accused are; Bello Hassan (Ajaokuta), Muhammed Lawi Ahmed (Okene 1), Moses Akande (Ogori-Magongo) Aderonke Aro, (Yagba West), Daniyan Ranyi Bassa), Atule Igbunu (Ibaji) Atajachi Musa (Idah) and Muktar Bajeh (Okehi).
According to the petition dated 24th March 2023, “Governor Yahaya Bello has perfected a plan and hatched a clandestine move to set the machineries of Kogi state and government against the petitioner by painting him in a bad light (as a terrorist) to settle political scores.
“The motive behind this unfounded allegation is because of the just concluded elections, wherein the Governor mandated the petitioner alongside the aforementioned Honourable members of the State House of Assembly to deliver their respective constituencies ‘at all costs’, whether by ‘legal or illegal ‘ means, which the petitioner rebuffed being a law abiding citizen and ardent follower of Mr. President’s stance and insistence on having free and fair elections.”
The petition stated that Kilani’s suspension, alongside other lawmakers, was the consequences of not following the marching order.
“It is instructive to state that the Kogi State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole, the Speaker of the House, acted the script of the Governor and suspended the petitioner and others from the House of Assembly, relying on an incendiary letter written to him (the Honourable Speaker) by the Governor, alleging the petitioner along with others of ‘acts of terrorism’, even without any basis or proof, despite the fact that the Governor’s angst against the petitioner is simply because of the petitioner’s failure or refusal to circumvent the Electoral Act, against the wish and will of the people, by ensuring ‘victory at all cost’, in his constituency for the candidates of All Progressives Congress in the just concluded House of Assembly polls.
“The Governor was miffed by the petitioner’s patriotic acts, vowed to deal ruthlessly and politically with the petitioner, hence, the letter written by him (Mr. Governor) to the Kogi State House of Assembly, asking the Speaker of the House to suspend the petitioner and other members under reference by whatever reason. This is a case of clear witch-hunt to make false allegations against our client on the unfounded allegations of terrorism’; a classic case of ‘calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it’.
“The petitioner thus, has no choice but to bring Governor Yahaya Bello’s evil plan to your attention for your intervention and proper investigation to prevent a situation where the petitioner suffer in the hands of a high complex scheme of Governor Yahaya Bello, without any justification,” the petition read.
The petition has been received and acknowledged by the Department of State Security (DSS).
Other entities copied include; the Inspector General of Police, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the High Commissioner- Embassy of the United Kingdom, the Consular General- United States of America Embassy and the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice.
