Reactions have continued to trail
the alleged double registration saga by Kogi State, Governor Alhaji Yahaya
Bello that led to the sack of two INEC officials and the compulsory retirement
of the other.
A former Deputy governorship
candidate in the November 2015 election in the State, James Faleke commended
INEC for upholding the constitution of the land.
He said” I commend INEC for
standing firm however it is unfortunate that the offender himself is not
remorseful and has succeeded in making three INEC officials to lose their jobs.
” It will serve as deterrent to
others. I sympathise with the families of the three INEC staff just as I
sympathise with all Kogites for suffering the senseless rulers hip of Yahaya
Bello.
” This is a shame to our State.
It is a shame to Kogi. In the history of Nigeria this is the first time the
illegality by a Governor is affecting an ordinary citizen.
My advise to Bello is for him to
resign Honorably
On his part, the lawmaker
representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, while
demanding for the governor’s resignation, said the governor had succeed in
making the three INEC staff jobless.
“If it were a civilised society
where leaders respect themselves and the people and where there is value, I
think the best thing is for him to resign Honorably.
“But you know our society is such
that they will always believe they can have their way by maintaining the
immunity believing that after the expiration of his tenure in office he will
find a way of escaping the wrath of the law.
“Our leaders lack integrity.
After the illegality has been confirmed and sack of three INEC officials
involved, he has succeeded in putting the affected INEC back in to the labor
market. There is nothing better than for him to Honorably resign,” he
maintained.
In a related development, the
Kogi State People Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary, Bode Ogunmola is
of the view that his party has been justified and vindicated that the governor
acted illegally.
According to him, “Double
registration is an offence under our laws and we are happy that INEC is doing
the needful now. The guy doesn’t know the law and unfortunately he has
surrounded himself with am armatures if not ordinarily his Attorney General
should have been able to advise him that double registration is an offence.
“Definitely he cannot be in
contention in the next election. INEC declared that for immunity they should
have gone ahead with his prosecution. Don’t worry we are going ahead dusting
our books and our legal department is up to the task and when we get to the
bridge we will tell him where he belongs.
“Normally he wasn’t an elected
Governor nobody voted for him actually, his coming was an aberration and we
have always hammered on that and now that people are saying he should step
aside he should obey the clarion call of the people of Kogi State.
“He is getting every foot wrong,
he is not paying salary, he is not paying pensioners, the only project he
commissioned this year is his personal house, he has not done any other thing
outside that.
” If you cannot carry a load why
not step aside and allow people that are prepared to take over to come in and
do the needful? So we are in support of the masses calling for him to step
aside and go back to his transport business.
Also speaking, the Executive
Director, Centre for Human Right and Conflict Resolution, Idris Miliki called
on governor Bello to apologize publicly to citizens of Kogi State.
“There are two angles to it, one
is the dismissal and retirement of the INEC staffs conforms with the civil
service rule.
“It is most disappointing that he
is the first Governor in the history of Nigeria to have perpetrated in this
legality and criminality. The key issue here is the issue that this has
vindicated the earlier case at the Supreme Court.
“For Somebody to be contesting
for the exalted office of the Governor to register in Abuja and he does not
know that all he required was to transfer his voters’ card.
“The electoral act states clearly
how they can transfer voters card to the local Governm not where you intend to
vote. For him to rather mobilise to Government House as being alleged to
conduct double registration as a sitting Government is condemnable, regrettable
and an embarrassment for the people of Kogi State. We call on him to apologise
to us.
“For me resignation may not be
the issue since he can not be tried while is is still in office but for the
fact that INEC has conducted its action in this manner I think he should
apologise to the people of Kogi State,” Miliki said.
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