JUST IN: Confusion as Bello sacks, reinstates cabinet

There was confusion in Kogi State on Sunday as Governor Yahaya
Bello ordered the dissolution of his cabinet but quickly reversed
the order just before the news filtered out.

Sources close to the State Executive Committee meeting held on
Sunday said the governor had ordered all commissioners and all the
21 local government administrators to hand over keys to their
official cars to the Secretary to the State Government, Dr.
Folasade Arike Ayoade.

Sources close to the cabinet meeting held behind closed door on
Sunday told our correspondent that the dissolution might not be
unconnected with the arms importation last Thursday.

The governor was said to be furious with his cabinet members
whom he accused of leaking the information about the arms
importation.

However, just 10 minutes after the pronouncement, the Governor
reversed his order, demanding “better performance and better
relationship” with the state government.

Responding to inquiry about the development, the Director
General, media and publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo,
confirmed that the governor had reversed his order of dissolution
and asked them to return to their position.

Our correspondent also gathered that the reversal might be at
the instance of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Edward Onoja,
who reportedly prevailed on Bello not to toe that line.

Onoja, said to be a very powerful and influential member of the
governor s kitchen cabinet, was quoted as arguing against the
dissolution, especially as the governor would need them for the
realisation of his s 2019 re-election bid.

“He told the governor that it would be difficult to build a new
set of loyalists that will be used for campaign,” our source
said.

There was confusion in Kogi State on Sunday as Governor Yahaya
Bello ordered the dissolution of his cabinet but quickly reversed
the order just before the news filtered out.

Sources close to the State Executive Committee meeting held on
Sunday said the governor had ordered all commissioners and all the
21 local government administrators to hand over keys to their
official cars to the Secretary to the State Government, Dr.
Folasade Arike Ayoade.

Sources close to the cabinet meeting held behind closed door on
Sunday told our correspondent that the dissolution might not be
unconnected with the arms importation last Thursday.

The governor was said to be furious with his cabinet members
whom he accused of leaking the information about the arms
importation.

However, just 10 minutes after the pronouncement, the Governor
reversed his order, demanding “better performance and better
relationship” with the state government.

Responding to inquiry about the development, the Director
General, media and publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo,
confirmed that the governor had reversed his order of dissolution
and asked them to return to their position.

Our correspondent also gathered that the reversal might be at
the instance of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Edward Onoja,
who reportedly prevailed on Bello not to toe that line.

Onoja, said to be a very powerful and influential member of the
governor s kitchen cabinet, was quoted as arguing against the
dissolution, especially as the governor would need them for the
realisation of his s 2019 re-election bid.

“He told the governor that it would be difficult to build a new
set of loyalists that will be used for campaign,” our source
said.