I’ve not received allowances for two years, says Kogi deputy gov

Kogi Deputy Governor Simon Achuba on Friday disclosed that only
God has been sustaining him in the past two years without
allowances.

According to him Governor Yahaya Bello has stopped paying him
his statutory allowances.

He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with the
Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja.

While declining to speak on the outcome of the meeting, he said
discussions were ongoing to resolve the issue of his allowances
stoppage.

He had recently lamented that his statutory allocation amounting
to N819, 709 980 had been stopped by Governor Bello in the last two
years.

The sum is said to be the accumulated statutory allocations,
which include travel allowances, hotel bills, pledges, and
outstanding monthly impress and salaries.

Fielding questions on the outcome of the meeting with the Chief
of Staff, he said: “Well it is a private discussion in relation to
my office.

“From my discussions with him there is hope that all the issues
will be resolved.”

Asked whether he has confidence that all the issues will be
resolved, he said: “With God all things are possible.”

On how he has been coping in the last two years as a Deputy
Governor without allowances and impress, he said: “Well you know in
life what sustains a man is God. So if your hope is in God, you
will be very much alive.

“If you have money and don’t have God, you will be living like a
dead person.

“But if you have God you can live, He is the one who provides to
man. So if one source closes, God opens another source for you to
live. Supposing I am not a Deputy Governor, won’t I be alive?”

Also asked why the allowances were stopped, he said that the
only excuse given to him was that there was no money.

On his relationship with the governor, he said: “For now it is
not very smooth, it is not what it is supposed to be and it is not
supposed to be like that.”

Also answering question on whether he will support governor
Bello in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, he
said: “When the time comes. There are issues to be put on table for
discussion and these are the issues why I am here.

“When those issues are settled you will see us flying again,
politics is like that.”

He however ruled out the possibility of contesting against his
boss.

“No, I am not contesting. I won’t contest against him for
whatever reason,” adding that crisis is resolved he will work with
Bello.

“If they are resolved, why not? Everybody has interest and if
the interests are taken care of, why not.”

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