27th July, 2016
The legislative brouhaha that hampered activities in the Kogi State House of Assembly has finally come to an end following the resignation of Hon. Momoh Jimoh-Lawal as Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday 26 July. The embattled former speaker was replaced by Hon. Umar Ahmed Imam.
His resignation letter was read on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker Hon. Ali Akuh, who said the Speaker’s decision is in the best interest of the state.
It would be recalled that for some months, there has been serious dissenting issues which led to the break up of members of the state assembly into two factions, the G15 and the G5.
The G15 had members who were mainly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and who were loyal to Momoh-Lawal while the G5, all of whom are APC members were loyal to Imam, who emerged as the new speaker.
It would also be recalled that the House has been enmeshed in a lot of infighting before the emergence of Yahaya Bello as governor of the state. The imbroglio led to the momentary ousting of the then speaker Rt. Hon. Momoh Jimoh-Lawal.
On assumption of duty as governor, Alhaji Yayaha Bello intervened and peace was restored but it was transient, a deeper crisis soon erupted that bedeviled the legislative chamber for much longer period.
Again, Hon. Momoh Jimoh was ousted as Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly.
It took yet again the intervention of Yahaya Bello, who called out to the factions to bury their hatchets and put Kogi first.
To ensure that peace reigned in the House, concerned indigenes of Kogi State (Peace Committee) took it upon themselves to broker peace between the factions.
On 26 July, after a long recess, the assembly members resumed legislative business with the resignation letter of Rt. Hon. Momoh Jimoh.
While thanking his constituency, fellow colleagues, members of the media, friends and family, he urged all members to give their maximum support to the administration of Yahaya Bello.