Captain Idris Wada thethen goveernor-elect and Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, made history last week when the two of them ruled Kogi state as governor and acting governor respectively.
Following the sacking of governors of five states by the Supreme Court over illegal tenure elongation, the confluence state became the cynosure of all eyes as a result of the succession drama that took place there.
The state’s Chief Judge, Justice Nasuru Ajanah, acting on directive from the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation sworn-in Speaker Bello as acting governor.
But the powers that be in the state thought otherwise. Instead of seeking further clarification of the Supreme Court’s judgment, the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state went through the backdoor to swear-in Captain Idris Wada as the state’s governor. They drafted the president of the Customary Court of Appeal in the state, Justice Shaibu Ibrahim the administer oath of office on Wada.
Even, a peace meeting organized by the PDP leadership in Abuja and chaired by Vice-president Namadi Sambo could not end the stalemate as the speaker refused to vacate office as acting governor.
Thus, the two men ruled Kogi State simultaneously until last Monday when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) clarified that Captain Wada is the authentic governor of the state and should be allowed to take charge immediately.
Indeed, January 27, 2012 would remain indelible in the history of Kogi State, as the people of the state woke up in the morning of that fateful day with Alhaji Ibrahim Idris in the saddle as the state chief executive, but by 11 am, the supreme court removed him from office.
And by 2.30 pm, the president of the customary court of appeal in the state, Justice Shaibu Ibrahim swore- in Captain Idris Wada as successor to Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. However, events took another dimension, when the chief judge of the state, Justice Nasiru Ajanah swore-in the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Bello as acting governor around 6.18 pm.
The security agents were more confused than the ordinariry people on the streets. First, they gave Captain Wada all the protection he needed when he was sworn-in, only to abandoned him for Hon. Bello, when the game changed. And subsequently, returned to him, when he came all the way from Abuja, to resume in the office, a few days later.
The teeming supporters of the ruling party, particularly top government functionaries, like commissioners were also caught in between the cross fire. Those who were over the moon, jubilating when Captain Wada took oath of office, turned round to grace the swearing in of Hon. Bello as acting governor.
The game of power play climaxed on the 30th of January, when the Acting governor, through his special adviser on media, Alhaji Ibrahim Amoka, issued a statement dissolving all political appointees that served under the former governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.
He said some people were trying to breach the existing peace in the state, and called on the law enforcement agencies to take necessary steps to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
However, information was all over the sleepy town that Captain Wada was already on his way from Abuja to take charge of affairs in the state. That heightened tension in the capital city of Lokoja, as no one was sure of what was about to happen. Although the situation was calm, but residents of the metropolis for example, were cautious of their movements.
It was not until a few minutes past one in the afternoon, when Captain Wada entered the state capital, and subsequently drove straight to Lugard House to resume duty. That was when followers of event, who felt the town was about to explode, discovered that there was actually one ‘king’ in the town, since the acting governor was still holed up in Abuja.
And the first step taken by Captain Wada, to prove that he was actually in charge, was to summon a security meeting at the government house. He thereafter, met with the cabinet members and other political appointees that served under the former Governor Ibrahim Idris.
The governor also asked all those appointed by Alhaji Idris to stay put in their duty posts. Captain Wada crowned his first day in his capacity as governor, with a media briefing, where he solicited for support and co-operation from the people of the state, in his determined efforts to rapidly transform the state.
Although, the matter has been resolved amicably by the ruling party, the question on the lips of the people of the state is; how did we the people of Kogi state find ourselves in the logjam, in the first place?
Jacob Edi, media advisor to governor Wada said the problem would not have arisen if the right thing has been done by the stakeholders.
According to him, since Kogi had gone through an election, where Captain Wada won fair and square, it was wrong to swear in an Acting governor, when a governor-elect was already waiting to be sworn in.
But the media strategist to Prince Abubakar Audu, Hon. Dino Melaye would hear none of that.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, the chieftain of Action Congress of Nigeria pointed out that Wada’s inauguration was wrong, insisting that the process that brought him to power has been declared null and void by the apex court.
He said the process had to start all over again, and wondered why the ruling party decided to “enter Lugard House through the window”.
Obviously, the event of January 27 almost tore the state apart, as it tended to pitch the largest ethnic groups in the state – Igala, and the Ebiras from the central axis of the state against each other.
The fact is that, since the creation of the state, the people of the central part of the state never had the opportunity to assume power. So, the kinsmen of Hon. Bello could not hide their joy, when he was sworn-in as the acting governor.
Indeed, they displayed it on the 28th of January, a day after he was sworn-in, when they lined up along the major streets of Okene to receive him. He was there to attend the 40th day prayer of a community leader, who passed on.
They sang, danced and praised the Almighty, for sparing their lives to witness the emergence of one of their own as the state chief executive.
So, whatever angle one looks at the drama that took place on that fateful day, it will not be out of place to say that only the people of Kogi State emerged victorious in the battle of who genuinely? occupied Lugard House.
This is because, they have refused to be dragged into the controversy, by completely controlling their emotions, which to a large extent, averted a possible breakdown of law and order.
The people of Kogi State have indeed re-affirmed the statement of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, when he visited the state at the twilight of his administration, that Kogi is the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
One could therefore, rightly conclude that the people of Kogi State, without mincing words, won the battle of January 27, when two governors were sworn in to pilot the affairs of a single state.