Measles Outbreak: Kogi Health Ministry Breaks Silence.

Fire Razes Kogi Assembly Amidst Allegation of Threat To Life

 

By Ayobami Omole, Lokoja.

 

The entire Kogi State House of Assembly’s Legislative Chamber and its Gallery were razed by fire in the early hours of Monday. It was gathered that the fire started at midnight but the security agents that were said to be on duty got to know at about 7 am on Monday morning.

The inferno consumed the Legislative Chamber leaving nothing including the roof of the building, Furniture and other electronics that are inside the chamber. Other affected places include the Control Offices where the chairs, tables and other office equipment were completely consumed.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the State Assembly raised alarm over threat to the life of the speaker and the principal officers of the Assembly.

The State Fire Director, Mr. Salau Ozigi said the reason for the fire cannot be immediately ascertained as investigations have commenced. According to him, he got a call at about past 7am and officers of the State Fire Service were mobilized to use first aid equipment to control the fire. He noted that the fire was controlled not to go beyond the chamber and gallery.

Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole has attributed the fire disaster at the Gallery and Chamber of the Assembly to activities of Saboteurs.

The Speaker, who expressed regret over the incident, said the fire has brought a setback to the activities of the House. He pointed out that the fire disaster will not affect any decision of the House on the ongoing probe into the Equity Share of the State in Dangote Cement Plc.

According to him, Security Agencies have commenced investigations into the matter, saying he was not sure if it is as a result of the recent threat to his life.

Prince Kolawole added that the Disaster has not affected activities of the House as it would not affect the members from performing their constitutional right.

When asked whether it might have been linked with the recent happening between the Assembly and Dangote group, he said that that is left to the security to determine.

"We should leave security people to do their work and give us a report going forward" the speaker said.

However, a source who pleaded anonymity said he suspected an explosion but couldn't say who might be responsible for the fire. However, LEADERSGIST observed that aside from the cracked walls as a result of the fire, there was no trace of explosion in and around the assembly complex.

Meanwhile, Kogi State government has alleged that the fire that razed the Assembly complex was caused by Arsonists sponsored by Dangote GROUP. Kogi state commissioner For Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo said “The arsonists were suspected to have been sent to burn the Complex in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company”.

Fanwo accused Alhaji Aliko Dangote of "playing dirty and dangerous" over the Obajana saga, saying, "The resolve of the State Government to defend the people's rights cannot be broken."

He said, "The State House of Assembly was set on fire this morning. Remember we exposed plans to attack the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly with fake soldiers yesterday.

"Having discovered that we exposed their satanic plans against the Speaker, they changed tactics to go and burn down the Kogi State House of Assembly. This is an attack on our institution and our people.

"Burning down our Assembly Complex will only further fuel our resolve to right the wrongs of the past. We will take back what legally belongs to us."

In a related development, security agents attached to the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, were said to have foiled an attempt to attack his home but the hoodlums, however, escaped with gunshot wounds.

Recall that the Kogi State Government exposed certain fight back plans by the Dangote Group, including destabilizing the state and going after key Government offices and officials.