Kogi State Government has revealed that it would await the outcome of investigations by respective authorities before accrediting any source to the fire incidence at it’s State Assembly.
Recall that in the early hours of Monday, Fire was reported to have gutted the Kogi State House of Assembly which reportedly caused damages to the legislative building.
While conducting an on the spot assessment of situation at the Assembly complex, the State Governor, Yahaya Bello represented by his Deputy, Edward Onoja affirmed that such occurrence was strange to the state because it was the first time such event would occur on any property of the government.
The governor said, “If people alleged sabotage as the cause of the fire incidence, ongoing investigations will unravel the matter and as a responsible government it was pertinent to ensure that proper information were gathered, before coming to the public”
He however debunked that the fire was connected to the 2023 general elections stressing that the state has had series of such elections in previous years without recording fire occurrences.
He added that as regards whether the fire incidence was connected with the current tussle between Dangote Cement Company and Kogi State Government over the ownership of Obajana Cement Company, the event was a legal matter which would be solved by documents and facts.
He added that the government was already threading on the path of seeking justice for the people of the state and would not resort to self help.
The Governor announced that no lives or documents belonging to the state Assembly was lost in the fire incidence as the fire was contained within the Assembly chambers causing damage to the furniture and other internal parts of the chamber while the offices were largely spared.
He added that if the fire was targeted at destroying any documents of government, it failed in that regards as all documents have been recovered and kept in a secured location.
The governor said government would do everything possible within it means to ensure that the Assembly members get back to their legislative duties, although the Assembly buildings would be sealed pending the conclusion of investigations while believing that the state would get justice as regards getting back the property that belonged to the people of the state.
Speaking with the Speaker of the Assembly, RT. Hon. Matthew Kolawole he said the circumstances under which the fire incidence occurred was highly suspicious noting that the State Assembly would not be derailed from performing it’s duties as promised to the people of the state.
