Kogi acting gov refutes media reports on Idris

By Niyi Adebimpe - 10.02.2008

The acting gover nor of Kogi State, Honourable Clarence Olafemi, has refuted media reports that the embattled former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, declined to hand over to him as well as vacate the Government House.

Speaking with Sunday Tribune on telephone, Olafemi disclosed that contrary to media reports, the handing over was the first assignment Alhaji Idris performed as soon as he arrived from Abuja on Thursday where he had earlier gone for the judgment of the Appeal Court.

“As a matter of fact, the handing over, including all the property of the Kogi State government, was done that Thursday evening. “I can assure you that all the property of the government, including vehicles, were properly handed over to me and they are now under my control,” Olafemi said.

Olafemi further reiterated that all hands are now on deck to ensure that Idris wins the fresh governorship election ordered to be conducted within 90 days in the state. Also speaking with the Sunday Tribune, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, who would not want his name in print, disclosed that the report was part of the ploy by the opposition to make the state ungovernable for the acting governor.

“Even the constitutional provision empowering the Speaker to take over, in event of election nullification, still makes the opposition jittery, and they have vowed to do everything to frustrate the interim administration, but I can assure you that they will fail,” he said.

According to him, “Hon. Olafemi will surely bring his wealth of experience to bear in the governance of the state, exploring all the lawful measures to maintain peace, cohesion and good governance in the state.”

The PDP chieftain also stressed that the campaign for the re-election of Alhaji Idris would be flagged off on Monday, assurred that the embattled former governor will convincingly defeat his predecessor, Prince Abubakar Audu, any day.

“Just wait and see, you will see how Idris would sweep the polls in the fresh election; you will then know who is more popular between him and Audu in the state. The rousing welcome the people of the state accorded Idris when he came back from Abuja on Thursday is enough signal for his opponents to know that they can’t match Idris in any political contest,” he stressed.