The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba has said his relationship with Governor Yahaya Bello of the state is not cordial.
Achuba who made this known in Abuja on Friday disclosed that his relationship with governor went sour he (Bello) stopped his statutory allowances amounting to N819,709, 980 two years ago.
The Deputy Governor has, however, threatened to drag Governor Bello to court over the unpaid salaries and allowances.
He expressed that he was only surviving by God’s grace as the Deputy Governor of a state.
Achuba further explained that he had no plans of contesting against Bello in the forthcoming elections despite the treatment meted out to him.
Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Achuba who refused to disclose the outcome of the meeting, said that the discussions were ongoing to resolve the issue.
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He explained that his allowances which he had been denied included travel allowances, hotel bills, pledges, and outstanding monthly impress and salaries.
When asked why he was in the Villa, Achuba said: “Well it is a private discussion in relation to my office. From my discussions with him, there is hope that all the issues will be resolved.”
Asked whether he has confidence that all the issues would be resolved, he said: “With God all things are possible.”
On how he has been coping in the last two years as a deputy governor without allowances and impress, he said: “Well, you know in life God is the one who sustains a man. So if your hope is in God, you will be very much alive.
“If you have money and don’t have God, you will be living like a dead person. But if you have God, you can live, He is the one who provides for man. So, if one source closes, God opens another source for you to live. Supposing I am not a deputy governor, won’t I be alive?”
On why the allowances were stopped, Achuba said that the only excuse given to him was that there was no money.
On his relationship with the governor, the deputy governor said; “For now, it is not very smooth; it is not what it is supposed to be and it is not supposed to be like that.”
Asked if he would support Bello in the forthcoming governorship election, he said: “When the time comes, there are issues to be put on table for discussion and these are the issues why I am here; when those issues are settled you will see us flying again, politics is like that.”
He, however, ruled out the possibility of contesting against his boss.
“No, I am not contesting. I won’t contest against him for whatever reason,” adding that if the crisis is resolved, he would work with Bello.
“If they are resolved, why not? Everybody has an interest and if the interests are taken care of, why not.”
Related: Kogi: Gov. Yahaya Bello’s deputy vows to drag him to court over ‘N819m unpaid salaries, allowances’
