Kogi: Shake up imminent in Bello’s cabinet

A major shake-up appears imminent in the cabinet of Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello,  Nigerian Tribune reliably learnt on Monday.

The ground for the changes was prepared last week, when the political appointees, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), commissioners, special advisers, senior special assistants were made to write a competence test.

Apart from these, it was gathered that administrators of the 21 local government areas, among others, were also made to write the test which was called “interactive quiz,” and supervised by a private consultant.

Already, the appointees were said to be running around and contacting those they felt could influence the governor in case they are affected by the impending action.

The plan to relieve some of the appointees of their appointments may not be unconnected with perceived poor performance, while the war on corruption embarked upon by the governor might allegedly consume some of them.

It was gathered that since the appointments were made by the governor, some appointees were said to have failed to prove their mettle.

Some of them, particularly commissioners, were said to lack the human capacity and the wherewithal to oversee their ministries, with the effect evident in their performances.

Besides their inability to adequately manage the offices they were entrusted with, some of the political office holders were said to have soiled their hands during the few months they have stayed in the offices.

Competent sources also informed Nigerian Tribune that the governor was not happy with the situation as some of the affected officers had not been able to key into his “New Direction” mantra.

It was however learnt that two top political office holders, including a commissioner and a special adviser, are already under investigation over allegations of corrupt practices and may be affected by the coming purge.

Many party leaders were also said to have, at various times, complained about the activities of some of the political office holders to the governor, necessitating the need for reappraisal and possible necessary action.

Already, the consultant was said to have finished working on the test and submitted his reports to the governor through the office of the SSG.

The source added that the governor wanted to study the reports following which he would make his decision public.

It would be recalled that the governor recently ordered the arrest of the state chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sadiq Rabiu, over sundry issues.