Ohinoyi replies Kogi govt query, says governor lied to Buhari

• Published date: 14 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

FRONTLINE Kogi traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, has responded to a query issued him by the state government, accusing Governor Yahaya Bello of lying that he was ill during President Muhammadu Buhari's recent working visit to the state.

The traditional ruler noted that the governor, who he had not seen for some time, appointed someone he (Ohinoyi) did not know to read on his behalf a welcome speech that was not sanctioned by him during the visit.

In the query issued the traditional ruler and dated January 5, 2023, the Governor Yahaya Bello led government had accused the Ohinoyi of refusing to come out of his palace to welcome the President who was in Okene on project commissioning.

The Kogi State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs had given the revered monarch a 48-hour ultimatum to explain his refusal to join in the programmes of the visit.

But in his response to the query, the Ohinoyi described the allegation that he deliberately refused to come out to welcome President Buhari during the visit to Okene as very unfortunate and 'unfair to his ripe age and experience.'

He attributed his absence from the ceremony to lack of proper briefing and information from government as well as the bomb blast that claimed the lives of three persons near his palace in the morning of the day of the President's visit.

The nonagenarian traditional ruler, whose response was dated January 6, 2023, also said he did not receive any imitation for the programmes.

Rather, he said, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs told him a night before Buhari's visit that the President would be coming to his palace for homage, following which he made arrangements to receive the presidential team in his palace.

He expressed surprise that the governor did not enquire about the...