Kogi Gov, others reconcile warring lawmakers

After almost eight months of crisis, members of the two warring factions in Kogi House of Assembly on Thursday finally agreed to work for peace.

The decision to reconcile was arrived at during a meeting held by the two factions at the Governor’s Lodge in Lokoja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting lasted over four hours.

The reconciliation process, which was facilitated by an 11-member body-Kogi State House of Assembly Peace Committe, had as leader, Mr Oladele Nihi.

Present at the peace meeting held behind closed doors were Gov. Yahaya Bello, his deputy, Mr Simon Achuba, and Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade.

The factional Speakers, Hon. Momoh Jimoh –Lawal and Hon. Ahmed Imam Umar led the G -15 and G-5 legislators to the meeting.

Bello, who was the first to come out of the meeting, said that there was no crisis in the Assembly, adding that it was a `` brotherly disagreement.’’

Bello explained that the disagreement had been resolved , saying that there was no longer division.

A factional Majority Leader of the house , Hon. Mathew Kolawole, told newsmen that the two groups agreed on reconciliation , saying they had agreed on a template for further discussion.

Kolawole, who belonged to the G -15 group loyal to Jimoh-Lawal said that the reconciliation meeting would continue on Friday.

Also speaking, a member of the house, Hon. Hassan Bewa, representing Dekina State Constituency confirmed that he and his colleagues had agreed to bury the hatchet to allow the state move forward.

Two members of the house, including Hon. Friday Makama – Sani, were absent.

Nihi, the leader of the of the peace committee, expressed happiness that the two factions agreed to work together.

The crisis in the assembly had attracted the intervention of the House of Representatives and it took over its affairs in April.

The crisis broke out following the action of five members of the house who in February purportedly impeached the Speaker,

Hon. Jimoh-Lawal, and other principal officers of the house.