Kogi CJ swears in Onoja as dep gov, Abaribe says ‘Yahaya Bello, lawmakers have reduced Nigeria to a rudderless state’

Edward Onoja, the former Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, has been sworn-in as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.
The Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, administered Oath of Office on Onoja on Monday at the Government House, Lokoja.
The House of Assembly had earlier screened and approved Onoja as worthy and capable of the position, following his nomination by Bello.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bello said that his joy knew no bounds because history was in the making.
He said the moment was not that of celebration but rejoicing.
“We will rejoice. We are being called to do more.
“We are simply pencils in the hands of God Almighty to turn around the fortunes of Kogi State. It is work in progress. We have a lot ahead of us,” he said.
Bello said that all that happened before the ceremony were in the interest of the state.
“In order to avoid Constitutional crisis, all that happened needed to happen. That is the summary,” he said.
Onoja said he wholeheartedly accepted the offer to serve as the new deputy governor because it is a divine calling.
The House of Assembly had on Friday impeached the former Deputy, Elder Simon Achuba, from office following a report of Judicial Panel of Inquiry constituted by the Chief Judge to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against him.
But, Achuba described the process leading to his removal as a charade, insisting that “I remain the Deputy Governor’.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the impeachment of Achuba.
Abaribe, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, urged Buhari to rise above party affiliations and intervene to ensure the country’s constitution was protected, if the authorities in Kogi State failed to do so.
He also advised judges in Kogi, particularly the Chief Justice to borrow a leaf from the Imo State experience and shun any invitation to swear-in a new deputy governor in whatever guise.
Abaribe declared as `reprehensible’ the deliberate denigration of the country’s constitution, for the Kogi State Assembly to go ahead to impeach Achuba.
He added that this was even when a panel set up by the State Chief Judge to investigate him returned a no-guilty verdict.
“Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as Amended is very emphatic in the circumstance that is to say that the State Assembly shall cease any further proceedings in the impeachment process.
“Specifically, Section 188(8) states that …Where the panel reports to the House of Assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter.
“So, where did the Kogi State Assembly members derive the power to move ahead with the process?
“Has Nigeria not been reduced to this rudderless state with this disdainful attitude to our laws and democratic ethos?’’ Abaribe queried.
The minority leader warned that with the direct affront on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the actions of the State Government and Assembly, the very foundations of the country had been utterly shaken.
“The 1999 Constitution as amended is the ground norm of the country and the Kogi Assembly has committed a heinous breach of this sacred document.
“If their illegal action is sustained, then it strikes at the heart of democracy in Nigeria.
“We must do the right thing and Nigeria must not be seen as a lawless country.
“I call on institutions of democracy to urgently activate the right principles in the defence of our democracy.
“Kogi Assembly should look beyond now and stop this illegality”, he added.
Abaribe expressed concern on how the Assembly acted swiftly and in the middle of the night to impeach Achuba less than 30 minutes on receiving the not-guilty report from the panel.