Embattled deputy governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba, on Friday, said that he has not received allowances due his office in the last two years, saying only God has been sustaining him.
According to him, his principal, Governor Yahaya Bello, has stopped paying him his statutory allowances.
He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
While declining to speak on the outcome of the meeting, he said discussions were ongoing to resolve the issue of his allowances stoppage.
The deputy governor had, recently, lamented that his statutory allocation amounting to N819, 709 980 had been stopped by Governor Bello in the last two years.
The sum is said to be the accumulated statutory allocations, which included travel allowances, hotel bills, pledges, and outstanding monthly impress and salaries.
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Fielding questions on the outcome of the meeting with the Chief of Staff, he 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, the deputy governor 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 what sustains a man is God. 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 to 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?”
Also asked why the allowances were stopped, he said that the only excuse given to him was that there was no money.
On his relationship with the governor, he 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.”
Also answering question on whether he will support governor Bello in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, 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 crisis is resolved he will work with Bello.
“If they are resolved, why not? Everybody has interest and if the interests are taken care of, why not.”