*Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole, Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, expresses shock over the fire incident, assuring the House will allow security agencies to investigate the incident to ascertain the root cause and level of damage

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following the ‘mystery’ fire incident that gutted the Kogi State House of Assembly in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022, in Lokoja, the state capital, Rt. Hon. Mr Matthew Kolawole, House Speaker, has expressed shock over the disaster.

Hon. Kolawole, while on a visit to the Assembly Complex in company with Commander Jerry Omodara, State Security Adviser (SSA) after the incident, told reporters that the incident was “very unfortunate”.

The Speaker stated though he suspected sabotage, he however, said he did not know where the suspected sabotage might be from.

The Speaker stated: “I’m assuring you that this attack on our complex will not stop the house from performing its duty.

“We shall dig into into its root until the truth is revealed.”

It was learnt the fire incident took the security guards on duty by surprise.

Security personnel watching over the complex told the Speaker of the House who visited the scene that “all we saw was heavy smoke coming out of the complex this morning.

”By the time we rushed to see what exactly was the problem, the entire assembly was already on fire with everything inside burnt down,” agency report said.

The guards recalled “we then raised an alarm as we shout for help even though the complex is in a lonely place with neighbors far away.”

The cause of the fire incident remained a mystery to them as they didn’t see the person or persons that set the complex ablaze, according to the guards.

The area most affected by the fire is the assembly gallery, which was completely burnt to ashes, report noted.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, however, said that the State Legislature would allow security agencies to investigate the fire incident to ascertain the root cause and level of damage.

Likewise in his reaction to the fire disaster that engulfed the State Assembly Complex, Edward Onoja, Kogi State Deputy Governor, said that the state government could not determine the cause(s) of the fire outbreak at the Assembly until the security agents complete their investigation.

Onoja disclosed the state government has directed a full investigation, assuring that very soon the remote cause would be unravelled.

According to him, the fire incident that affected the Assembly Complex is the first in the life of the current administration under the leadership of Governor Bello.

Alternative meeting venue for state legislature: Onoja

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Onoja has hinted the Kogi State Government would provide an avenue for the state lawmakers to continue their legislative assignments as spelt out by law.

He also assured that the Yahaya Bello administration would continue to fight for the right of the citizens.

The government will not relent in its effort at developing the state, stated Onoja.