By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
NO life or document was lost to the early morning inferno that engulfed the Kogi State House of Assembly complex in Lokoja, the state government has disclosed.
The state government, however, posited that it would await the outcome of investigations by respective authorities before concluding the cause of the fire.
Burnt assembly complex
Stonix News had reported Monday morning about the inferno that ravaged the Kogi State House of Assembly building, burning it beyond recognition.
While conducting an on the spot assessment of situation at the Assembly complex, the State
Governor Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Edward Onoja, described the development as not only strange, but a first-time incident to a government property.
Burnt complex
“If people alleged sabotage as the cause of the fire incident, ongoing investigations will unravel the matter, and as a responsible government, it was pertinent to ensure that proper information were gathered, before coming to the public,” he quipped.
He, however, debunked connecting the fire incident to the 2023 general elections.
He averred that the state has had series of such elections in previous years without recording fire incident
On whether the fire incident was connected to the current tussle between Dangote Cement Company and Kogi State government over the ownership of Obajana Cement Company, Onoja said the tussle was a legal one that would be resolved by documents and facts.
Burnt complex
He added that the government was already threading on the path of seeking justice for the people of the state and would not resolve to self-help.
He said the fire was contained within the Assembly chambers, causing damage to the furniture and other internal parts of the chamber while the offices were largely spared.
He added that if the fire was targeted at destroying any documents of government, it had failed in that regard as all documents have been recovered and kept safe.
On his part, the Speaker of the Assembly, RT. Hon. Matthew Kolawole, said the circumstances under which the fire incident occurred was highly suspicious.
He noted that the state Assembly would not be derailed from performing its duties as promised to the people of the state.
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