Kogi State Government Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja has rubbished reports that he owns four houses in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital and has N9 billion in one of his accounts.
Onoja also squashed rumours making the round on social media that he asked a 60-year old man to prostrate for him.
He dismissed the reports at the Kogi State Social Media Summit themed ‘Improving Government Policies Through Social Media Advocacy’ held on 12 October at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Lokoja.
Responding to questions posed to him, the Chief of Staff said he does not own a single house in Abuja. “I do not own any houses in Abuja.
In fact, I don’t have one house, speak less four houses in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The only apartment I have in Abuja is rented. I pay N2million annually for this apartment. Please this does not mean that I do not want to own a house in Abuja.
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“I am hoping to key into one of the mortgage plans provided by the government once it is available, so I can pay over a period of time for the property.
Similarly, Onoja rubbished reports of owning N9 billion in a bank account. He said, “In this Buhari’s administration? I will have
N9billion. From where do I want to get that kind of money in this austere time?
“People make up all kind of stories but most of them are not true. That is how some people said N20 million will be given out at the social media summit but again that is not true.
“No one will take a budget of N20 million to the Governor for an event like this because he will not sign it.
“So there is no way we will spend N20 million on this summit. It’s just not possible at this time and with all the projects at hand,” he added.
On the report that he asked a 60-year old man to prostrate for him, he explained that, “the man in question was is a very committed and key member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and worked very hard for the party during the elections.
“As a form of appreciation to him, I provided mobility for him and because he was not expecting it, he reacted in that manner.
“I am not sure that 20 men would have being able to restrain him from going to the ground. In fact, he had to be stopped because he said wanted to roll on the ground in appreciation.
“Again, the report of me asking anyone to prostrate for me is not true.”
Onoja then went on to explain to the audience that Governor Yahaya Bello was committed to transparency and accountability.
Reacting to the issue of state owing salaries, he said the state government has published the payment od salaries on its official website.
“It is not true that the state government is owing salaries. What is playing out here is that there are workers who are owing people money but do not want to pay. They keep hiding under the guise that the state government is owing salaries.
“Go to the website and check for yourself, you will find that the state is only a owing a handful of workers as most them have been paid.
The governor was represented at the Kogi Social Media Summit by the deputy governor, Simon Achuba.
Others present at the summit are Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade, Director General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, Senior Special Assistant, Odaudu Joel Minister and Senior Special Assistant on Electronics, Gbenga Olorunpomi.
