Crisis Rocks Kogi Traditional Council over alleged Cash Inducement for Promotion
Controversy has continued to surround the upgrading of traditional stools in Kogi State as some affected traditional rulers have alleged manipulation of the process by officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. Gbenga Odogun of Punch Newspaper reports. The state government had last week upgraded no fewer than 85 traditional rulers. Speaking to journalists on Friday, some of the traditional rulers alleged upgrades were being sold to the highest bidders. They accused the ministry officials of demanding and collecting between N300,000 and N10m for their upgrading, depending on their present status. One of the traditional rulers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that “classless chiefs” were paying N300,000 to be upgraded to third-class chiefs, while the third- class chiefs were made to pay N400,000 to be upgraded to second class. He alleged that those already in second class were made to pay N500,000 to climb up to first class title, sayin...