Lokoja — This is not the best of times for the Kogi State Deputy-governor, Chief Phillips Salawu, as he has moved into an uncompleted building to serve as his temporary office pending the completion of his official residence which is under construction.

The new office complex, adjacent to the Government House, Lokoja, has been under construction since the beginning of the year while the former office has also been given to the Secretary to the State Government.

This forced him to use his house for both official and private duties.

After waiting for the completion of work to no avail, coupled with recent publications that he had abandoned his legitimate duties, he returned to his office even though the job was uncompleted.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY gathered that the deputy governor was not comfortable with the pace of work at the site and on one occasion complained to his aides that the slow pace of work was a deliberate attempt to edge him out of the scheme of things in the state.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY under anonymity, one of the engineers said "the state government has no blame on the work as the job is going according to specification and schedule, but lamented that the lean purse of the government has been responsible for the slow pace of work".

Offices meant for the personal aides where not habitable, a situation that made them not to return to the office with him.

The Permanent Secretary in charge of the deputy governors office told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY he could not talk with the press because he was a civil servant."

One of the aides who spoke to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY said "it Is unfortunate for a man in the position of deputy governor to be without an office for such a long period."

According to some analyst the predicament of the states number two man is to humiliate him to renounce his decision to succeed the governor, Ibrahim Idris at the expiration of his tenure in 2012.

Some politicians from his zone have started jostling for his position and are reported conniving with some Assembly members to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.

The deputy governor was quoted recently in a forum of his supporters as saying that after serving as deputy loyally for eight years he deservesd a shot at the exalted seat.

"This position was allegedly rebuffed by a top government official who did not want his name in print. He said "he has not used his position to strict any meaningful development to the area."

The opponents of the deputy governor, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learnt are mobilising resources to unseat him before the expiration of his tenure, a move which is said to be receiving blessing from the eastern flank of the state.