The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • Adamawa: PDP ‘shops’ for Muslim candidate

    Adamawa: PDP ‘shops’ for Muslim candidate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is “shopping” for a Muslim candidate to replace ex-Governor Murtala Nyako, who was impeached by the House of Assembly last week.

    Going by emerging calculations, the party may have ruled out enthroning Nyako’s deputy, Bala Ngilari, a Christian from Adamawa North.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to conduct fresh governorship election within 90 days.

    The PDP is working towards avoiding an election next year.

    Major contenders include Senator Abubakar Girie, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo and Anwal Tukur, son of former PDP National Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    Others are Senator Bello Tukur, Dr. Umar Ardo, Brigadier-Gen. Buba Marwa, Jerry Kundusi, Markus Gundiri and Acting Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri.

    It was, however, gathered that Ngilari may be brought back as deputy governorship candidate.

    A party chieftain said:  “From all indications, we have viewed the situation and we are convinced that for the state to have peace, we must work out an arrangement for a Muslim governor

    “As it stands the party is looking at having a Muslim governor just as Ngilari is being considered to return to his former position. We are trying to avoid any use of sentiment against our party.”

  • Adamawa Acting Gov visits PDP’s secretariat, says ‘I have delivered’

    Adamawa Acting Gov visits PDP’s secretariat, says ‘I have delivered’

    Adamawa State Acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, yesterday stormed the Abuja National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), telling party leaders that “I have delivered”.

    Fintiri went ahead to tell the party chiefs that he had recovered and delivered the mandate stolen by ousted Governor Murtala Nyako to the ruling party.

    Speaking with reporters shortly after he had a closed door meeting with some of the national officials of the party, Fintiri said his emergency as governor had restored the state back to the PDP.

    The four-day-old Acting Governor said: “As a loyal and obedient party member, I came on a courtesy call to my party and the National Working Committee as my first assignment after the battle to remove Governor Nyako who had stolen the mandate of the PDP under which he was elected.

    “I came here to bring back the mandate and I have handed over to them (party leaders) the mandate. I promise that I will work together with the party, its leadership and the people of Adamawa to ensure that our party is restored to the people”.

    The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated that Fintiri  would restore dignity to the party as well as address the rot and the damage caused the party by former Governor Nyako.

    He promised the Acting Governor the support and encouragement of the party’s leadership.

    The party’s National Deputy chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who received Fintiri and his team  said that the removal of Nyako and the emergence of the Acting Governor would help address the rot the people of the state had experienced.

  • Confusion in Adamawa: Ex- Deputy Governor denies resignation

    There was a twist to the Adamawa State  crisis yesterday following denial of resignation by ex-Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari.

    Ngilari claimed that he was forced to send a letter to the ex- Speaker of the House of Assembly, Umaru Fintiri, who is now the acting Governor.

    There were indications last night that some forces in Abuja and Adamawa  State were pushing for the inauguration of Ngilari as the Acting Governor instead of Fintiri, who was sworn in on Tuesday.

    The sacked Governor Murtala Nyako last night said Ngilari had not resigned and should be made acting Governor.

    Ngliari reportedly opened up on how  the deputy speaker now the acting Speaker,  Kwamoti Laori invaded his official residence with a group of soldiers and ordered him to tender his resignation letter as “directed  from above.”

    The embattled Deputy Governor was quoted as saying: “The truth is that I have not sent any letter of resignation to the governor up till now because the representative of the House of Assembly  only came to my house yesterday asking me to tender my resignation and he asked me to address the letter to the speaker of the Assembly which I did.

    “When  the lawmakers led by the deputy speaker met and asked me to write the resignation, I wrote it to the governor but later on they came and said that I should change it and addressed it to the speaker.

    The sacked  Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, demanded the reinstatement of his deputy as the authentic acting governor of the state.

    Nyako made the demand in a statement in Yola through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh

    The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the purported resignation of the deputy governor of Adamawa state, Barrister Bala James Ngillari which was supposedly read on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

    “We wish to state categorically that Section 306 (5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended requires that the deputy resigned not to the House of Assembly but tothe Governor. As at the time the supposed resignation was said to have been tendered in the House, Murtala H Nyako was the governor of Adamawa state.

    “No such was written to him, none was received by him and none was approved by him. It should therefore be known that in the eyes of the law, the deputy governor has not resigned. Barrister Bala James Ngillari is still the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State.

    “This clarification is necessary to avert another subversion of the constitution, since the order processes relating to the impeachment saga have all been in contravention of the constitution and the law.We wish to observe that the continued abuse of the constitution and the law of the land will spell doom for our democracy.”

     

  • Pro-democracy group condemns Nyako’s impeachment

    Pro-democracy group condemns Nyako’s impeachment

    A pro-democracy group, the Voters’ Assembly (VOTAS) has condemned Tuesday’s impeachment of Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako.

    The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Mashood Erubami, Wednesday, said Nyako’s impeachment set a new template for vindictive politics in Nigeria, describing it as an ominous sign that the 2015 election will be racked with possible catastrophes.

    The statement read in part: “If the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako in Adamawa  is left unchallenged, it would have spill -over effect, in other states where the legislators are already beating the drum  of impeachment  as is the case in Edo, Rivers, Kano, and  Nassarawa,  in  an attempt at putting the states on the keg of gun powder which could possibly cause a chain of reactions,  the end of which nobody could predict.

    “Obviously, the political environment is now soaked with series of alarms over threat to the lives of key members of opposition parties and potential candidates in the 2015 election, so is the threat of impeachment actions are hovering over some of the states not under the control of the PDP, a worrisome and anti-democratic advance being perpetrated through monetarily pacified legislators who are daily waking up to see the past misdemeanors committed by their governors. These same Legislators have had to encourage their Governors to defect, to other parties and later using the defection and not really the listed allegations for their impeachment.

    “In the case of Nyako, the legislators have shown that there was no thorough investigation of the conduct of Murtala Nyako as they were only out to play the script of devil written for them from outside the state without due regards for God and the constitution.

    “The way the investigation was handled within few days of sitting by the panel as against the 3 months prescribed by the constitution and the manner of submitting and affirming the report by the honorable members within few days it was submitted to it suggest that it was not the allegations that were at the root of the impeachment and this queried the religious beliefs of those internally concerned and their outside instigators and masterminds.

    “The legislators themselves are guilty of gross misconduct, a grave violation of the processes set by the constitution to be met before any impeachment could be commenced such as direct personal service and fair hearing, more so when the Supreme Court has ruled that such a notice must be personally served.  The question is that should the law be disallowed to rule because of the preference of the few who want to abuse their power and misuse their authority?”

    VOTAS said the action of the legislators portends a dangerous trend, adding that it came at a wrong time when the country is dangerously transiting from civil governance to democracy in the midst of overwhelming insecurity.

  • Adamawa: Nyako impeached, deputy resigns

    Adamawa: Nyako impeached, deputy resigns

    The Adamawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday impeached Governor Murtala Nyako shortly after the Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari resigned.

    After deliberating on three volumes of report of the Investigative Panel headed by Buba Kaigama, 18 out of the 25 members in the Assembly opted to remove Nyako.

    The Assembly needed the consent of 17 members to remove the governor.

    Shortly after the impeachment, the Assembly wrote a letter ADHA/GEN/S/108 to the acting Chief Judge of the state to inaugurate the Speaker, Ahmadu Umaru as the acting governor.

    The letter, signed by the Clerk to the House, Francis Gbanisenso, reads: “The Honourable House during its sitting on Tuesday, 15th July 2014 resolved and directed you to swear in the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru as the Acting Governor of Adamawa State today 15th day of July 2014.

    “This is in pursuant to Section 191(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(As Amended).”

    In his July 15, 2014 resignation letter referenced as DGO/GHY/PER/60/75, Ngilari said: “Pursuant to Section 306(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), I kindly notify you of my resignation from the office of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State forthwith on personal grounds.

    “I want to thank you immensely for the opportunity to serve Adamawa State and wish you and the good people of the state well in the remaining period of your administration.”

    The State Assembly had raised a seven-man panel to probe Nyako and his erstwhile deputy, Bala Ngilari.

    Members of the panel, led by Buba Kaigama (Mubi Northern Zone), were Laraba Hassan (Michika Northern Zone) Njidda Kito (Song Central Zone) Joshua Abu (Hong Central Zone);

    Binanu Esthon (Guyuk Southern Zone) Sa’ad Lawan (Mayo-Belwa Southern Zone); and Esthon Gapsiso (Genye Southern Zone)

     

  • Anxiety as Adamawa House meets on Nyako’s, deputy’s fate

    Anxiety as Adamawa House meets on Nyako’s, deputy’s fate

    Adamawa State lawmakers are meeting today to consider the report of the seven-man Investigative Panel which investigated allegations of misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari.

    There is anxiety in the state, following the speculation that the Assembly might impeach Nyako and Ngilari, who never appeared before the panel.

    It was learnt that some lawmakers in Abuja might be flown to Yola in a chartered jet for today’s sitting.

    Members of the Assembly have been directed to report for a session to consider the panel’s report.

    Members of the panel, led by Buba Kaigama (Mubi Northern Zone), are: Laraba Hassan (Michika Northern Zone), Njidda Kito (Song Central Zone), Joshua Abu (Hong Central Zone), Binanu Esthon (Guyuk Southern Zone), Sa’ad Lawan (Mayo-Belwa Southern Zone) and Esthon Gapsiso (Genye Southern Zone).

    A source said: “The Assembly will meet on Monday to receive the report of the Kaigama Panel and decide whether or not to impeach the governor and his deputy in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “Barring last-minute horse-trading, the Assembly may impeach the two leaders after getting the report.

    “The only challenge facing the state is that it does not have an acting Chief Judge who can swear in the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Umaru Fintiri.

    “But the most senior judge or the president of the Customary Court of Appeal or the Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal may be asked to inaugurate the acting governor.”

    Another source spoke of how all the lawmakers were being recalled. “Those behind the impeachment are so desperate to hire a chartered jet to convey some of the Assembly members from Abuja to Yola,” he said.

    The provision for the removal of a governor and his deputy is contained in Section 188 (1-11) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The section says: “A motion of the House of Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed unless it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly.

    “Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the State shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, investigate the allegation as provided in this section.

    “The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person or be represented before the panel by legal practitioner of his own choice.

    “A panel appointed under this section shall (a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly; and (b) within three months of its appointment, reports its findings to the House of Assembly.

    “Where the panel reports to the House of Assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter.

    “Where the report of the panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within 14 days of the receipt of the report, the House of Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of the House of Assembly supported by not less, than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.

    “No proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.

    “In this section, ‘gross misconduct’ means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion in the House of Assembly to gross misconduct.”

  • The drama of illegality in Adamawa

    That the Adamawa State House of Assembly has initiated an impeachment procedure against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Nglari, is no longer news. However, the news is the fact that behind this seemingly legitimate legislative process is an ordous breach of law and legal procedure. The reports we read in the newspapers is largely insufficient and not reflective of the entire drama unfolding before the eyes of the people of Adamawa state. Indeed the contradictions and somersault we see from the beginning of the process to date, point to a move bereft of sincerity. It is the insincerity of it that explains the impunity with which the dramatis personae – namely the state Assembly and some elements in the judiciary, are going about this. I explain.

    When the Adamawa State House of Assembly first made public its intention to impeach Governor Nyako and his deputy, via an impeachment notice issued out on June 18, nineteen members endorsed the impeachment notice. However, the attempt by the House of Assembly to serve the Governor the notice of impeachment, in order to explain himself, as provided for by the law failed as Governor Nyako was not in Yola on that day. It was the same case with deputy governor. The Assembly then sought a substituted service on the duo which the state acting Chief Judge, outrightly rejected. Ruling on the Assembly’s application on June 23, Justice Ambrose Mammadi relied on a Supreme Court pronouncement on the issue of serving such notice in a matter like this, held that “service of the notice of allegations against the respondents must be by personal service”.

    However, while there was no service on Governor Nyako in person, as the law required, the Assembly went on to demand the acting Chief Judge to constitute an investigative panel to probe the allegations against the governor and his deputy. Strangely, the acting CJ, in disregard of his own ruling, has gone ahead to name a seven-man panel as demanded by the “lawmakers”. This is one leg of the illegality in the process.

    Secondly, there is a case instituted by the All Progressive Congress (APC) against three of its members in the House of Assembly who have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Interestingly, these three members were among the 19 members who signed the impeachment notice. The members are Hon. Abubakar Jerengol (Mubi North), Hon. Wafarninyi Theman (Hong) and Hon. Simon Isa (Song). Two of the three lawmakers were elected under the banner of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) while the third was elected on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), both parties have since collapsed into the APC. APC had therefore approached court on June 20, challenging the cross carpeting of its members and demanding the court to declare their seats vacant for a fresh election.

    While waiting for the court to hear the issues in the originating summon, the APC lawyers filed for a motion ex-parte for an “interim injunction restraining the defendants [which include the State Assembly and the Speaker] from acting upon in any manner whatsoever or taking any further step in pursuance of the Notice or allegation of misconduct in the matter of impeachment of the 6th defendant [Governor Nyako]”. The court granted the prayer as requested and issued an order with a lifespan of seven days. Surprisingly, however, within the span of the order, and without the court vacating it, the state Assembly, in sheer contempt of the court order, wrote to the acting CJ to request for convocation of a panel of investigation. However, instead of frowning at the contempt by the state Assembly, the Chief Judge, acting in sync with the lawmakers’ script, went on to name a panel on Friday, July 4th, the same day he also extended the order restraining the  House of Assembly!

    I took time to explain the above scenarios to underline how the so-called impeachment proceedings lack legitimacy because of the various breaches of due process and court orders. As could be deduced from the foregoing, the actors in this “made in Abuja” script have no patience to at least implement their heinous and scripted agenda within the ambit of the law. Their resort to impunity and disregard for due process portray the whole action in its true colours that it has: a self-serving move to pave way for some individuals to achieve their personal desires, not minding whatever consequence their actions would have on the peace and tranquility enjoyed in Adamawa today.

    The ferocity with which the action is being prosecuted also clearly point to a greater interest and pressure. Only this weekend, the papers reported how the acting Chief Judge was allegedly compelled at gunpoint to agree to name the investigative panel, to consolidate their illegality. To say that this whole impeachment drama has the “blessing” of Abuja is to understate it. As a matter of fact, the rumours are ripe on how two top officials of the Federal Government and their cheer crowd, made up of some disgruntled Adamawa politicians, are actively teleguiding those executing the plot in Yola.

    It is now the duty of all well-meaning Nigerians and respecters of rule of law to rise up against this legislative recklessness which is clouded in federal impunity. Impunity thrives when the people are silent and, indeed, silence is complicity in the midst of lawlessness and wrongdoing. Democracy should not be allowed to be rubbished and ridiculed in this manner because if it is allowed to happen in Adamawa today, no one will know where next.

     

    • Ahmed, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Yola

     

  • Adamawa CJ constitutes panel to investigate Nyako, deputy

    Adamawa CJ constitutes panel to investigate Nyako, deputy

    The Acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, yesterday named  a seven-member  panel   to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled at  Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, by the State House of Assembly.

    At the head of the panel is Mr.Buba Kaigama.

    The committee members are: Laraba Hassan, Njidda Kito, Joshua Abu, Binanu Esthon, Sa’ad Lawan, and Esthon Gapsiso.

    The panel will be  inaugurated at a later date, the Chief Registrar of the Court, Abubakar Bayola,said in Yola.

    He said “The Hon. Acting Chief Judge Hon. Justice Ambrose D. Mammadi   by the powers vested in him under Section 185(5) of the 1999 constitution as (amended) has approved the appointment of seven (7) Man Panel to investigate allegations of Gross Misconduct of the Executive Governor of Adamawa State Admiral Murtala Nyako and the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State Mr. Bala Ngilari,” the registrar said.

    Allegations against Nyao and Ngilari include  corruption and mismanagement of state funds. The anti-graft agency, EFCC, has frozen the state’s accounts over corruption allegations.

  • 2015: Governorship ticket tears Adamawa PDP apart

    2015: Governorship ticket tears Adamawa PDP apart

    A disagreement in the Adamawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is threatening its cohesion. The scramble for the 2015 governorship ticket is tearing the party apart, making the political future of Deputy Governor Bala Ngillari to hang in  the balance, writes BARNABAS MANYAM.

    Swift and unprecedented changes are taking place in the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As a result, the political future of  the deputy governor, Bala James Ngillari, is hanging in the balance. Ngillari’s profile  rose swiftly when he refused to defect alongside  Governor Murtala Nyako, who dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year.

    At the time, PDP bigwigs in Abuja were in support of his bid for the governorship in 2015 on the platform of the former ruling party. But, since then, a lot of developments have taken place. Now, and new and equally credible aspirants have also emerged.

    Ngillari was taken aback by a media statement credited to the  PDP chairman, Chief Joel Hammanjoda Madaki, that the  governorship ticket has been zoned to Adamawa Central Senatorial District.

    Stakeholders in the party were surprised that Madaki could go public with such a sensitive matter, without discussing at the PDP  executive committee meeting. They say even though the high chief may have his own opinion, he should not have presented as if it is the party’s official position.

    One of the governorship aspirants,  who has been fighting to build the PDP for more than six years, Dr. Umar Ardo, was the first to respond. The genial Ardo said the chief may have been quoted out of context by the newspaper, even though he admitted that he had not read the publication.

    According to Ardo, it may also have been Madaki’s personal opinion, which may not go down well with many party faithful. He added however, that as a good party man, he would accept it in good faith.

    Given his close relationship with Madaki, observers say Ardo was being economical with the truth. “He has been a close ally of the elder statesman for many years. In fact, he is like a brother to him. So, he will not publically oppose him,” said a party chieftain.

    The deputy governor is a politician with impeccable qualities. He has climbed every surmountable mountain in his political life. But, he prefers to work quietly from the background.

    From the remarkable role he played during the Oputa Panel, to his days in the National Assembly, Ngillari has been very active politically. He had already secured his ticket to return to the  House of Representatives for a second term, when he was picked the deputy to Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako.

    This time around, it remains to be seen, if he will spring a surprise. But, the statement by  Madaki, who holds the traditional title of the Nzomoro Kaku, meaning the defender of the Bwatiye nation, may have jeopardised the hopes of the prodigious deputy governor.

    Going by Madaki’s statement, the deputy governor, who is from the Northern Senatorial District, is out of contention for the  ticket, in spite of the fact that he has contributed so much to  the party and had refused to defect to the APC.

    PDP bigwigs in Abuja are of the view that Ngillari should be allowed to spend one term in office as governor.

    Ardo, in an interview some  months ago, said that President Goodluck Jonathan had already destroyed the PDP zoning formula and that the governor of Adamawa State can come from anywhere, because zoning is now irrelevant in the PDP.

    The chapter has more than 25 governorship aspirants, who are from  the three zones and more are still coming out. There is no telling who will clinch the ticket from aspirants eying the coveted ticket.

    For now, many of the aspirants like Ngillari and Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, who are all from the Northern Senatorial zone, are oiling their machinery to do battle against others like Dr. Dahiru Ahmed Modibbo, who has allegations of corruption hanging on his neck, courtesy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC.

    But, observers say some of these cases lack merit. But, that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Dr. Modibbo is prosecuting his ambition.

     

  • Update: Police confirm 14 dead, 12 injured in Adamawa blast

    The Adamawa Police Command has confirmed 14 people killed in the bomb blast at a football field in Mubi on Saturday.
    Twelve others were also said to have been injured in the incident.
    AFP quoting a police officer claimed that at least 40 people died in the attack targeted at football fans.
    “There has been a bomb explosion at a football field this evening and so far more than 40 people have been killed,” said the officer who requested anonymity in the town of Mubi, which has seen previous attacks by Boko Haram Islamists.