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  • Ayedatiwa files suit  to stop impeachment  

    Ayedatiwa files suit  to stop impeachment  

    Embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State Lucky Aiyedatiwa has asked the state High Court to stop the moves by the House of Assembly to impeach him.

    In a suit filed yesterday by his counsel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa(SAN), Aiyedatiwa said his removal would amount to a breach of his constitutional and fundamental rights to fair -hearing.

    He expressed concern that the Assembly moved to sack him without first letting him into his alleged wrongdoings.

    Yestetday, the House of Assembly directed the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to constitute a seven-man panel of inquiry to investigate allegation of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor.

    The Majority Leader, Emmanuel Ogunmolasuyi, who moved the motion, said it was in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Speaker Olamide Oladiji said it was imperative to investigate the allegation in line with the constitution

    He directed Justice Odusola to set up a Seven-Man Panel on inquiry to investigate the allegations against the Deputy Governor and report to the house.

    Oladiji added: “The Deputy Governor is hereby given seven days to respond to the letter written to him by this honourable house”

    The deputy governor accused the lawmakers of persecution and media trial in order to incite the public against him.

    Restating his loyalty to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa added that he was aware that some “political gladiators” were goading the Assembly to remove him.

    Listed as defendants  are the  state government,  Akeredolu,   Speaker and  Clerk of  the  Assembly as well as the  Chief Judge of thd state, Justice Ayedun Odusola.

    The suit was filed amid a claim by Speaker Olamide Oladiji that he saw a strange object in front of his official residence in Akure. Oladiji added that since the impeachment process commenced, he has received a number of telephone calls threatening his life.

    Howevet, former National Secretary of Afenifere  Seinde Arogbofa and Ondo Redemption Front (ORF) advised against the removal of the deputy governor. 

    The  Assembly had last week written to Aiyedatiwa to answer issues contained in a petition by nine lawmakers.

    One of the issues is that he tried to purchase an N300 million bulletproof Sports Utility Van when  Akeredolu was on medical vacation.

    In the suit, Aiyedatiwa  sought   the following declarations:

    *that the Assembly is not competent to proceed with  his impeachment ;

    *that sacking of his media aides and subjecting him to the Ministry of Information headed by a Commissioner amounted to a breach of his rights and privileges as a deputy governor.

    *that his office, tenure, status, rights and privileges were protected, guaranteed and secured by the 1999 Constitution.

    *that in the determination of his civil rights and obligations as a deputy governor, he is entitled to a fair hearing

    *that there is a likelihood of bias against him in the impeachment process given the utterances and conduct of the Assembly.

    Aiyedatiwa further urged the court to stop the state’s Chief Judge from accepting any request from the Assembly to set up a  panel to investigate any act of misconduct against him.

    He accused the  Assembly of constituting  itself as an accuser, investigator, prosecutor and judge by conducting media trials against him.

    In an affidavit to support the originating summons, Aiyedatiwa claimed that the media trial was to scandalise and incite public opinion against him.

    The deputy governor later issued a statement in which he dismissed a claim by  Olatunji Oshati, chairman of the  House Committee on Information, that he had been served impeachment notice.

    “I have not seen it(impeachment notice)  and I have not been served, ” he said and called  on the Chief Judge “to take note.”

    The deputy governor maintained that he was “in the dark regarding any allegation” against him by the Assembly

    The statement reads: “I find it especially worrying that the spokesman of the House of Assembly would go on national television to speak on such matter without any evidence to show that such letter has been delivered to me.

    Read Also: Ogoni monarch lauds Tinubu’s clean-up plan, resumption of oil production

    “More disturbing is the fact that even when he was asked if the letter had been delivered, he gave no coherent answer.

    “A sensitive constitutional matter of this nature,  an impeachment process,  should not be conducted on the pages of newspapers and television screens.

    “In effect, I reiterate that if such letter of allegations of gross misconduct against me exists, I have not seen it and I have not been served.”

    Earlier, Speaker Oladiji claimed that he had been receiving death threats since the impeachment proceeding against the deputy governor began.

    The speaker added that many lawmakers, especially those from Ondo South Senatorial District where the deputy governor hails from, have been warned not to return home.

    His words: “I saw an object in front of my lodge while driving out this(yesterday) morning. I have been receiving threats of various kinds. There are calls from different people.  My life has been under serious threat from unknown people. I call on security operatives to help us track the people.

    “This is a legislative assignment. They want to suppress me .”

    Asked if the deputy governor had been served the impeachment notice, the Speaker replied:” We have served the deputy governor through substituted service.

    “We got an affidavit and served him through his office. He has been served. People see me as the arrowhead to removing Aiyedatiwa.

    “My members are complaining about receiving threats. Those from the South are being threatened not to return home.”

    Arogbofa appealed to Akeredolu to forgive  Aiyedatiwa of whatever wrongdoing he has done to him.

    Arogbofa also called on well-meaning  indigenes of the state to rise up and quench ‘this gathering storm whose full explosion will not be healthy for the State.’”

    He added in a statement that the founding fathers of the state would not be happy to see the current storm consume the state.

    Arogbofa said: “My fear, nay our fear, is that the present gathering political storm between the governor and his deputy arising from alleged disloyalty, if not checked or properly handled, will lead to very bad blood, developmental setback, disruptive tendencies within the polity, and, in turn, have their unhealthy backlash on the civil service and the welfare of the common man.

    “The issue on the ground needs careful handling so as not to lead to any major crisis. Therefore, our honourable members should remember they have their names to protect in whatever they do. They should be mindful of the verdict of history. We therefore call on them for fair play and justice to arrest the gathering storm.

    “I know Arakunrin (Akeredolu) to be a good Christian. Let him forgive anyone who might have done anything wrong against him or against his office.” 

    Also yesterday,   ORF  appealed to the National Assembly to call the leadership of the state Assembly to order. 

    It called on the state Assembly to stop the impeachment process in order to prevent unnecessary political crisis in the state.

    Speaking at a press conference in Akure, the Chairman of the ORF, Ayodeji Ologun, said impeaching Aiyedatiwa was not in the best interest of the people.

    Ologun said the lawmakers ought to push for the restoration of governance in the state by first asking about the governor’s whereabouts.

    Ologun said: “While Mr Akeredolu returned to the country, for over two weeks that he returned to Nigeria in a controversial manner, he has not been sighted in the state.  Rather, also, worthy of mention is the fact that since the return of Mr Akeredolu and his refusal to resume at his official duty -post for the governance of the state, a situation that is causing serious apprehension in the state, the State House of Assembly has not been helping matters.

    “The Ondo State House of Assembly has decided to add salt to injury by instigating violence, anarchy and orchestrating break down of law and order by embarking on an unjustified and unwarranted process of impeachment of  Deputy Governor   Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the expense of the peace, stability and the welfare of the people of Ondo State.”

    But Akeredolu’s Chief Press Secretary Richard Olatunde said the location of the governor has not hindered any form of development in the state.

    He said: “The government is not only functional but also actively advancing the state’s development.

    The location of the governor, therefore, should not be sensationalised, but rather, the focus should be on the tangible progress being made in the state.” 

  • Impeachment: Ondo professionals seek NASS intervention

    Impeachment: Ondo professionals seek NASS intervention

    A group of Professionals in Ondo state under the auspices of Ondo Redemption Front (ORF) has appealed to the National Assembly to call the leadership of the Ondo State House of Assembly to order as it began impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    The group said its call on the National Assembly was based on contemplation of section 11(1)(4)(5) of the 1999 constitution in the overriding interest of the people of the state and the country at large.

    The ORF also called on the Ondo Assembly to stop the impeachment process to halt what it termed an unnecessary political crisis in the state.

    Speaking at a press conference in Akure, the chairman of the ORF, Ayodeji Ologun, said impeaching Aiyedatiwa was not in the best interest of the people.

    Ologun said the lawmakers ought to push to restore governance in the state and know the whereabouts of Governor Akeredolu instead of focusing on removing the Deputy Governor.

    Read Also: Aiyedatiwa files suit to stop Ondo Assembly from impeachment proceedings

    He said: “While Mr. Akeredolu returned to the country, for over two weeks that he returned to Nigeria in a controversial manner, he has not been sighted in the state rather, also, worthy of mention is the fact that since the return of Mr. Akeredolu and his refusal to resume at his official duty -post for the governance of the state, a situation that is causing serious apprehension in the state, the State House of Assembly has not been helping matters.

    “The Ondo State House of Assembly has decided to add salt to injury by instigating violence, and anarchy and orchestrating break down of law and order by embarking on unjustified and unwarranted process of impeachment of the Deputy Governor Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the expense of the peace, stability and the welfare of the people of Ondo State.

    “As a group, we strongly believe that politics should be the least of the worries of the political class in Ondo state at the moment but delivery of good governance in the overriding interest of the people of the state. Our people have been cheated over time with no progressive impact on their daily life.

    “We are not unaware that this is not about accountability as the House wants us to believe but a vendetta by a class of crass opportunists who have unfettered access to the resources of the state occasioned by the incapacity of the Governor.

    “There have been claims and counterclaims from different quarters as regards the management of the subsidy fund given by the federal government and other items too, on behalf of our people, we demand an investigation into the utility of the fund and other items supplied to the state.”

    However, the chief press secretary to Governor Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde, said the location of the governor has not hindered any form of development in the state.

    He said: “In fact, the governor, upon his return to the country, immediately held meetings with crucial stakeholders to discuss matters of state importance, showcasing his commitment to the state’s development irrespective of his location.

    “The government is not only functional but also actively advancing the state’s development. The location of the Governor, therefore, should not be sensationalised, but rather, the focus should be on the tangible progress being made in the state.”

    ReplyForward

  • Alleged N4.7b fraud: ‘Ladoja didn’t buy vehicles for lawmakers to avoid impeachment’

    A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday heard that former Governor Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja did not buy any vehicle for 14 lawmakers loyal to him in 2005 to escape impeachment.

    A former Oyo State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Titilola Ademola Dauda told Justice Mohammed Idris that the vehicles were the products of a contractual relationship they had with a firm, VT Leasing.

    Dauda testified as the first defence witness in the ongoing trial of the ex-governor and one of his former aides, Waheed Akanbi, for alleged fraud of N4.7 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    He said: “I had a contractual relationship with VT Leasing, an incorporated company, on a car supplied to me. The agreement was that I should pay a particular percentage upfront and thereafter on rentals.

    “I entered into agreement with VT Leasing. I paid both my contribution and rentals. I am not owing VT Leasing. No member of the Assembly was given any vehicle. Each of the 14 members benefitted from the VT Leasing arrangement.”

    The witness faulted claims by a prosecution witness, Chief Adewale Atanda, that the vehicles were bought for them by Ladoja to save him from impeachment.

    Atanda, who was a Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Ladoja, told the court that he used his assets and personal guarantee to secure an N80 million loan from Wema Bank Plc to buy the vehicles.

    But Dauda said the agreement that led to the delivery of the vehicles to him and 13 others was not guaranteed by Atanda.

    The witness averred that he personally paid all his expenses in his four-month stay at Heritage Court and Inns, a hotel owned by Atanda, after he relocated to Lagos with his colleagues for fear of being killed, if Ladoja was impeached in December 2005.

    Responding to a question during cross-examination by EFCC’s lawyer Olabisi Oluwafemi, the witness denied receiving any money from Atanda throughout his stay in the hotel.

    A stockbroker, Tajudeen Ajani Bayonle, also testified during yesterday’s proceedings.

    The witness, who told the court that he was not familiar with the facts of the matter, said he was invited by one of the defence lawyers because of his technical knowledge of stockbroking business.

    Further hearing in the trial continues today.

    Ladoja and his co-defendant opened their defence, following the dismissal of their “no case” submissions by the judge.

    They were, for the second time in about two years, re-arraigned on November 5 by the EFCC on an 11-count charge of N4.7 billion money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    They pleaded not guilty.

     

  • Impeachable impeachments

    In the United States, it is called high crimes and misdemeanour. In Nigeria, the buzz phrase is gross misconduct. They are perhaps the vaguest excuse in the constitution to upset the political cart. What we have seen in the past weeks in some of Nigerian state legislatures is the use of impeachment as a means for political revenge by abusing the constitutional requirements.

    Three states have become quicksand of legislative activities. They are Kano, Imo and Benue. Two of them impeached their speakers, one impeached a deputy governor, and one tried to impeach a governor. They tried to invoke trivial reasons for their actions.

    The most tumultuous of them is the story of the Benue legislature. They turned what the law prescribes as an orderly exercise into a theatre of the absurd. The backdrop was the internal turmoil generated by Governor Samuel Ortom who said his party had given him a red card. This preceded a moment of dialogue that involved the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman Adams Oshiomhole. Eventually he defied his party leaders and swerved over to the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and that set off a maelstrom within the loyalists of Ortom and the APC. The Ortom men banded together and impeached the speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange. This riled the APC men loyal to the anti-Ortom leadership and then proceeded to hijack the legislature.

    But they did not have the numbers. The eight involved are Ikyange, Adanyi Benjamin, Terhemba Chabo, Benjamin Nungwa, Bem Mngutyo, Adams Okholo, James Okefe and Nick Eworo. They planned to hijack the house. The other members, amounting to 22, including the new speaker, Titus Abua, were prevented from entering the complex.

    It was more of a partisan brawl than a concern for the higher virtues of punishing the derailed conscience of state.

    The other story was Kano State where the speaker of the House of Assembly was impeached. The former speaker, Yusuf Atta, was flushed out in the impeachment vote in a 27 to 40 tally. The story beneath was the change of course of some of the major party wheel horse who had parted ways with the APC and Governor Abdullahi  Ganduje. The argument is that in a realignment of persons, the governor wanted his men in charge so as to edge out the partisans of former Governors  Rabiu Kwankwaso and Ibrahim Shekarau from contention.

    The Kano governor has denied hand in the act, but has not expressed disdain for the process. He has handily embraced the speaker, a marker of his perception and an underhand choreographer or, at least, player in the process that berthed the new one.

    Hear him: “Being an issue of internal democracy, that was why it took place smoothly without any fracas on the floor of the house. It is indeed a smooth change.”

    The Imo State case has been the most smouldering of the three, and it showcased the desperation when a party is riven in two between the chief executive of the state and the elements who feel side-lined or disaffected. It began when the Governor, Rochas Okorocha, seemed to have fallen into political opprobrium in the Nigerian sense when opponents within his party defeated him in the party congresses and set the stage for a shellacking of his pick to succeed him as governor. They had assailed his choice of his son-in-law as peremptory and indecent.

    But the governor swept back, and through the court and some sword-and-dagger play in the party hierarchy upturned the losses and regained momentum as the party leader. With the new party congress in his favour, his men rallied to sweep out the deputy governor, Eze Madumere. The action defied a court order. The state high court presided over by Ben Iheka on July 30 had restrained the lawmakers and the chief judge of the state, Justice Paschal Nnadi, from any further actions on the matter. Yet the lawmakers went along and impeached him.

    What the three stories have unfurled is the politics of intolerance played out with impunity, sometimes deploying security forces. It is the signature of the new political season with those who feel threatened going along with any moves that would secure them in power or advance their new ambitions.

    It is all in the spirit of 2019 calculations just as what commentators and political actors have called a gale of defections in the National Assembly. This is a season of the realignment of forces.

    It is all well and good to realign and see where great opportunities lie. But they subvert the sacred portion of the law by visiting impeachment on colleagues as part of the pursuit of peculiar self-interest, thereby overthrowing the very purpose of law, which is to enthrone security and spread welfare to the people.

    The most outrageous part is the ideological failings of the politics of partisanship where nothing about the welfare and security of the people came into the definition of gross misconduct. It is often not the misconduct of the impeached fellows but the misconduct of their politics and execution of their interests.

     

  • Court halts Ortom’s impeachment

    A Makurdi High Court  presided by Justice Theresa Igoche, has retrained the eight suspended members of the Benue State House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process they initiated on the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom.

    The judge also restrained them from sitting and upheld their suspension pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

    “I agree with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria that the applicants have made out a case for the grant of orders sought therein,” She stressed.

    “The order also restrains the Chief Judge of Benue state from receiving or acting on any process or request, issued pursuant to the purported sitting, proceedings and resolutions of 30th July, 2018 aimed at or commenced for the purpose of removing the Governor of the State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”

    Justice Igoche upheld the subsisting order that was earlier given by Justice Adam Onum, Chief Judge of the state restraining the former speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, and other former principal officers from parading as same and ordered the security agencies to vacate the premises of the Benue State house of Assembly.

    Responding, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa, applauded the ruling saying as a law abiding government, they will always seek redress in the law courts.

    Also speaking, Sebastian Hon, SAN, who appeared on behalf of the Plaintiffs alongside 30 lawyers described the ruling as sound and promised to abide by the orders of the court to ensure service o and continue with the case.

    Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Titus Uba, said with the order, they expect the  police and other security agencies to  vacate the premises and stop interfering in their legislative business maintaining that even the President of Country has denied link to the continued occupation of the Assembly complex.

    The applicants had on the 31st of July, approached the Court, seeking eight reliefs amongst which were interim order restraining the eight members from sitting, proceeding and or acting in furtherance to the impeachment and the Chief Judge from acting on their request.

  • Impeachment: I’m still Benue Assembly Speaker – Ikyange

    The embattled Speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly, Hon Terkimbir Ikyange has reacted to his alleged impeachment saying that he remains the speaker of the state assembly.

    Speaking in a telephone interview with The Nation, Hon Ikyange said what happened at the chambers on Tuesday was a mere charade, adding that the House was adjourned August 15, 2018.

    Read Also:Impeachment: Security men take over Benue Assembly complex

    He said going by the standing rule of the House, he is the only one empowered to recall members back to plenary.

    He said his purported impeachment is illegal and unconstitutional.

  • Impeachment as an ass

    Sir: When, on Tuesday, June 5, the Senate and the House of Representatives curiously convened their first-ever joint executive session to discuss the security situation in the country, it was not difficult to surmise that the session was motivated by the irritating face-off between the institution and some agents of the executive arm of government.

    The issue of disrespect for the national assembly by agents of the executive was one of the thematic essences of the joint executive session. The IGP has become more notoriously culpable of this than anyone else in the executive, treating invitations by the parliament with disdain. However, in the critical analysis of the entire saga, there is the imperativeness to consider the devil in the detail of the parliament’s resolution, to wit: “…the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today (June 5, 2018).”

    This has now turned out to be the gravamen by the presidency and even legislators against the National Assembly and its leadership. One does not need a careful deconstruction of this particular resolution to come to terms with the fact that the National Assembly has simply threatened to activate Section 143 of the Nigerian constitution. Was the subtle threat necessary when one could easily read between the lines to understand the ramifications of the legislature’s resolutions?

    My take is that the last resolution was a strategic blunder. It has now sparked animosity in the parliament itself. Nigerians have been constrained to believe that there is something stewing in the legislature’s kitchen. I am inclined to believe that the presidency would have dispassionately looked at the resolutions with a view to taking necessary actions. It is possible now that ego has crept in and the presidency is more likely disposed to discountenance the entire resolutions to spite the leadership of the parliament.

    Undoubtedly, the issue is characteristically emotive. It will certainly be influenced by party lines, religious and tribal considerations. Money will play a role. External forces will wade in.  There will be calls for restraint. Political solution and reconciliation will be canvassed. Compromises will be tabled and the leaderships of both chambers would be willing to hug them, cognizant that they do not have two-thirds majority to remove the president. Indeed, this National Assembly cannot bite the bullet. Apart from the fact that it cannot muster the number to push through the impeachment agendum, the process is laden with tensions of goals and objectives that will always be resolved in favour of the president, given the nature of our presidential system.

     

    • Sufuyan Ojeifo,

    Abuja.

  • Senators, Reps give Buhari conditions to avoid impeachment

    The conditions

    • Killings should stop
    • End to harassment and humiliation of lawmakers
    • Adherence to rule of law
    • President’s appointees must be held accountable for actions
    • Anti-corruption battle should not be selective
    • Prosecution of those who stole senate mace
    • Lawmakers to take case to international community
    • Lawmakers to collaborate with Labour CSOs
    • President must contain unemployment, poverty
    • Lawmakers won’t hesitate to invoke Constitutional powers
    • Vote of confidence in Saraki, Dogara
    • Vote of no confidence on IG Idris

    The fragile relationship  between the Presidency and the National Assembly may have collapsed, following yesterday’s emergency joint session of the National Assembly.

    The lawmakers  issued President Muhammadu Buhari a 10-point condition, otherwise they would “invoke constitutional powers”.

    A flurry of activities culminated in yesterday’s session.

    On Sunday, the police invited Senate President Bukola Saraki to defend his relationship with the April 5 Offa robbery suspects, who killed 33 people, including nine policemen.

    Some of the suspects claimed that they were thugs being used and armed by the Senate president and Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed.

    On Monday, after a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some security chiefs, including Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Saraki was told to send his explanation within 48 hours without appearing before the police.

    Yesterday’s National Assembly joint session was described as an emergency executive session on the state of the nation.

    The Senate president, accompanied by House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, read the resolutions.

    No timeline was given for compliance with the resolutions.

    The resolutions include: “The security agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect life and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible Government.

    “The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions, including Legislators and Judiciary, by the police and other security agencies must stop.

    “There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.

    “The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.

    “The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective and also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.

    “The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.

    “National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU,  APU,  ECOWAS,  CPA,  Parliament,  Pan African Parliament, EU,  UN,  US    Congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.

    “Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign  of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    “The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy.

    “The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria, especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel.

    “Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of   confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.

    “We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerians and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.

    “Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to evoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today”.

    Signs that all was not well became apparent immediately the Senate reconvened for plenary and went into an Executive Session around 11am.

    The closed session ended around 12.30 pm.

    Saraki announced after the closed session that they discussed National Assembly and Senate issues in particular.

    He added that they resolved to hold a joint executive session with the House of Representatives.

    Saraki mandated Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan to move a motion for the Senate to go to the House of Representatives chamber for the emergency joint Executive Session.

    Lawan did.

    The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio.

    Members of the upper chamber were also said to have held a “strategic meeting” on Monday night to articulate issues for discussion.

    While the Executive Session in the House of Representatives lasted, activities in the National Assembly were grounded.

     

    162 oppose impeachment plan at stormy session

    Senate President Bokola Saraki briefed yesterday’s executive session  on issues “that are mainly personal” and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara did not speak., according to sources at the session.

    An impeachment move against President Muhamadu Buhari was made during the stormy joint session with the circulation of a register. A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member from Kogi State, it was learnt, initiated the impeachment move, which many lawmakers kicked against.

    A group of 162 lawmakers from the North, according to Hon.Mohammad Gudaji Kazaure (Jigawa), quickly came together to oppose the impeachment move. Rep Abdulmunini Jibrin (Kano), in a statement on behalf of the pro-Buhari Parliamanetary Support Group (PSP), said commendably, Dogara “tactically refused to make any comment at the session even after the Senate President took time to explain the issues which are mostly personal”.

    “That almost all the members and senators that spoke at the Executive session are of the PDP while members of the APC declined joining the discussion to avoid a rowdy confrontation as the entire session could easily pass for a PDP Executive session.

    “That it is disturbing and raised many questions of pre determined intentions that a known ally of the Senate President from Kwara State, Hon Rasak Atunwa, drafted what was adopted as the resolution and without voting on it in accordance with standard parliamentary practice.”

  • Senators, Reps threaten to impeach Buhari

    The National Assembly on Tuesday warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop interfering in its affairs or face impeachment.

    The  lawmakers at a volatile joint  executive session held at the House of Representatives chamber, said the President must be sincere in his fight against corruption and stop harassing his perceived enemies.

    The over three hours meeting also reaffirmed the vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

    On the other hand, the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on the President of the Senate,  Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

    However, a member of the House said the impeachment procedure against the President would fail as it will not be supported by northern members of the National Assembly .

    Details later…..

  • How Ganduje saved Kano Speaker from impeachment

    Sunday Oguntola reports on the huge political horse trading that led to the resolution of a leadership crisis at the Kano State House of Assembly last week. Additional report by Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

    AS G24 lawmakers walked into the Kano Government House last Tuesday night, the last thing on their minds was reconciliation with the faction loyal to Speaker Yusuf Atta. As far as they were concerned, the Speaker and other principal officers of the House of Assembly were as good as gone.

    They knew they had the upper hands. They were not only in the majority but also clearly more clinical and strategic. The Speaker and his principal officers looked helpless, completely down and out. But as it turned out, they were banking on a last-minute intervention from Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to pull through.

    The intervention came but it was almost too late. Investigations revealed that the governor decided to wade into the leadership crisis that rocked the Assembly because of the massive political implications. Sources close to his camp said he knew the collateral damages the crisis would cause might be too far-reaching and difficult to manage.

    The governor, it was learnt, was bothered his political adversaries might capitalise on the crisis to alter control of the state politics. It was this fear as well as the suspicion that the crisis was triggered off in the first place by political hawks that made the governor step into the messy situation, our correspondent reliably gathered.

    The gathering storms

    Led by former Speaker Kabiru Rurum, members of the G24 faction accused Atta of alleged financial embezzlement, incompetence, localisation of activities of the House and not carrying the members along.

    They vowed only impeachment of the Speaker would save the House from disgrace. Rurum, who handed over to Atta in July 2007, is a veteran in political warfare with mass followership in the House. They were unconfirmed reports he was plotting to return as Speaker of the Assembly.

    He was believed to have realised Atta is a political lightweight that can easily be thrown away with the massive support he (Rurum) enjoys from other lawmakers. He led the faction on Tuesday morning to the Assembly Complex where the sack of Chief Whip of the House, Labaran Madari, representing Warawa Constituency and the Deputy Majority Leader, Muhammad Butu-butu, representing Rimin Gado/Tofa constituency was announced.

    The declaration came amid sealing of the complex by Police operatives acting to forestall breakdown of law and order. Sources in the know confirmed the ‘sacks’ jostled Atta and his camp. “It made them realise the G24 opposition faction meant business and was bent on having its way,” a lawmaker, who craved anonymity confirmed last Friday.

    Sensing it was losing out, the Speaker reportedly ran to the Government House to seek intervention of the governor, who was said to have also become uncomfortable with the dangerous dimension the crisis was assuming. The crisis, impeccable sources said, originated from the just-concluded ward congresses in Kano where most of the lawmakers lost out.

    More than 80 percent of the Assembly members were said to have failed in their bid to retain control of political structures in their constituencies, leading to insinuation that the Speaker was responsible for the development. Members who lost out alleged the Speaker was working with political forces to forestall their return to the House.

    While some of them believed the Speaker was in league with Ganduje to cut them to sizes, others were said to be working with the assumption that their alleged closeness to former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso could have been responsible for the loss of control at the congresses.

    Kwankwaso and Ganduje have been locked in a perpetual control for political power in the state with the former governor alleged to be working towards leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    As the sentiments settled among members on the losing side, it was learnt they became more determined to hit Atta and Ganduje where it would cost them more by effecting a change in the Assembly leadership. The governor was initially reported to be indifferent to the crisis until strategists in his camp explained the implications to him.

    The battle for compromise

    It was based on this that he summoned a meeting with the warring factions to broker peace last Tuesday night. At least two sources at the meeting confirmed it was as stormy as tough. “Everyone was edgy and felt justified in his position. Nobody was ready to shift grounds or concede anything,” one of them stressed.

    The governor, according to reports, decided to allow both factions vent their grievances. He realised it would be counterproductive to gag discussions or agitations on either sides, it was learnt. The meeting, which was reportedly on for over four hours, considered many issues affecting political temperature of the House.

    “The G24 faction was insistent the Speaker has been running a one-man show and inaccessible to members. The members believed the Speaker was too amenable to certain forces in the state. They also felt they needed some strategic influence in the House to coexist,” a source confided.

    The Speaker’s faction was said to have been disturbed by the alliance of Rurum with the G24 since he was privy to the emergence of Atta. The faction’s members believed Rurum, who was saved from impeachment in July 2017 over allegations of financial impropriety, was being ungrateful and overtly ambitious.

    After much haggling, the governor was said to have told the lawmakers to be prepared to cede grounds for their collective political destiny.

    Someone at the meeting said: “He told everyone if one of them goes down, everyone goes down. He said our political destinies are intertwined because at the end of the day, it is Kano Assembly that will bear the brunt.

    “So, it is better we all slow down on personal interests for collective peace. Besides, he said anything that will affect the political fortunes of APC in the state will ultimately hurt everyone.”

    The plea for collective political gains as against personal interests was said to have struck the right chord among the lawmakers who began to soften on their demands and high grounds. After much horse-trading, it was resolved some sensitive positions should be ceded to the G24 members.

    But the governor was said to have pleaded for the retention of the Speaker. His argument was to have two Speakers in less than two years will send the wrong signals to political watchers as well as portray the state as volatile. Besides, he said it will make people assume he is not in charge of political activities around him.

    The G-24 members were said to have insisted the Deputy Speaker, Engineer Hamisu Chidari, must give away with at least two other principal officers to give them a sense of belonging as a condition for peace in the Assembly, a demand the governor and speaker’s camp easily acceded to.

    To save face, Chidari, who has been in the House for 15 years, said he resigned for the sake of peace. According to him:“Being the longest serving lawmaker in the House, I decided to sacrifice my position so that we can have peace in the house.

    “I have been in the House for 15 years now. I served in different capacities as principal officer for 10 years and four years as chairman of business committee of the House.

    “So, when a meeting was summoned by the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and APC leadership, I stepped down from my position in order to broker peace between the two warring factions.

    “I thanked God for making my decision to yield a positive result. I am happy that the crisis is now over courtesy of my action.”

    It was on this basis Rurum announced the truce on Wednesday. He said his group has agreed to shelve their plan to impeach the Speaker after the governor’s intervention. According to him: “We wish to inform you that the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as party leadership in the state, have waded into the crisis that engulfed our assembly.

    “They also ensured that the crisis ended in a no winner no vanquished state. As loyal legislators of this Honourable House, who respect the supremacy of the leadership of the Executive Governor and party leaders in our state, we wish to state that we are in agreement with the decision taken.”

    To prevent a change in the agreements reached, he further announced it was resolved: “1. That Yusuf Abdallah Ata (Fagge constituency) should remain as Speaker. 2. That Kabiru Rurum (Rano constituency) serve as Deputy Speaker.

    “3. That Mohammed Bello Butu-butu (RiminGado/Tofa constituency) serve as Majority leader. 4. That Bappa Babba Dan Agundi (Kano Municipal constituency) serve as Chief Whip. 5. That Sanusi Usman Bataiya (Albasu constituency) serve as Deputy Majority leader. 6. That Ayuba Labaran Durum (Kabo constituency) serve as Majority Whip.”

    The resolutions, according to feelers, is an intricate balancing act to ensure Ganduje retains support of the House as well as placate opposition lawmakers bent on aligning with political antagonists for a big hit.

    The sentiment among some lawmakers and party chieftains that Atta and Rurum might not be able to work together was disabused as the two reportedly hugged and vowed not to rock the boat.

    It was gathered Rurum promised to support Atta and the House to cooperate with Ganduje for the collective peace and development of Kano State.

    After the pulsating intervention meeting, G-24 members and the other faction emerged with smiling faces. But only the political initiates know so much have gone into arriving at a truce. On Thursday, the plenary session hitherto adjourned to June, resumed in a peaceful atmosphere.

    The session, which kicked off at about 11: 29 am saw in attendance members loyal to the Kwankwasiyya and Gandujiyya factions, including the only PDP representative, Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad Chiromawa, who said his participation in the crisis was to effect positive change in the House.

    Our correspondent observed the plenary session lasted for about an hour as members were seen exchanging pleasantries devoid of any rancour or ill-feelings among them.

    The speaker, while announcing the change, said: “I received information that a new Deputy Majority leader and the Chief Whip have been appointed to the House in persons of Hons Muhammad Bello Butu Butu and Hon. Baffa Dan-Agundi of Kano municipal constituency as the new Chief Whip, Hon. Sanusi  Bataitya to serve as Deputy Majority Leader and honorable Ayuba Labaran Durum to serve as Majority Whip.”

    In his acceptance speech, Rurum said: “I accept this position as the members of the assembly unanimously agreed. I will try my possible best to harmonise the house and I thank Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and all stakeholders who intervened.

    “Today, Thursday, marked 11 months since I stepped down as the Speaker of the House and am back as the Deputy Speaker and as expected of us, I would discharge my responsibilities without fear or favour and carry out my responsibilities as expected.”