Factional Deputy Majority Leader of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunday Shigaba has called on Nigerians to disregard Tuesday’s purported suspension of the beleaguered speaker of the house, Momoh-Jimoh Lawal and nine others from his camp by the Umar Imam-led faction.
He carpeted the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over the recent opinion by his office regarding the build-up to the National Assembly ordered closure of the Kogi assembly, asserting that the AGF’s position vindicated their allegation of connivance by the presidency in the Kogi assembly crisis.
He described the G-5 members as “noise makers”, and called on the people of the state to discountenance actions purportedly taken by them, including the passage of the 2016 appropriation bill, in the name of the assembly.
Reacting to their suspension by the Imam faction Tuesday in Lokoja the state capital, he described the unfolding scenario, including the alleged impeachment of Lawal by five of the lawmakers and subsequent election of the house leadership as display of unbridled lawlessness and sad.
His words: “For all we know, they are G-5 and I think every action, every activity of the G-5 that we know- for them to come out and say they suspend the speaker and the rest of us, it has no basis. It is of no effect, it has no ground. Every aspect or activities carried out by the G-5 is not recognised by the law. It is null and void.
“When they did the purported impeachment no quorum was firmed to even sit and come out with any decision; whatever they built up in numbers is not recognised until they are legally, legitimately sworn in. You need a minimum of one third- seven to sit. To elect principal officers of the house you need simple majority, and to be able to come up with the impeachment of the speaker you need two third- 17 of 25. Whatever their argument, they miss the point. Two third of 20 is 12, they are merely overreaching themselves and it is sad.
“What is at stake is not for our sake per se, but for the sake of posterity. We are an institution, we have our rules and these need to be observed in every of our conduct.
“As for the Attorney General, it was more like sharing his own personal opinion. If his submission is being today by the IG, it is unfortunate for a personality in which people build trust can descend so low. It also confirms what we have been saying about executive interference; that the presidency is being involved in the crisis. We said it.”
He asserted it would be wrong for anyone to insinuate that they were being backed by outsiders, saying “you don’t need to be sponsored to fight for your right. Those who care to fight for democracy and decency know that we are fighting for a cause.”
