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Tag: Murtala Nyako

  • For ex-Adamawa governor, uncertain era beckons

    For ex-Adamawa governor, uncertain era beckons

    At last, the axe that had dangled on embattled Governor Murtala Nyako for weeks finally fell on him. With 18 votes of 25, he was impeached by the Adamawa State House of Assembly, dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, thus abruptly ending his reign ten months before the expiration of his second term. He is of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), having dumped the PDP last year along with four other governors elected in 2007 on the PDP ticket.

    After deliberating on the report of a 7-man investigative panel that probed allegations of financial impropriety against him and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, the Assembly moved against Nyako, putting a stop to weeks of uncertainty that enveloped the state as a result of high-wired political intrigues that pitted the two parties against each other. The panel that investigated the two former helmsmen submitted its report to the House on Monday, though the duo shunned the panel. The speaker of the House, Umaru Fintiri, speaker, led the plenary that axed the former governor yesterday.

    Unlike Ngilari, who resigned from office to avoid being impeached, Nyako, a former naval chief, braved the odds throughout his travails with the state lawmakers. Instead of throwing in the towel to avoid impeachment, he stood his ground till the end like a soldier that he is. But he did not watch with arms akimbo as his traducers dug his political grave. While the plot against him was being hatched, he approached the court to stop the onslaught.

    On July 3, an Adamawa State High Court, presided over by the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mamadi, dismissed Nyako’s application to restrain the Assembly from proceeding on his impeachment process. Delivering the ruling, Mamadi said no breach of Section 188 (1-9) of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended was committed by the Assembly. Curiously, the same court had earlier granted an interim injunction on June 26, restraining the Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process against the governor. The injunction only lasted till July 2. It was the same acting chief judge that the Assembly asked to set up the panel that nailed Nyako.

    But the impeached governor does not seem to be a stranger to political upheavals, especially the type that can rock the boat. In February 2008, shortly after he was elected in his first term of four years, the Election Petition Appeal Tribunal pronounced Nyako guilty of all the 16 allegations against his election. The Tribunal upheld nullification of his election, and the then House Speaker, James Barka, was sworn in as Acting Governor on 26 February 2008. He however bounced back after a fresh election was conducted, winning a landslide victory in all 21 Local Government Areas. Soon after he resumed on April 29, 2008, political intrigues resurfaced, as the House initiated moves to impeach him before he completed his tenure. It took the personal intervention of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua before the Assembly rescinded its decision. Fortunately for him, the relationship blossomed again, so much that in March 2010, the Adamawa State House of Assembly passed a vote of confidence on Governor Nyako, calling him a “messiah” to the people of Adamawa State. It was on the crest of the popularity that he ran for a second term and was once again re-elected.

    Now that he has been stripped of paraphernalia of power, Nyako has few options before him. Will he return to the PDP and use it as an umbrella to shield himself from the long arms of the law? Not a few rule out this option, given the way he exited the party and brickbats he has thrown against its bigwigs since then. Not only did his dumping of his former party bruise the ego of the self-styled largest political party in Africa, Nyako later labeled President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency as incompetent. He also fired a sling at the presidency, accusing it in a letter to the Northern Governors’ Forum as the brain behind the insurgency ravaging the Northeast. Will Nyako then remain in the APC? That seems plausible for a man who refused to hearken to the hawks in the ruling PDP in order to save his face during his impeachment ordeals. There are strong indications that he may stay in the APC and ask for legal opinion on his removal which he has described as unfair.

     

  • ‘My impeachment is illegal’

    ‘My impeachment is illegal’

    Sacked Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako has described his impeachment by the House of Assembly as illegal.

    He vowed yesterday to challenge the process in court to reclaim his mandate.

    Nyako, who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, said divine justice would soon be done.

    He said: “Everything they have done is illegal. They have contravened the Constitution; they have violated court order. Their motto is that if they don’t subdue, they will destroy.

    “They have done their worst, they can’t go beyond this. But there is divine justice waiting for all in the end. Can anyone run away from divine justice?

    “They have done it. We are people of faith. Without the leave of Allah, they cannot do it. Sometimes, Allah gives and takes power. Sometimes, Allah chooses the most difficult path to take power but at the end of the day a pleasant era will come.

    “Allah’s will has been done but we are challenging the process in the court. This is not only for the sake of reclaiming the mandate but for the sake of posterity.”

    Earlier, in a statement, the former administration said it was wrong for the House of Assembly to consider the resignation letter of former Deputy Governor Bala Ngilari.

    The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the purported resignation of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Barr. 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 governor resigns not to the House of Assembly but to the 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.

    “This clarification is necessary to avert another subversion of the Constitution since the other processes relating to the impeachment saga have all been in contravention of the Constitution and the Law.

    “We wish to observe that continued abuse of the constitution and the laws of the land may spell doom for our democracy.”

     

  • Lawmakers consider report on Nyako today

    Lawmakers consider report on Nyako today

    The Adamawa State House of Assembly will consider today the report of the panel that investigated the allegations of misconduct it levelled against Governor Murtala Nyako.

    The Buba Kaigama-led seven-man panel set up on July 8, submitted yesterday a four-volume report to Speaker Ahmadu Fintiri.

    The panelists informed the speaker that both Governor Nyako and his Deputy Bala Ngilari failed to appear before them after being duly invited. The chairman said, however, that did not stop its investigation into the allegations.

    Fintiri promised that the House would consider the report during today’s plenary.

    Though the content of the report was not made public, it is unlikely that Governor Murtala Nyako may have been cleared.

    But Ngilari may be cleared, sources said last night.

    Section 188(8) and (9) of the constitution states

    “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 reports of the panel is that the allegations 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.

    Kaigama who declined to disclose the content of the report however said the panel tried to ensure justice in the discharge of the provisions of section 188(5) under which it derives it functions.

    He explained that although the panel lacked the powers to make both men appear before the panel, it had to delay the commencement of its sitting in the hope that they would show up since they were notified of its sitting.

    According to him, the adjournment of its sitting was to allow for representation of the respondent.

    “Despite the opportunity given to the governor and the deputy to clear themselves, it was not utilised,” he stated.

    Kaigama also exonerated the panel of complicity, against the background of alleged haste to submit its report.

    “We have discharged our responsibilities to the best of our ability and it is left for God to judge us rightly or wrongly,” Kaigama said.

    He said the members appreciated the rare privilege given to them to serve on the panel.

     

     

  • Nyako impeachment: Panel concludes sitting

    Nyako impeachment: Panel concludes sitting

    •Legislators adamant on sacking gov, deputy

    The panel of seven set up to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and his deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari, by the State House of Assembly  concluded its public sitting in Yola yesterday. It sat for only two days.

    It may turn in its report tomorrow with the Assemblymen said to be adamant in ousting the governor and his deputy.

    The panel commenced sitting on Friday and rounded off yesterday after taking evidence from the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Finance, Mr. Wafarninyi Theman.

    Neither Nyako nor Ngilari put up any appearance before the panel.

    They were also not represented by any lawyer.

    The panel, after waiting in vain for representatives of the governor and those of the deputy governor proceeded to watch a video clip tendered as exhibit.

    It also cross-examined Theman.

    Counsel to the Assemblymen, Hussaini Maidawa and Leonard Nzadon told the panel that the complainants had proven their case against Nyako and Ngilari.

    The panel chairman, Mallam Buba Kaigama, said he and his colleagues would take their time to go over the evidence provided by the assembly and take the appropriate decision.

    Efforts by traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state to broker truce between the governor and the legislators have failed.

    Special Adviser to the Adamawa State Government, Mr. P.P. Elisha, told journalists yesterday that PDP stakeholders sabotaged the peace efforts and were bent on removing the governor and his deputy at all cost.

    “The whole impeachment move is being staged managed by the so-called Adamawa PDP stakeholders who are trying to draw President Goodluck Jonathan into a thing he knew nothing of,” he said.

    He said the governor has “moved to Abuja in order to continue consultations with the lawmakers as he is keen to see to the resolution of the impasse.”

    He added that if the lawmakers removed the governor unconstitutionally, Nyako would go to court to challenge the process.

  • No place to sit for panel investigating Nyako, deputy

    No place to sit for panel investigating Nyako, deputy

    •Speaker, members in Abuja for ‘consultations’

    The panel investigating allegations of misconduct against Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako failed to sit yesterday. It would have been its second sitting.

    The seven-man panel was stranded, having failed to find a venue to conduct its activity.

    It was set up by Acting Chief Judge Ambrose Mammadi, following a request by the House of Assembly after it initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy Bala Ngillari.

    The committee took off without being inaugurated on Monday at the J&J Holiday Villa in Yola.

    The panel left the hotel following security concerns. Throughout yesterday, it could not find a place to sit.

    A source at the hotel said the heavy presence of security operatives scared away customers  and the hotel management evicted the panel.

    The House of Assembly Clerk was helpless yesterday as other hotels turned down his request for the panel to use their premises.

    It was gathered that, the panel tried the NLC Club, the NUT House and the Nurses complex. All of them turned them down.

    The panel also sought to use the NUJ Press Centre, but journalists also turned down its request after a meeting of their executive.

    It was gathered that the Clerk deposited N170,000 for the NUJ centre, but the cash was returned.

    The Council of Chiefs and Emirs has held a meeting towards intervening in the imbroglio. ‘’ Our traditional rulers deliberated on how to reconcile the lawmakers and the executive for peace to reign,’’ said a source.

    Assembly Speaker Umaru Fintiri and some lawmakers have relocated to Abuja.

    They were said to be in Abuja for what a source described as “curious consultations” on unconfirmed plans by Nyako to resign.

    The Speaker and some members arrived in Abuja at about 2.30pm aboard a Medview flight from Yola.

    Clad in a white kaftan, the Speaker and some of the Assembly members left the airport for an “undisclosed” location.

    There were indications that the House delegation might meet some forces behind the ouster of Nyako.

    Having got wind of the team’s arrival, some Nyako loyalists were also said to be trying to locate them for lobbying to stave off the impeachment proceedings.

    The governor was expected to meet with some of the lawmakers last night, according to sources.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The Speaker and some members came to Abuja for consultations on the way forward for the state.

    “It is expected that the Speaker would be meeting key stakeholders of Adamawa PDP on the transition plan from Nyako, especially on who becomes the deputy governor in the event of Nyako’s imminent exit.

    “Some of the forces are pushing for Nyako’s impeachment within one or two weeks but the Assembly leadership is insisting on due process to avoid the nullification of the proceedings by any court.

    “For instance, the Speaker wants to go for Umrah (lesser Hajj) from Abuja, but those against Nyako are seeking immediate impeachment.”

    The House of Assembly yesterday handed over the Rules of Proceedings to the seven-man investigative panel.

    One of the key features of the rules, signed by the Clerk, is that “four members shall form the quorum” to determine Nyako’s and Ngilari’s fate.

  • 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.

     

  • Defecting governors won’t return to PDP, says Wamakko

    Defecting governors won’t return to PDP, says Wamakko

    Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko has said there is no going back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by he and four of his colleagues, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said the defection of himself and Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) to the APC is a forgone conclusion.

    President Goodluck Jonathan last Thursday said the PDP would not miss the governors because they cannot even win ward elections.

    Wamakko described the President’s comment as a joke, adding: “The President knows the value of the governors in their respective states; when a man says he doesn’t need an eye, it is because he cannot afford it.

    “I think you know it sounds funny because many Nigerians know that he is just joking. Many Nigerians know who we are in our respective states. I think it is just a joke he is making.

    “He labours hard to bring any of us back but he cannot. When a blind man says he doesn’t need an eye, you know he cannot get one. I don’t want to talk about Jonathan, I better talk about other issues.”

  • ‘Nyako can’t be impeached’

    ‘Nyako can’t be impeached’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State is divided over the plot to impeach Governor Murtala Nyako.

    A group within the crisis-ridden chapter has vowed to resisit the plot, saying that it is uncalld for.

    A PDP chieftain, Dr. Umar Ardo, who has opposed the governor for six years, is leading aggrieved members to challenge the basis for the plot. He told reporters in Yola, the state capital, that the state required peace and stability to grow.  The politician  advised the House of Assembly to support the governor to achieve greater success.

    Ardo described the impeachment as a waste of time, stresing that it will throw the state into political crisis. He said the plot is counter-productive because Nyako is about to complete his tenure.

    The politician urged the lawmakers to ponder on the implications, adding that the impeachment cannot be meaningful, if it paves the way for the deputy governor, Bala James Ngilari, to assume the reins.

    He reasoned that the plot is baseless at this time when the governor, who was the leader of the PDP), has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a huge number of supporters.

    Ardo said, although the deputy governor has not defected to the APC, that is not enough to catapult him to the number one seat.

    He recalled that the House of Assembly had begun the impeachment of the governor July 2008, but the plan was dropped in controversial circumstances.

    He said the people were not carried along by the lawmakers when the pplot was dropped six years ago.

    Ardo, who is the former political adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, took a swipe at some PDP governorship aspirants warming up for the primaries.  He said they were building their ambitions without building the party.

    He advised the aspirants, including  Markus Natina Gundiri, an engineer, and Gen. Buba Marwa, a defector from the APC, to shelve their aspirations. He said they should toil for four years before aspiring for any elective position in the party.

    Ardo said: “ Markus Gundiri and Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa should not think of declaring their ambition now, but they should remain loyal party men for four years before they will think of contesting for the governor.

    “Iam advising them to build the PDP first before they start to reap from where they did not sow, if they want to be taken seriously. But, if they want to contest now, they will never get any weaver from the PDP.”

    Ardo contested against  Nyako in the last controversial PDP primaries. He challenged the outcome in the court. He urged members to learn from his steadfastness and resilience.

    He aslo warned the PDP lawmakers not to set the state ablaze over the impeachment plot.

    Ardo stressed: “Any attempt by the lawmakers to impeach Governor Nyako will be resisted by all stakeholders in Adamawa. Nyako’s impeachment at this period will destabilise the politics of Adamawa State and throw it into confusion.

    “If Governor Nyako is impeached, it will give one of the governorship aspirants and the deputy governor, Bala Ngilari, an added advantage.”

    The PDP chieftain  explained that, unless Nyako and his deputy are impeached, there cannot be any new begining in Adamawa State.

    He maintained that, since the House has dropped the impeachment process in 2008, there is no justification for it again.

    Ardo said: “We will never accept  the impeachment of Nyako because the Nyako\Ngillari Administration is the same. How can you impeach Nyako and leave Ngillari?’’

    He maintained that, if the intention of the House is to spare the deputy governor, it will not work.

    Ardo said the challege that will face the PDP in Adamawa State is the selection of a competent governorship flag bearer.

    He said many aspirants warming up for the election are not popular.

    Ardo added: “ Hon. Jerry Kumdisi recently joined the PDP. He is not qualified to contest under the platform of the PDP.”

     

  • Nyako’s impeachment plot suffers setback

    Nyako’s impeachment plot suffers setback

    •Stakeholders protest Tukur’s grip on party

    Plot to impeach Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako has been stalled, following a split in the House of Assembly on plans by a former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to make his son, Awwal,  the next Deputy Governor.

    Ten of the 25 lawmakers have opted out of the impeachment plot.

    The lawmakers are suspecting that Tukur might still enthrone his son as the next governor in 2015 after Nyako might have been removed from office.

    Their fears were borne out of the fact that Tukur installed over 70 per cent of members of the Adamawa PDP Executive Committee.

    A source said: “The euphoria of the 100 per cent PDP majority in the House of Assembly appears to be short-lived, especially following the visit of Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to Adamawa.

    “Kwankwaso, who met with Nyako and some lawmakers, succeeded in gaining some grounds for the embattled governor.

    “Already about 10 members, though remaining in PDP, have pledged their loyalty to Nyako because of Tukur’s perceived role in the PDP crisis which seems to be resurfacing again.”

    A lawmaker said: “Ten lawmakers have accepted a “ceasefire”, following the Kwankwaso’s intervention.

    “It will be difficult to secure two-thirds to remove Nyako from office. To make matters worse, our leaders are busy plotting on who should be deputy governor.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “I think the presidency is a circumspect that the impeachment move against Nyako may not fly because we are yet to receive any security brief or report on the governor.

    “With Tukur trying to position his son for deputy governor, the impeachment plot is dead. We want a break from the past; we won’t allow Tukur have his way. Nyako would not have left for the All Progressives Congress (APC), if not for the face-off with Tukur.”

    Some PDP stakeholders have protested Tukur’s continuous grip on the party.

    A source, who spoke with some newsmen, alleged that Tukur is in control of the party’s State Executive Committee.

    He asked the party leadership at the national and state levels to make sure that no caucus is given advantage, if PDP wants to win the state in 2015.

    He said: “All is not well within Adamawa PDP even though we seem to have a common political obstacle in Governor Murtala Nyako.

    “Already, our leaders are split along pro and anti-Tukur’s caucuses having realised that Tukur had positioned 70 per cent of his loyalists in the State Executive Committee.

    “The former National Chairman recently called a caucus meeting of the elders/stakeholders, together with the loyal trusted PDP Executives in the state he installed, to strategise on how to make his son’s aspiration a reality.

    “At one of such meetings in Abuja, it was resolved that any member of local government or state Executive Council who is not willing to support the ambition of Awwal Tukur must be flushed out.

    “There was a follow up meeting in Yola where the same position was reiterated by Tukur’s caucus.”

     

  • Kwankwaso, Nyako, Adamawa lawmakers meet

    Kwankwaso, Nyako, Adamawa lawmakers meet

    Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, his Adamawa State counterpart Murtala Nyako, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmadu Usman and 12 lawmakers met yesterday at the Presidential Lodge, Government House Yola. The outcome of the meeting was not revealed to reporters.

    Usman, who was the last to leave, refused inquires from reporters on what transpired at the meeting.

    Kwankwaso, who was waylaid, said: “Do I need a visa to visit Adamawa and see my elder brother?

    “If you say I came to discuss with him some perceived problems; let me tell you that there are no problems.

    “I was not sent by the northern governors to mediate between the House of Assembly and the governor because there is no problem between them.”

    Kwankwaso praised Nyako for the skills acquisition programmes in Adamawa State.

    Political pundits said the meeting was called because of the frosty relationship between the House and the governor.