The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa

  • I have no plans to defect, says commissioner

    Nasarawa State Commissioner for Information, Hamza Mohammed, at the weekend denied the allegation that he was leading four other commissioners to resign from Governor Umar Tanko Almakura’s cabinet.

    He also said he was not planning to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for another party.

    The commissioner, in a statement made available to The Nation, alleged that the allegations were aimed at tarnishing his name and political clout.

    “The report, to say the least, is a figment of the imagination of the reporter as it concerns me and a continuation of the campaign of calumny directed at my person and the Government of Nasarawa state under the dynamic leadership of Umaru Tanko Almakura,” Mohammed stated.

    While declaring his loyalty to the governor, the commissioner stated he remained confident of his principal’s leadership attributes.

    “There is no gain saying the fact that I have gained so much from the style, character and achievements of the government and will continue to be proudly associated with its ideals and successes.”The tremendous development landmarks recorded in the short span of three years is a testimony to the prudent, accountable and visionary attribute of the Governor which I laboured to enthrone and which I will continue to support for the benefit of the people of Nasarawa State,” he said.

  • Nasarawa’s ‘cash and carry’ politics

    Nasarawa’s ‘cash and carry’ politics

    Three weeks ago, this column pointed out the brazen act of illegality which the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, particularly the 20 members from the opposition party, is trying to foist on the people of the state. It is very clear that their satanic plot is to remove Tanko Al-Makura, the legitimate governor of the state, by illegitimate means. Though impeachment is a legitimate weapon enshrined in the constitution to check executive recklessness in the polity, many right-thinking Nigerians are amazed and dazed by the easy recourse of some lawmakers (or lawbreakers) in some Houses of Assembly to invoke this section of the constitution at will to settle personal scores or political differences.

    Now that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has been beaten to their game, the 20 opposition legislators are not taking their defeat lightly. They have vowed to continue with the impeachment moves against their governor in spite of the fact that the panel constituted to investigate allegations against him, has returned a not-guilty verdict. There is no other way to describe this desperation than to call it legislative rascality. This is because if, indeed, the legislators were genuinely representing the people who voted them into the House, the whole impeachment brouhaha should have ended at the point the panel dismissed the 16 counts of gross abuse of office levelled against the governor.

    It is quite unfortunate that all the legal questions raised by the entire impeachment saga have not been addressed, yet more are being created as the episode continues. The key issues raised by the impeachment drama as stated in the column before this, are, first, whether the Nassarawa State House of Assembly had conformed with the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution that demands that notice of the impeachment be served on the governor within seven days of its presentation to the Speaker of the House; second, whether the Chief Judge of the state has complied with Section 188 (5) of the Constitution in setting up the panel charged with investigating the allegations against the governor; and third and last, whether the House of Assembly can direct the Chief Judge to disband and reconstitute the panel on its own authority as opposed to calling a court of competent jurisdiction to determine whether the panel was indeed duly constituted or not, and making consequential orders based on its determination.

    None of these issues has yet been conclusively addressed by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly or the Chief Judge of the state. Still, the whole episode keeps unfolding in a direction so far removed from legality that one must wonder whether the law or any perceived breach of the law means anything to these institutions that are responsible for its formulation and interpretation. Meanwhile, in one breath, the House of Assembly stands by its ‘order’ to the Chief Judge to disband the panel amidst vows to continue the impeachment process irrespective of the report of the panel. In another breath, it promises to institute an action in court to determine the legality of the panel. The absurd reality of this legislative double-speak in Nasarawa  and the seeming lack of any statement by the Chief Judge on the legality of the constituted panel in line with Section 188 (5) of the Constitution, bears a remarkable resemblance to the politics of impunity practised in Nigeria which pervades all arms and levels of government. An otherwise straight-forward procedure laid down by the laws of the land has resulted in legal and legislative circus show to the surprise of no one in the country.

    If the Nasarawa State House of Assembly does go ahead with its threat of continuing the impeachment process in the light of recent developments without recourse to the law courts, then we may be headed to yet another instance of blatant disregard for our constituted laws in the country. This has disturbingly become more of a trend than otherwise as one would expect of an organized society. From all indications, the circumstances of this present case cannot be left to or resolved in the “court of public opinion” as the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had suggested in earlier comments to the press. The situation calls for a lawful order, one way or another, to put an end to this public show of shame by all parties who are rumoured to be acting on absurd pecuniary motivations, unsurprisingly.

    The resolution to this debacle, whatever the motivation, appears to lie more on the issue of the legality of the constituted panel than on any other issue. If we were to be realistic on the issue of service or non-service of impeachment notice on the governor, one may point out that while it is always in the interest of the law to insist on adherence to procedures laid down therein, it is also on record that, sometimes, the courts have taken a tough stance on cases hinged on service or non-service of legally required notices by looking at the essence of such notice to begin with. The essence of a ‘notice’ is to bring to a party’s knowledge the existence of certain facts or circumstances to accord that party the privilege of knowing about them, such as a suit or allegations for instance, and create an opportunity for a reply or defence to those allegations. If even after the omission of this notice by the accusing party (or parties), the indicted party has in one way or the other got wind of the allegations and has, in some cases, even proffered or prepared his defence, then the insistence on the actual service of the notice and any issue arising from it becomes superfluous or a technicality and not a necessity. However, the law is the law and must be followed, especially by elected officials who should know better.

    This brings us to the issue of the composition of the panel by the Chief Judge, which is at the centre of the matter. The legality of the panel is not only justiciable but, surprisingly, it can be determined in a competent court at the instance of any of the affected parties. It will be a suit purely calling the court to decide if the panel was validly constituted. If the House of Assembly is not willing to call the court to decide on the legality, any other affected party can equally do so. It can be a matter decided solely based on affidavits as clearly provided for by the Originating Summons procedure of the High Courts and Federal High Courts.

    For sure, the constitution leaves no room for the legislature to determine the composition of the panel, or decide the mode of sitting or the outcome of the deliberation. And just as what constitutes gross misconduct is left entirely to the discretion of the legislators, the composition of the panel is the prerogative of the Chief Judge of the state as well. Therefore, the legislators’ refusal to accept the panel’s verdict amounts to legislative recklessness, and any attempt to force out the governor through extra-constitutional means is an open invitation to chaos and anarchy.

    With the knowledge that there are top legal practitioners involved on all sides, one can only wonder why there are so many legal missteps and disregard for legal procedure from the onset of the Al-Makura’s impeachment saga. It calls the integrity of lawyers involved to question and puts the sincerity of their legal advice and ethics in bad light, depending on the level and the time of their involvements. With the foregoing, let me state what we all know clearly. There is all probability that this whole mess has nothing to do with gross misconduct, or the desire of a House of Assembly to act in the interest of the people or even the law at all. This may just be politics as usual, fuelled by cash. No wonder, the players are picking and choosing from laws that suit their interest and playing it all out in the public gallery, like true Nigerian politicians that they all are. God help us all!

  • Nasarawa to train 50 women

    Nasarawa to train 50 women

    NO fewer than 50 women in Nasarawa State will benefit from a skill acquisition programme organised by the state Directorate of Employment.

    The coordinator of the Directorate, Monday Daylop, who stated this at the weekend, said that the women will acquire skills on using local fabrics to make fashionable shoes and bags.

    Daylop explained that the idea behind the initiative is to make the beneficiaries rely more on themselves in the country.

    He spoke while declaring open a two- week skill acquisition training programme.

    The initiative, he stated, will also help arrest unemployment in the state.

    The General Manager, Nasarawa State Vocational and Relevant Technology Board, Ibrahim Adamu, commended the federal government for organising the workshop to reduce unemployment in the State.

    He expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with the Directorate to fight unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty in the state.

     

  • NANS award surprises Nasarawa boss

    Chairman Nasarawa United FC  Isaac Danladi has described his choice for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) 2013/2014 award as a surprise adding that he would do everything possible to justify the confidence reposed on him by NANS.

    Danladi, who is also the chairman of chairmen of Club Owners Association added another feather to his cap with an award as the most outstanding corporate builder and achiever in Nigeria in year 2013/2014.

    Danladi thanked the leadership of NANS for the award and promised to continue the good work and not to be deterred saying as future leaders they have a responsibility to the unity of Nigeria.

  • Tight security as Nasarawa varsity holds entrance test

    The Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) throbbed with activities when thousands of applicants thronged the institution to write the 2014/2015 post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The exercise, held on Thursday and Friday amid tight security, began at 8am with the screening of candidates at the various designated faculties. On the first day, the test was held for candidates who chose Arts, Social Science, Law and Education courses. Those, who applied for Administration, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Agricultural disciplines wrote their test the next day.

    Aminu Zubairu Kana, one of the supervisors, said of the 1,500 applicants that chose the Faculty of Arts, more than 500 applied to study Mass Communication, while the remaining candidates went for other disciplines in the Arts faculty such as English, Linguistics, Religious Studies, Theatre and Cultural Studies, Arabic, History and French.

    He said departments of Theatre and Cultural Studies and English also had large numbers of applicants.

    Responding to questions, the Senior Administrative Officer at the Faculty of Arts, Khalid Haruna, said: “The post-UTME is one of the best ever held in the university; we had a hitch-free exercise, unlike in the previous years where candidates who registered and sat for the examination came to the venues without the required documents.

    “There were also sufficient supervisors during the examination. On this note, the commendation for this success goes to the Dean of Arts and both academic and non-academic staff.”

    Security was beefed up while the exercise was being held.

    Umar Ahmad, an applicant, who wanted to study Geography, praised the management for a “well-organised” exercise despite the large number of applicants that came to the campus. “There were no cases of examination malpractice,” he said.

  • Panel’s verdict and Nasarawa Assembly

    SIR: There is no way to describe the outcome of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s unsuccessful impeachment move against Governor Tanko Al-Makura than to say that it is a boost to our constitutional democracy much as it will, in the meantime, reduce such sinister ambition being nursed by other states Houses of Assembly. From all indication, the peevish lawmakers went to equity with soiled hands. And it follows naturally that they got what they bargained for. Others should draw a lesson from this.

    To be sure, the lawmakers had instituted an impeachment procedure against the governor few days ago, apparently drawing inspiration from the Adamawa’s imbroglio wherein Governor Murtala Murtala Nyako was kicked out of office by their Yola counterparts. Surely, the so-called gross misconduct levelled against Al-Makura was nothing but a smokescreen by the lawmakers who had set out ab initio to see the exit of the governor at all cost. The motive was as selfish as it was victimising. Like the Adamawa’s case, the said offences were not committed recently; they are as old as the present House and yet they wanted the public to believe that what appeared like their sudden wake from a long slumber was done in the best interest of the state. They merely took the advantage of the porous nature of our impeachment law to settle a political score with the governor, the same way and manner the Ebonyi state House of Assembly recently squared up with its speaker and the ongoing charade in Enugu state. All these are 2015 general election manoeuvring and nothing more!

    Clearly, the lawmakers allowed their personal ego to diminish the interest of the poor majority of the state on whose back they rode to prominence. This was eloquently evident in the manner they attempted to usurp the powers of the panel and the Chief Judge. By asking the latter to “reconstitute” the panel, the lawmakers demonstrated their poor understanding of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) on which they relied to initiate the now infamous proceeding. Perhaps, they failed to realise that the Chief Judge of a state, as far as impeachment procedure is concerned, becomes functus officio the moment he constitutes the panel as required by Section 188 (5) of the same law, implying that he (the CJ) cannot interfere with panel’s affairs and proceedings thereafter. The House cannot be a judge in its own case. This is the rational behind the above provision.

    The insistence of the lawmakers to carry on with the impeachment of the governor, notwithstanding the dismissal of the charge against him on the issue by the panel, is a clear indication that they are fully determined to plunge the state into political unrest. The threat is misconceived, unnecessary and unfounded. The Musa Ahmed-led house needs to take another closer look (assuming they did that before) of Section 188 (8) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) with a particular attention to the phrase “No further proceeding shall be taken in respect of the matter” in that provision. In case they are still confused after perusing that Section they should see the case of Dapianlong v Dariye (2007) 8 NWLR (PT. 1036) 332, Per Ogbuagu JSC (as he then was) where he stated explicitly that “The impeachment or removal of a Governor is a serious business or matter and therefore, the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution must be strictly complied with”.

    Similarly, the House’s contention that Subsection (7) of the said Constitution was not complied with by the panel, in my own view, is hollow. The said provision does not give the lawmakers exclusive power to prescribe the procedure(s) for the panel. The fact that the provision uses the word “may” clearly suggest that either the house or the panel could set the procedure. The panel’s finding cannot be defeated only on the ground that it did not wait for the non cooperative House to set a guideline for her sitting. Equity regards substance rather than form. The House has two options in the ensuing farce; challenge the report of the panel in a court of competent jurisdiction or eat the humble pie and allow the electorates to decide the fate of the governor through the next year’s election.

     

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

     

  • Nasarawa’s botched impeachment and aftermath

    Nasarawa’s botched impeachment and aftermath

    Following the failed impeachment move against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Assistant Editor, Blessing Olaifa, puts in perspective various issues connected with the political development in Nasarawa State and their implications for the build-up to the 2015 elections.

    For several weeks, moves by members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to impeach the incumbent governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, dominated Nigerian media. The lawmakers needed two-thirds of members of the State House of Assembly to carry out their self-imposed task. And more importantly, they needed to explore all constitutional provisions and procedures as spelt out in the 1999 Constitution before they could successfully impeach the governor.

    Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended spelt out the constitutional provisions and procedures needed for the Assembly members to carry out impeachment of any sitting governor.

    Buoyed by these provisions, the Assembly members, 20 of who were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) embarked on impeachment exercise against Governor Al-Makura. Of the 24 member-strong Assembly, only four belonged to the party of the governor, the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    So on July 17, 2014, after series of deliberations, the Assembly members published a Notice of Impeachment in some national newspapers, accusing the governor of gross misconduct in the discharge of his duties. The lawmakers said in the notice that Al-Makura had committed 16-count charges bordering on “a grave violation or breach of the provisions of the constitution” and committed misconduct punishable by impeachment. Thus, the stage was set for impeachment moves against the governor.

    On July 23rd, 2014, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ahmed Musa Mohammed, wrote a letter to the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman Dikko, mandating him to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the governor. So, on July 25, the Chief Judge replied the letter by appointing a seven-man investigative panel to carry out the assignment.

    The letter sent to members of the panel read: “By virtue of the powers conferred on me by section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the letter from the Hon Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly with reference NSHA/MM/166/Vol1/XXXVII, dated 23rd July 2014, requesting me to appoint a seven-man panel to investigate the governor, I do hereby appoint you: Yusuf Shehu Usman, Mohammed Sabo, Joel A Galadm, Abdu Usman, Samuel Chaku, Daniel Chaga and Muhammad Abdulhamid Liga as members of the panel”. Yusuf Shehu Usman was appointed as Chairman and Muhammed Abdulhamid Liga was appointed as Secretary.

    The panel members swung into action and had their first sitting at the Conference Hall of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on Thursday 31st July. But no sooner had the names of the panel members appointed by the Chief Judge of the state hit the airwaves than the 20 members of the State Assembly who belong to the PDP in the state kicked against the composition of the membership, alleging that majority of the members are card carrying members of the two dominant political parties in the state.

    Specifically, the spokesperson for the Assembly members, Hon Mohammed Baba Ibaku, said Rev. Joel Galadm is a staff of the State Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board. He added that there were two card carrying members of PDP and four card carrying members of the ruling party, the APC, in the panel. He said the House has no confidence in the panel and called for its disbandment.

    The panel issued a six page statement detailing guidelines for its proceedings and appearances of witnesses and principal actors. Governor Al-Makura, on his part indicated his willingness to appear before the panel and did appear on August 4, 2014.

    The governor denied all the allegations levelled against him, saying he had done nothing wrong while discharging his responsibilities.

    “I must state, Mr Chairman and panel members that making this appearance in person and for the records, I want to say I was not served any notice by the House of Assembly. I am appearing in response to the hearing notice served on me by the panel and my appearance is to defend myself and clear my name against these spurious and unfounded allegations made against me”, Governor Almakura said.

    At the sitting, Al-Makura’s counsel, U. N. Udechukwu, SAN, drew the attention of the panel to the absence of the lawmakers, saying he also noticed that they failed to send their representatives to the panel. He urged the panel to dismiss the impeachment notice served on the governor as it was evident that the lawmakers were not prepared to appear before the panel to prove the allegations levelled against the governor.

    Udechukwu, SAN, who led eight other legal practitioners, including Olufunke Aboyade, SAN, to defend the governor, further submitted that it was evident that the lawmakers could not substantiate or prove all allegations preferred against the governor and therefore urged the panel to dismiss the impeachment notice served on the governor for want of evidence.

    But the panel chairman, Yusuf Usman, said it was only fair and just to give the lawmakers time to come and prove their allegations against the governor and therefore adjourned the matter till Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

    When the panel reconvened on Tuesday, a six-man legal team, representing the lawmakers, turned up and demanded that the panel disband considering the fact that the State House of Assembly had said so.

    The lead counsel to the lawmakers, Ocha Ulegede, said the panel was made of partisan politicians and a civil servant. He said they had turned up to ask the panel to disqualify itself from carrying on with the assignment.

    However, the panel chairman noted the observation of the lawyers, but insisted it had no power to disband itself. At this point, the lawyers said they were withdrawing from further participation in the case. The lawyers representing Governor Al-Makura did not object to their withdrawal, so the panel granted the request.

    Following the withdrawal, Al-Makura’s lawyers urged the panel to dismiss the case for want of evidence. Udechukwu, SAN, cited, among others, Supreme Court Judgments as well as section 280 of the Criminal Procedure Act to buttress his point. He argued that it is well known in law that when a case is called for hearing and the prosecution fails to make appearance, the court is at liberty to dismiss the case.

    He further cited paragraph 7 (c) of the panel’s guidelines, which says “where the House of Assembly fails or neglect to appear and lead evidence in proof of the allegations, the panel, upon proof of service, may dismiss the allegations”.

    At this point, the panel adjourned for two hours to consider the submissions of the two parties.

    Immediately the panel reconvened, its Chairman, Yusuf Usman, announced the dismissal of all the allegations in accordance with paragraph 7 (c) of the guidelines. Usman took his time to read out all the 16- count allegations and dismissed them accordingly, saying that the prosecution had failed to enter any proof of evidence on each of them.

    Said the panel’s Chairman: “it is important to note that this panel had carried out its duties in compliance with section 188 (8) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The panel had taken notice of the appearance in protest by the counsels to the Nasarawa State House Assembly on grounds that the panel is illegal. Though the panel is not a court of law, it would report the presentation of the views of the parties to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.”

    Ulegede told journalists after appearing that “we are not ready to be part of the breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which they (House) sworn to uphold. The power given to the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State is not absolute, they are subject to certain conditions”.

    But the lawyers representing Al-Makura praised the ruling of the panel, saying that the good people of Nasarawa State had been served justice. Olufunke Aboyade, SAN, who spoke on behalf of the lawyers contended that the panel had taken painstaking efforts to undertake its assignment.

    Also, Enoch Ali Maku, the spokesperson for the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Suleiman Dikko, said it was now up to the committee to submit its findings to the House as required by the law and that the Assembly is at liberty to take any action they deem fit.

    “The CJ has done his part. The panel has done its own. If the Assembly feels otherwise, it is their own problem, not the CJ’s”, Maku told reporters.

    The Assembly’s spokesperson, Mohammed Baba Ibaku, however said everything the panel did amounted to illegality, adding that the Assembly would reconvene to know the next line of action.

    But House Minority Leader, Tanko Maikatako, a member of the APC, urged his colleagues to swallow their pride, return to Lafia and resume work in order to move Nasarawa State forward. He said any attempt to drag the matter any farther would be at the detriment of the people.

    The news of the failed impeachment was greeted with jubilations in Lafia, the state capital, as scores of youths stormed the Government House in solidarity with the governor. The Nation also observed that the state capital, Lafia and its environs remained largely calm after the panel made its pronouncement.

    Some of the youths who had monitored proceedings of the panel via radio and television immediately rode their motor bikes to Government House, shanting “Sai Al-Makura, sai Al-Makura.” The Nation gathered that Al-Makura became the political darling of the people for his humility, especially as demonstrated during the proceedings of the panel.

    The fact that the governor set aside his immunity, the first governor to do so in the country, by appearing in person before the panel smacks of exemplary leadership, accountability, and transparency. This endeared him to the masses during the period, The Nation further gathered.

    However, the failed attempt to remove the governor has thrown up fresh challenges for parties involved in the political quagmire the state had found itself. Al-Makura, who described the botched attempt to remove him as a victory for democracy, extended an olive branch to the legislators, asking them to join hands with him to move the state forward.

    But the reactions of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the development showed that the battle may not be over yet. Even though in the heat of the crisis, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, had asked Al-Makura to leave the party alone and stop accusing it of being the mastermind of the impeachment, the state branch of the PDP was neck deep in the move to oust Governr Al-Makura from office.

    Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Information and Security, Baba Ibaku, rejected the decision of the panel. He said as far as they are concerned, the panel’s sitting amounted to an illegality.

    He explained that the legal representatives sent to the panel had the mandate of the House to appear in protest and to draw their attention to the illegality of their sitting. Ibaku said the House would resume sitting to deliberate on the next line of action, insisting that it was not over yet.

    According to Ibaku, members of the Assembly could seat anywhere they deem necessary to take actions on the political future of the state. He told journalists in Lafia that the 20 lawmakers (PDP) pushing for the impeachment of the governor are determined to see it to its logical conclusion.

    Besides, The Nation gathered that the PDP was planning to stage rallies in Lafia, and some parts of the state to denounce the panel’s ruling and garner support for its leadership in its self-assigned task.

    But the Special Adviser to Governor Al-Makura on Media and Public Communications, Abdulhamid Kwarra, told The Nation that the move to impeach the governor was politically motivated. He said the Peoples Democratic Party is bent on stealing the mandate freely given to Governor Al-Makura through the back door. He added that all the noise made by the PDP lawmakers are calculated attempts geared towards the 2015 election.

    Kwarra alluded to the fact that had the impeachment option succeeded, the state Deputy Governor, Mr Dameshi Barau Luka, who is a PDP member, would have been sworn in as governor of the state. He expressed disappointment in the actions and utterances of the deputy governor, alleging that he had betrayed not just the governor, but the people of Nasarawa State. The Nation learnt that the deputy governor cross-carpeted to the PDP in March this year.

    However, The Nation gathered that some PDP stakeholders and bigwigs in Nasarawa are also conscious of the implications of impeaching Governor Tanko Al-Makura as it would jeopardize their political interests in the build-up to the 2015 election. Sources told The Nation that Solomon Ewuga, a former Minister, and Labaran Maku, the current Minister of Information are both eyeing the governorship seat in the state in 2015.

    And should Al-Makura fall to impeachment, the deputy governor will take over and consolidate his hold on power. Former governor, Akwe Doma, is also said to be eyeing the gubernatorial seat, notwithstanding his age.

    However, some sources further hinted that some of the lawmakers, who are pushing for Al-Makura’s impeachment risk losing their seats in 2015, especially for their failures to heed the call of President Goodluck Jonathan, the national leader of the party, who enjoined them to go back to Nasarawa and sort out their problems with the governor in the interest of the people.

    “What this has shown is lack of respect for the President. It also shows that there are extraneous interests and lack of discipline at the state level of the party,” the source added.

    However, in the build-up to the 2015 election, the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state is already counting its gains, following the failed attempt to impeach the governor. The State Chairman of the APC, Phillips Tatari Shekwo, told The Nation in an interview that, the failure of the opposition (PDP) to impeach Governor Al-Makura and the landmark achievements of the governor since he assumed office were morale booster for the 2015 race.

    He said the party would not only consolidate on its achievements by providing the dividends of democracy to the people, but by adding values to governance through the charismatic leadership of Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

    Similarly, Abdulhamid  Kwarra said Nasarawa State has re-written the story of impeachment in the country for good. He maintained that the outcome of the impeachment move against the governor at a time election was around the corner had put paid to the strategy of the opposition party and increased the chances of the ruling party in all the local government councils of the state.

    “Besides the achievements of my Governor, His Excellency Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, this failed impeachment move have garnered more support and sympathy for the ruling party, and believe me, the party will record a landslide victory in the 2015 elections in the state”, Kwarra asserted.

  • Nasarawa lawmakers plan legislative coup

    Nasarawa lawmakers plan legislative coup

    Lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly are determined to procure the impeachment of Governor Tanko Al-Makura, even if it offends fair play, rule of law and constitutional provisions. They do not see the impeachment drive they are championing as a constitutional issue; they see it as a political matter, and do not appear to care what the end of it would be. Dissatisfied with playing the Scarlet Pimpernel in the past few weeks over their subterranean moves to impeach Governor Al-Makura, and still breathing imprecates against the governor and thirsting for more blood, they have resolved to oppose the seven-man investigative panel constituted by the state Chief Judge, Suleiman Dikko, to look into the impeachment allegations against the governor. They argue that the panel is made up of the governor’s loyalists. In other words, they do not trust the judgement and impartiality of the panel, but would prefer a panel certain to hang the governor.

    Last month, Adamawa State lawmakers had inspired a similar treason plot against the implacable Murtala Nyako, perhaps the only governor in the North to look President Goodluck Jonathan in the face and call him unflattering names. Having also offended the political juggernauts of the state, virtually all of whom loathe the finer principles of democracy – or perhaps can’t understand the concept – the former naval officer was already isolated and ready to be offered when the knives came out for him. The Adamawa legislature, however, did not simply plot an impeachment to right the wrongs attributed to the deposed governor, they engaged in the most atrocious machination ever conducted in any House of Assembly in Nigeria.

    Not only could they not agree on whom to impeach between the former governor and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, they were consumed by their common disregard for procedure and constitutionality. Former Deputy Governor Ngilari, they realised, did no wrong, at least nothing properly describable as impeachable offences. But they needed to get rid of him in order to bring about the crooked outcome they had designed. Eventually they tricked him into resigning on the excuse that it would be easier to enthrone him after their common foe, Admiral Nyako, was humiliated. But, as it turned out, the goal of the legislators was to enthrone the highly ambitious Umaru Fintiri, former Speaker of the House of Assembly. In essence, what took place in Adamawa last month was not an impeachment but a legislative coup.

    Nasarawa’s legislative coup is a little different. While it is not yet clear what their final objective is, that is apart from unhorsing the governor to seize the state from the electorate through the backdoor, the state’s 20 PDP lawmakers are, however, bent on deposing Governor Al-Makura by the most brazen legislative abracadabra ever. Since the constitution does not allow them the leeway they seek, they have sought to abridge, circumvent and humiliate it. This is why they want a panel that would do their private and unconstitutional bidding. This is why they are asking Justice Suleiman to disband the panel he had constituted and replace it with one amenable to their whims. It is not certain just what mettle Justice Suleiman is made of, whether he has the character to resist the legislative insurrection going on in Nasarawa, or whether he would succumb as supinely as the Acting Chief Judge of Adamawa did under the pressure of Dr Jonathan’s increasingly partisan Nigerian Army.

    What is clear, however, is that so far while the Nasarawa legislature has behaved lawlessly and irresponsibly, the state Chief Judge has confined himself to the ambit of the law. Tomorrow may bring new realities. But there is no reality that can erase the conviction that Nigeria has come under gunboat democracy, one in which the constitution is disregarded, and the president, his aides and party strategists are embroiled in the most pernicious subversion of both the constitution and democracy. We are blithely sowing the wind today; it is certain we will reap the whirlwind before long, for nature itself abhors the capricious and despicable politics being played by the president and his men.

  • Nasarawa panel begins sitting as CJ rejects lawmakers’ request

    Nasarawa panel begins sitting as CJ rejects lawmakers’ request

    Nasarawa lawmakers have lost a major battle in their push to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

    Chief Judge (CJ) Suleiman Dikko has declined to disband the seven-man panel investigating the 16 allegations against Al-Makura.

    The panel held its inaugural sitting in Lafia yesterday in line with its mandate in Section 188(7) (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Panel Chairman Yusuf Shehu Usman said its session would be made public for residents to have first hand knowledge of the governor’s responses to the allegations.

    Al-Makura has engaged a nine-man legal team to defend his integrity  having complied with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution, the Chief Judge said he could no longer interfere with the impeachment process.

    A source said: “There was no way the Chief Judge could stop the impeachment proceeding which had begun with the inauguration of the panel. So, he chose to allow the process to go on since the court is always there for the aggrieved.

    “He said disbanding the panel will lead to anarchy as those who are supporting the governor will accuse him of bias.

    “The CJ feels he has fulfilled his constitutional obligation; it is left to the panel to decide the prima facie of the allegations.”

    Al-Makura has argued that the CJ can no longer disband the panel.

    The governor, who spoke through his lawyer, Chief Udechukwu Nnoruka Udechukwu, (SAN), said the lawmakers’ call for the dissolution of the panel “is ridiculous.”

    Udechukwu, who is leading a team of lawyers, including Olufunke Aboyade (SAN) for the governor, spoke yesterday on the telephone from Lafia, Nasarawa State.

    He contended that under the constitution, the lawmakers could not ask for the disbandment of the panel, stressing that even the CJ, who constituted it, could no longer disband it, unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders him to do so.

    The senior advocate noted that impeachment is strictly governed by the Constitution, and the steps are contained in Section 188 (1) to (11) of the Constitution.

    In his view, the 20 lawmakers, who are behind the impeachment are acting in bad faith, motivated by base political considerations.

    “The Legislature can ill afford to propagate impunity and desperation,” he added.

    The members of the panel, inaugurated last Friday, are: Yusuf Shehu Usman (chairman), Mohammed Sabo Keana, Reverend Joel Galadima, Alhaji Abdu Usman, Samuel Chaku, Mohammed Sani Usman and Pastor Daniel Chaga.

    The state government yesterday asked the lawmakers to go to court if they are aggrieved over the composition of the seven-man panel.

    It said the Assembly could not approbate and reprobate at the same time on a constitutional issue.

    The government made its position known in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulhamid Kwarra.

    The statement said: “Section 188 (subsection 5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended states

    that the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoints a panel of seven persons who in his own opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party.”

    “Nasarawa State government is of the position that the Assembly cannot probate and re-probate on a matter that is before His Lordship, the Chief Judge of the state.

    “Should the members of the state House of Assembly be aggrieved with the compliance of the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State with the provision of Section 188

    sub-section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, the right thing to do is for the House to go to the

    court of law to challenge the composition of the investigative panel”.

    On the relocation of the Assembly members to a guest house in Karu Local Government Area, the statement added: “The sitting was not in conformity with any democratic requirement because no rule of the House permits the sitting of the Assembly anywhere in the state to conduct legislative affairs. The sitting was, therefore, ill-motivated, illegal and of no effect whatsoever.

    “More so the Supreme Court has made a definitive declaration that the House of Assembly can only conduct its legislative functions in legally designated place in the state capital (Balonwu Vs Obi 2007 NWLR PT1008/488).”

    A lawyer, Chief Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), said the “purported proceedings held in Karu, and the resolutions passed by the 19 members were non-binding on any system”.

    “They have no right to question the constitution of the panel by the Chief Judge. They have no powers over the CJ, if they have grievances arising from the action of the CJ in the CJ’s compliance with the provisions of Section 188; they have the option to go to court.”

    Members of governor’s nine-man-man legal team are: Chief U. N Udechukwu (SAN), lead counsel, Olufunke Aboyade (SAN), Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, Mr. Kehinde Aina, Esq; O. O. Adeleye, Esq, Olatoye Akinbode, Abdulwasi Musah, , C. I. Mbachu and Jamin Nwosu.

  • Nasarawa CJ under pressure to disband impeachment panel

    Nasarawa CJ under pressure to disband impeachment panel

    Desperate to impeach Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, lawmakers sat yesterday outside Lafia, the state capital, with a mace allegedly procured from the National Assembly.

    The Assembly held the session against the advice of President Goodluck Jonathan that the lawmakers should halt the impeachment.

    At the curious sitting, members of the Assembly asked the Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to disband the seven-man investigative panel looking into the allegations against the governor.

    The members of the panel, inaugurated last Friday, are Yusuf Shehu Usman (chairman), Mohammed Sabo Keana, Reverend Joel Galadima, Alhaji Abdu Usman, Samuel Chaku, Mohammed Sani Usman and Pastor Daniel Chaga.

    The Assembly, The Nation learnt was uncomfortable with the composition of the panel, which the Chief Judge set up in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The section states: “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, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section.”

    In spite of the fact that the panel is made up of non-partisan members, the dissatisfied lawmakers relocated to Karu Local Government Area, near their new base in Abuja, to sit.

    The lawmakers asked the Chief Judge to disband the seven-man probe panel which they  alleged was “tilted in favour” of the embattled governor.

    A source said: “They rejected the composition of the panel by claiming that it would not be able to look into the allegations against the governor without bias.

    “They have asked for the reconstitution of the investigative panel by the Chief Judge who had insisted on substantial compliance with the law.

    “They wanted the CJ to raise a panel made up of only PDP members or those who have an axe to grind with the governor. But the Chief Judge appointed panel members with unquestionable integrity.”

    According to the source, the game plan of the lawmakers is to create a stalemate which will not allow the panel to sit for three months as required by Section 188(7) (b) of the 1999 Constitution. “They want impeachment by ambush because they are afraid of the outcome of the panel”, he said, adding:

    “The idea behind yesterday’s sitting was to create an impression that the Assembly ordered the Chief Judge to disband the panel and recall the report on expiry of the constitutional period allowed for the panel and go ahead with the impeachment.

    “They are aware that the impeachment process ends constitutionally if the panel clears the governor of any wrongdoing on the 16 allegations of misconduct levelled against him.”

    It was gathered that some Abuja-based PDP leaders were behind the pressure on the lawmakers to go ahead with the impeachment.

    But it was not immediately ascertained on how the lawmakers procured the mace to sit in Karu.

    A highly-placed source said: “Some top members of the upper chamber of the National Assembly provided the logistics and the venue at the neighbouring Karu Local Government Area that was used during the sitting.

    Al-Makura’s spokesman Abdulhamid Kwarra said: “I want to tell you that these people are desperate to remove the governor. The mace that was used today is not that of the State Assembly but the National Assembly.”

    “Members of the Assembly have stopped using the President’s name but are now dropping the names of the Senate President and other members of the National Assembly from Northcentral Zone.”

    But the governor’s Special Adviser (Special Duties) Mohammed Abdullahi, said: “ I doubt whether the Senate President will condescend so low to support the subversion of the Nigerian Constitution…If truly he does, it’s unfortunate!”

    Armed boys yesterday invade the Nasarawa State House of Assembly complex in Lafia and beat some of the lawmakers.

    The youths laid a siege around the complex and attacked the members, who they thought came around in connection with the impeachment move against Governor Al-Makura.

    The protesters demanded the immediate suspension of all impeachment proceedings.

    People who work in the building were barred from the Assembly Complex.