The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nyako

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Impeachment plot: Nyako, deputy shun panel’s summons

    Impeachment plot: Nyako, deputy shun panel’s summons

    Governor Murtala  Nyako and his deputy,Mr.Bala Ngilari, were conspicuously  absent yesterday     as the 7-man  panel constituted by the former Ag. Chief Judge Adamawa State ,Justice Ambrose Mammdi  to probe  the duo, commenced sitting in Yola .

    They were also not represented by any counsel.

    Chairman of the panel, Alhaji Buba Kaigama, apologized  for the delay in the commencement of  public sitting coming   one week after it was constituted without a proper inauguration.

    He said the committee faced  several problems which have since been addressed.

    Kaigama pledged to be fair to all parties  involved in the assignment before his committee.

    The deputy speaker  of the State House of Assembly,Mr. Kwamoti Laori was in attendance.

    Counsel to the House,which is the complainant  in the matter,Mr. Duro Ajeleye (SAN) and Mr. Leonard Zidon, led the only witness for  the Assembly, Mr. Therman Wafarninyi,  Chairman of the House  Committee on Public Accounts.

    He said the panel should determine whether  Nyako and Ngilari  violated the constitution  or not and make the appropriate recommendation.

    The counsel to the Assembly  tendered 22  exhibits against Nyako and  six  against  Ngilari.

    The panel adjourned to today to enable the Governor and his Deputy or their representatives to appear before it.

    The Christian Community in Adamawa State  sued for peace between the warring factions  and asked them to allow peace reign

    In a statement in Yola, the Chairman, Council of Pastors in  Adamawa State, Dr. Victor Ordinan, said the impeachment process was uncalled for  at this point in time.

    Ordinan said:“As a people we must unite so that together we can avert the severe consequences of impeaching the number one and two citizens of our state at the same time. Because we know the consequences and cannot sit back to watch them befall us.”

    However,  Elders and Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in the state  threatened to sanction any legislator that backs out of the  impeachment process.

    Spokesman  for  the group ,Dr. Umar Ardo told reporters yesterday in Yola said that the impeachment move was a PDP affair and therefore any lawmaker who went against  the decision of the party on the matter would be sanctioned.

    Asked about the reconciliatory move between the lawmakers and governor Nyako, Dr Ardo said  any action taken by the legislators is inferior to the party’s.

    He said the PDP was not even aware of any such peace parley.

    Spokesman for the State  Government Mr.P.P. Elisha said that the legitimacy of the seven man panel constituted by the acting chief judge of the state remains questionable.

    Elisha said that Governor Nyako being  a custodian of  the  Constitution will not submit himself to an  illegal  body

    On  threat  by the PDP   to sanction any of the lawmakers that may back out of the impeachment process , Elisha said it was a confirmation that the impeachment  saga was  politically motivated .

    He said  PDP was  desperate to take over power at  all cost.

     

  • Nyako swears in 36 area administrators

    Nyako swears in 36 area administrators

    Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako  yesterday swore in 36 Development Area Administrators.

    He also inaugurated four Permanent Secretaries and a Special Adviser.

    The former state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. P. Elisha, whose nomination was earlier rejected by the lawmakers as a commissioner, was sworn in as Senior Special Assistant on Government Affairs.

    The governor urged the appointees, especially the development area administrators, to remain focused on providing dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

    Nyako called for mass mobilisation to sustain the peaceful coexistence among the diverse people in the state.

    The action of the governor is believed to be part of the deals agreed with the lawmakers to stop the impeachment process initiated against him.

    The governor’s refusal to endorse the list of the development area administrators was part of the issues that led to the impeachment move.

    Nyako, who last week relocated to Abuja, is believed to have met with some of the lawmakers, including Speaker Umaru Fintiri.

    It is not clear whether the governor will appear before the panel set up by the House of Assembly to probe the allegations of misconduct against him and his deputy Bala Ngilari. He is due to appear today.

    Also yesterday, some of the lawmakers, who are part of the impeachment move against the governor, are facing the wrath of their constituency members.

  • Modibbo: I didn’t meet with Nyako

    A former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Mohammed Modibbo, said yesterday that he did not hold any meeting with Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako.

    Modibbo said he remains in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and could not have met Nyako under any guise.

    He said he has not had any relationship with Nyako since the governor left PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Modibbo, who made the clarifications in a statement by his counsel, Sulaiman Usman, attributed the rumours of his alleged meeting to the handiwork of  political detractors.

    The ex-UBEC boss is one of the PDP’s governorship aspirants in Adamawa State.

    The statement said: “There was a baseless report that our client had a private meeting with Governor Murtala Nyako and struck a deal for Nyako to support our client in the race to succeed him.

    “The said report depicted our client as someone who is not a loyal PDP member but a mole who was placed to work against the interest of the party he laboured to build for many years.

    “It also portrayed Modibbo as engaging in anti-party activities and calculated to disparage and pitch him against the Presidency and the PDP leadership, thereby jeopardising his political aspiration.

    “It is instructive to state unequivocally that Dr. Modibbo has not met Nyako since the governor left PDP for APC.

    “He remains a loyal and committed PDP member.”

  • Nyako, Oshiomhole attend Council of State meeting

    Nyako, Oshiomhole attend Council of State meeting

    Despite the crisis rocking Adamawa State, the state governor, Murtala Nyako, on Tuesday surprisingly appeared at the National Council of State (NCS) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.

    Some members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly are threatening to impeach the governor based on alleged corruption charges.

    Nyako was the centre of attention when he entered the council chamber at 10:55am before the commencement of the meeting.

    Even when he took his seat in the chamber, his colleagues clustered around him to get the first-hand gist about happenings in the state.

    The Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, also attended the meeting. The Edo State House of Assembly is also undergoing crisis.

    Past presidents and heads of state at the meeting are – Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim Babangida, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ernest Shonekan.

    Former head of state, Muhammadu Buhari was absent at the meeting.

    Oshiomhole and Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, led the opening Christian and Moslem prayer when the meeting started at 11:38am.

    Also at the meeting are the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammad Uwais.

    Other governors at the meeting are that of Kaduna, Delta, Niger, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Kebbi, Gombe, Enugu and the acting governor of Taraba.

     

  • Adamawa CJ constitutes panel to investigate Nyako, deputy

    Adamawa CJ constitutes panel to investigate Nyako, deputy

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • House to serve Nyako, deputy impeachment notice

    The Speaker of Adamawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, on Wednesday, directed the Clerk of the House to serve Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Mr. Bala Ngilari, notice of impeachment “for gross misconduct.”

    The development followed a motion on Constitutional Matter raised by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Laori Kwamoti (PDP-Numan).

    He cited Section 188 of the constitution and presented a document containing allegations of gross misconduct against the governor, which he said was signed by 19 of the 25 members of the Assembly.

    Shortly after the consideration and endorsement of Kwamoti’s document, Malam Usman Abdulkareem (PDP- Nasarawo/Binyeri) also said he had received allegation of gross misconduct against the deputy governor signed by eight members of the Assembly.

    The Speaker, who perused through the two notices, said they had complied with the provision of the constitution, having met the one-third requirement for an impeachment of any of the two officers to commence.

    The Speaker subsequently directed the Clerk of the house to serve separate notices to the affected personalities and all the 25 members of the state Assembly.

    Speaking to journalists on the development, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr. Adamu Kamale (PDP-Michika), said the governor and his deputy would be served the notices.

    “Whether they reply or not, the house, would sit on the matter after two weeks, “Kamale said.

    Reacting to the development, Governor Nyako, through his Director, Press and Public Affairs, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, described it as a “selfish move.”

    “Members of the House are planning something that will end up making them the sole beneficiaries, where the Speaker will be the acting governor and the deputy speaker becomes the deputy governor.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in 2008, Nyako was similarly served with a similar impeachment notice.

  • Nyako sacks 12 aides

    Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State on Friday sacked five of his special advisers and seven principal special assistants.

    The sacked special advisers, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kobis Thimnu, were – Sanusi Jauro, Abdur-rahman Bobboi, Kelvin Peter, George Moses and Chubado Babbi.

    The affected principal special assistants were – Hadiza Kuto, Sadiq Haske, Danjuma H, Bello Njidda, Gidado Aliyu, Shehu Jacob and Usman Marafa.

    No reasons were given for their removal, but the governor thanked them for “the services they rendered” and directed them to hand over government documents and property in their custody to the appropriate authority.

  • Expanded security meeting faults Nyako’s memo

    The expanded National Security Council meeting presided by President Goodluck Jonathan held on Thursday condemned the recent memo by the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako.

    Nyako had last week claimed that the Federal Government was carrying out genocide through its fight against terrorism in order to depopulate the north.

    The meeting at the State House comprising state governors and which lasted for about seven hours, also resolved to exploit anti-poverty strategies along with other strategies in order to end insurgency in the country.

    The issue of the current State of Emergency rule that will soon expire in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States was not discussed at the meeting, just as it sought for more collaboration among the three tiers of government to fight terrorism.

    Four state governors including Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Theodore Orji (Abia), Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusua briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who conducted the briefing, ruled out any question from journalists at the end of the briefing.

    Orji said: “The meeting recognized the fact that security issue is not for the federal government alone, it should be a cooperate issue, handled corporately by the Federal Government, State and Local Government. When there is a synergy obviously progress will be made.”

    “The meeting also agreed that at the state level, governors who are chief security officers have to do a lot to help because that is where the security issue is, at the state level. In so doing the state governors should mobilize their radio houses in other to sensitize the people in the state so that they will be aware of this security situation.

    “We also agreed that Boko Haram that is on now, is not a religious war, people should not misrepresent it to be so because both Muslims and Christians are being killed. It doesn’t discriminate against any person.

    “The memo that was written by one of our colleagues, that is Governor Nyako of Adamawa state was discussed and there was a very unanimous condemnation of that memo. All officers and people in positions of authority were advised to be cautious of what they say. That what they say should at least enliven every person and make us to know that this country belongs to all of us and not something that will demoralize us, not something that will incite people to go the negative way, Orji stated.

    Ekiti State Governor, Fayemi, who disclosed that the meeting did not discuss the state of emergency rule that will soon expire in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, said that it was agreed that all Nigerians should rise above partisanship on the issue of security.

    Stressing that the security agencies were commended, he said that the meeting agreed on the need for holistic approach in tackling insecurity to include anti-poverty strategies and to address media capacity of media organizations.

    He said that the security agencies also assured the meeting of doing everything possible to rescue the remaining abducted secondary school girls in Borno State.

    Also speaking yesterday on Nyako’s memo, Babangida Aliyu said: “I am sure many of you will be curious about the letter written by our colleague, the governor of Adamawa state. We looked at it all, in fact he was allowed to read the memo to all of us. We concluded that for many of us, we need to be very careful with the kind of statements we make.”

    “And we need to be very careful that whatever we say, are either evidenced based or something that can be authenticated otherwise there is no need to be given terrorists the opportunity of thinking that they are succeeding. Because a terrorist, all he wants is for him to find out that what he does is really carried out in such a way that people will have the impression that he had made impact, Aliyu said

  • Nyako’s letter

    Nyako’s letter

    • The governor should not make statements that undermine the fight on terror

    Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State took the blame-game over the raging insurgency one notch up when, in a letter dated April 16, and addressed to his colleagues in the Northern Governors Forum, he accused the Jonathan-led administration of genocide against Northern Nigeria. The governor would appear to have upped his earlier charge in the United States where he first accused the federal government of fuellin g the insurgency. This time, the governor did not only pointedly accuse the Jonathan administration of “full-fledged genocide”, he also alleged other sundry crimes said to be targeted against prominent citizens of the north.

    Having borne the direct brunt of the emergency for nearly the whole of a year running without visible signs of effective containment, we can understand the governor’s frustrations perhaps, in the context of the rather limited result of the counter-insurgency.

    In the first place, the human tolls in the number of deaths – of innocent civilians both in the hands of the security agencies and the terrorists – have continued to rise, calling into question, the efficacy of current strategies to contain the menace. Secondly, rather than see the emergency as a means to an end – the end being the restoration of normalcy to the region – the federal government would appear to have opted to see the emergency as an end in itself.

    Having said that, we must also say that there is a huge divide between fair criticisms of the current approaches to fighting the terror – whether of the dreaded Boko Haram or of the carnage by Fulani herdsmen – and the divisive, opportunistic pot shot by a functionary of state. It would certainly appear that the governor prefers the soap-box approach to solving the security problems as against exploring possible behind-the-scene channels with the federal government. We certainly cannot fathom his sweeping characterisation of the counter-insurgency as “genocide” in the absence of any shred of evidence. Coming from a holder of high office of governor, we consider it inappropriate, distasteful and most regrettable. So also is his virtual insistence on seeing current wave of terrorism as a creation of the federal government unhelpful.

    We have nothing against the attempt by the governor to rally the governors as indeed the leaders of the north against the menace. This is however a different call from tagging the Jonathan administration as the chief culprit, or even tainting other regions with tar brush all because of President Jonathan’s weak-kneed approach to the menace. As it is, all – federal, states and the local authorities – have in various ways failed the people.

    However, more than the federal government, the leaders in the North – whether governors or traditional rulers – must see themselves as bearing a larger portion of the responsibility for tackling the problems at the roots. They have greater role in settling internecine conflicts, for promoting brotherhood among the people, and for integrating the people currently torn apart by atavistic forces.

    We do not consider this as the time to open new battle flanks. What the nation needs at this time are wise counsels from elders, mature judgments from statesmen and for all hands to be on deck in the fight against terror. It is time to end all divisive rhetoric which aside playing into the hands of the terrorists – would in the end unduly prolong the agonies of Nigerians in the region. What the north as indeed Nigeria needs is peace without which development would remain elusive. Leaders like Nyako have a great role to play in this regard.