Despite interventions by traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Nasarawa State over the move to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura, respite seems not to be coming the way of the embattled governor as the lawmakers have maintained that “No god” will save the governor from being removed from office.
Indications to this new posturing, emerged weekend that the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, members in the Nasarawa state House of Assembly and the state chapter of the party are already working out modalities on how to ensure a successful takeoff of a new government in the state when the embattled Governor Al-Makura is finally removed from office in the next sixty days.
Sources confirmed to the Nigerian Pilot Sunday that the state Deputy Governor, Damishi Barau Luka, who is expected to take over from his boss in an acting capacity, is already consulting within the party (PDP) caucus on those to be appointed as members of the incoming State Executive Council.
Five serving commissioners, one each from North and Western Senatorial zones of the state with the remaining three coming from the Southern zone are to be considered for re-appointment for playing key roles in the ongoing impeachment saga, our checks have however revealed
Nigerian Pilot Sunday gathered that the decision to return the affected commissioners and a few other government functionaries, was due to how they facilitated access to some secret documents that led to the discovery of alleged corrupt practices in some Ministries, Boards and Parastatals, including detailed information about some members of the investigation panel raised by the state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko to probe the allegations levelled against the Governor.
“Ordinarily, it wouldn’t have been possible for members of the State Assembly to uncover the sharp practices in the ministries and boards when they embarked on oversight function in the affected government organs, if these people did not help to trace some of the secret documents that were hidden from them (Assembly members)”
House committee chairman on Information and Security, Honourable Mohammed Baba Ibaku, reveals that the Assembly’s one month has already been exhausted from the three months required by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) for an impeachment processes to be completed, declaring that “no god will save Governor Al-Makura.”
He restated that as far as the State Assembly was concerned, the probe panel said to have been constituted by the state CJ that purportedly cleared the Governor of the 16 allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office was of no effect to the impeachment process.
“The state Chief Judge had raised a kangaroo panel, which we drew his attention to reconstitute a new one and his refusal to do the right thing is what informed our decision to petition the National Judicial Council to investigate his activities,” Ibaku noted.
Findings revealed that the renewed vigour by the lawmakers to carry out the impeachment plot was due to what sources described as green light from the national secretariat of the PDP, which the Governor was said to have approached for his rescue.
It was further alleged that some interested persons, especially a top government functionary at the federal level and an influential woman, close to the Nasarawa state First Lady, Salamatu Al-Makura, as well as, a PDP national official were working against the impeachment moves because of alleged inducements.
This development the lawmakers said orchestrated another process where they threatened to dump the PDP.
It will be recalled that the lingering face-off between the governor and the PDP lawmakers had continued after the legislators faulted the composition of the -man panel constituted by the chief judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko to investigate allegation of gross misconduct levelled against the governor by the lawmakers on grounds that some of the panellists were card carrying members of some political parties as well as political appointees of the government.
While the Chief Judge declined to heed the calls by the assembly, the panel went ahead to clear the governor of all 16 count charges and granted him a clean bill of health.
But section 188 (7) of the 1999 constitution as amended, which deals with removal of governor or deputy governor from office, states that: “A panel appointed under this section shall; Sub ( 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, report its findings to the house of assembly; Whereas section (8) states; ‘Where the panel reports to the House of assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceeding shall be taken in respect of the matter.’
When contacted on phone, the senior special adviser to the governor on Public Affairs, Abdulhamid Kwarra said he needed more time to comment on the issue.
Nigerian Pilot
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