Nyako Impeachment: Constituents Mull Recalling Adamawa Speaker, 19 Other Lawmakers

GOV. MURTALA NYAKO PRESENTING THE 2014 BUDGET ESTIMATES TO THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, YOLA
GOV. MURTALA NYAKO PRESENTING THE 2014 BUDGET ESTIMATES TO THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, YOLA

The move by the speaker, Adamawa State House of Assembly, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, and 19 others to impeach Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Barrister Bala James Ngillari has attracted the wrath of some constituents, who have threatened to begin the process of recalling them.

According to a report by LEADERSHIP, some electorate and party chieftains across Adamawa State perceived the move by the lawmakers to impeach Nyako and his deputy as an avenue to enrich themselves at the detriment of their constituencies.

The new resolve to commence the process of recalling the state lawmakers may not be unconnected with speculations that they were ‘bribed’ to impeach the governor.

Although he has issued a statement to deny the association of his name with the impeachment drama playing out in Adamawa, Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Godswill Akpabio has been fingered as the financier of the plot with clandestine backing from the presidency.

A former interim vice chairman, North-East of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Umar Duhu, who hails from the same constituency as the Adamawa speaker, said during an interactive session with newsmen in Yola that his constituency was considering the option of recalling the speaker as his actions were purely selfish.

“Despite my political standing in the local government, the speaker never consulted me before going ahead with the move for the impeachment of the governor; so also other members of the constituency”, he said.

Duhu, who played a major role in wooing Nyako to dump the Peoples Democratic Party for APC, stated that the move being made by the speaker is too obvious as he stands to benefit from the process despite its negative consequences.

He accused Fintiri of allowing his sense of reasoning to be beclouded by overarching desire to make political capital out of the impeachment move.

Duhu further warned the legislators to look into the implications of their actions, stressing that, irrespective of party affiliations, the electorate are being mobilized to take action.

“They should look into the implications of what they are doing. The common man is now taking the bulk of the heat.

“Their move is not timely; politically it’s a bad idea. That should not have been embarked upon. It is sad and it seems that they are not sensitive to the plight of the people. Their highhandedness will not take them anywhere”, he said.

The APC chieftain further alleged that some powerful forces were behind the saga, saying that despite the pressure, the speaker should have been circumspect as the deputy governor, who hails from his constituency, will be the major loser if the plot sails through.

“People of his constituency have begun to doubt the sincerity of the speaker who has been fighting his kinsman, the deputy governor. We don’t know why he is too ambitious. Unfortunately he is from my constituency. We are preparing for the next line of action against any member that has a hand in this shameless act”, Duhu concluded.

Another politician in Mubi, who preferred to be anonymous, said they had also started consultations to ensure that their member is recalled following his participation in the impeachment process, as he never consulted them.

“They have not consulted us; nobody is happy; so their action is selfish and a political summersault.

“As it stands today, it’s those members versus the people; it’s no more the lawmakers versus the governor or his deputy. They have pitched their tents against the people of Adamawa by even asking the anti-graft agency EFCC to freeze the accounts of the state government, a situation where even salary could not be paid”, he said.

2 COMMENTS