Security agents lock Nasarawa Assembly complex over speakership position tussle
Story from Ibraheem Hamza MUHAMMAD, Lafia
The complex of Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) is under lock and key by armed security personnel due to alleged possible crises between two camps contesting for the position of Speaker.
The camps are that of the incumbent Speaker, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, and of the contender, Ogah Ogazi.
The Acting Clerk of the House, Ibrahim Musa said in a statement, “I wish to inform all Hon. Members-elect and the general public that based on security advice the scheduled inauguration of the first session of the 7th Assembly as directed by His Excellency the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State Engr. Abdullahi Sule is hereby postponed.
“In view of the above, a re-scheduled time will be communicated to all Hon. Members-elect and the general public. We regret any inconveniences this postponement may have caused.” He said.
A Member-elect from Awe North State constituency, Honourable Hudu A. Hudu, who has posted a picture of the 13 members supporting Honourable Ogazi in front of the locked Assembly said, “I am a supporter of Honourable Ogazi for Speaker, I allege that the Assembly is looking locked because my camp is winning as he has 13 members, while the former Speaker is left with 11 members only.”
Similarly, a Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Member-elect of Obi II Constituency, Hon. Luka Zhekaba, while addressing newsmen at the premises of the Assembly complex said there is a plot to impose a preferred choice of Governor Abdullahi Sule as Speaker.
He said Mr Ogah Ogazi (APC, Kokona East) has been declared as the ‘Speaker In-Waiting’ of the 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) scheduled for inauguration today, Tuesday, June 06.
“We have the simple majority led by our leading Speaker-In-Waiting, Ogah Ogazi. He’s our next Speaker.”
However, Ogah Ogazi who frowned at the undue interference stalling the inauguration of the 7th Assembly said the only role assigned to the Governor was to issue a proclamation which has been done.
“The inauguration must be held today or be rendered illegal. And we, the 13 Members-elect are here for the inauguration in accordance to the proclamation issued by the Governor,” he told newsmen.
The Member-elect of Lafia North Constituency, Barrister Esson Mairiga, who also frowned at the heavy presence of security agents blocking access to the Assembly complex based on an ‘order from above’ vowed to resist any attempt to impose principal officers.
“The atmosphere of the Assembly Complex is peaceful, family, friends, and supporters are jubilating in anticipation of the inaugural session. But sadly, the Governor sensing that his preferred candidate for the Speaker will lose, ordered the postponement without a date or time in an attempt to repeat what they did at the gubernatorial elections by sneaking into the assembly to conduct the process. The people have however resolved not to leave the premises.
“There are also indications that the Governor is looking at how to purchase at least 2 Members-elect right now. But we are not bulging,” Esson who was elected on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stated.
Moreover, the spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) in Nasarawa State, Comrade Jonathan Aku, has dismissed as illegal and suspicious the postponement of the 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA).
Aku made this known while reacting to a statement issued by the Assembly’s Acting Clerk, Ibrahim A. Musa, announcing that the inauguration earlier scheduled for June 6th by 10 am has been postponed based on security advice.
This, Aku said was illegal as a proclamation has been issued by the Governor which must be implemented.
He lamented that the move was aimed at imposing principal officers on the 7th Assembly.
He urged Governor Sule to stay clear and allow the Members-elect to choose their leaders as enshrined in the Constitution.
Similarly, a group, APC Youth Frontiers has alleged that Governor Sule has resorted to intimidation and threats in order to impose his preferred choice as the Speaker of the 7th Assembly.
The group made this known in a statement issued by its leader, Comrade Isiaka Bala in Keffi on Tuesday, stating that the Governor has only 6 out of the 24 Members-elect willing to do his bidding.
“As a pressure group who only want democracy to thrive in our young promising state, we urge the governor to please use his good office to entrench the principle of law and order and not allow some power mongers around him to push him into acts that are parallel to his known principle of fairness and justice,” Isiaka added.
Meanwhile, 13 out of the 24 Members-elect led by Hon. Ogah Ogazi (APC, Kokona East), a frontline speakership aspirant around 6 am arrived at the premises of the Assembly complex which has now been barricaded by security agents.
Both Hon. Ogazi and his contender, Honourable Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State DSP Ramham Nansel confirmed the closure and said, “I don’t know the cause of the issue, but the command has deployed sufficient security personnel to avert any bridge of peace.”
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