Some Nasarawa State indigenes under the aegis of Nasarawa Stakeholders Forum, have implored the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, to end the impasse in the state legislature by recognising Hon Daniel Ogah Ogazi as Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
This, the stakeholders said, has become necessary to enable the state’s legislature resume sitting and make laws for the betterment of the people.
The forum which made their position at a press conference in Abuja yesterday also asked the former Speaker, Hon Balarabe-Abdullahi, to give up his third term ambition on grounds that the election he was relying on to proclaim himself as Speaker lacks legitimacy.
Speaking at the press conference, Convener of the stakeholders forum, Comrade David Manga, said, “The election of Ogazi having met the requirements for convening a sitting for members of the House is the only one that be accorded due recognition.
“Upholding the election of Ogazi is the right and proper thing to do since he was elected by majority of the members and the election held at right place, which is in the Chamber of the state Assembly.
“We enjoin Governor Abdullahi Sule to as a democrat, recognise and extend his hand of fellowship to the new speaker, Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi so the House can resume sitting in earnest and make laws for the betterment of our people.”
Manga regretted that the political rumble at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has led to chaos, which he said “has disrupted the peace and serenity of the state and putting Nasarawa in the news for all the wrong reasons”, including that the state now has two House of Assembly Speakers.
“Before the current impasse, Nasarawa has been experiencing a peaceful atmosphere suitable for social and economic development brought about by the contribution and sacrifice by the government, stakeholders and the citizens of the state.
“As stakeholders, we know how much we have contributed to ensure a peaceful and secured state that investors are proud to come and explore the vast business potentials in the state.
“It is therefore to our utter shock, that the peace in Nasarawa State would be disturbed to the extent that it has now become a laughing stock due to the selfish and unpatriotic tendency of the Governor and a few to individuals to impose their wish on the people”, the forum stated.
The stakeholders noted that what led to the current impasse at the State House of Assembly was due to the intrusion by forces outside the Assembly that are out to thwart the collective wish of the 24-member House just to impose their stooges to leadership positions in the Assembly.
Manga said, “It is well known that democracy thrives on the principle of separation of powers which makes a distinction between where the power of each arm be it the executive; judiciary or legislature begins and where it ends.
“Unfortunately, in Nasarawa State, we are witnessing a situation whereby one arm is trying to usurp the function of the legislature by imposing a leadership on the Assembly that is not just unpopular, but one that is not accepted by majority of the members of the House.
“With 24 members in the House of Assembly, the elected Honourable Members, at the time of inaugurating the Assembly through a proclamation by the governor, 13 of the members have indicated their intention to have a new speaker in the person of the Honourable Member representing Kokona East State constituency, Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi.
“This is in order to pave the way for an inclusive and quality leadership that respects the views of members and one that represents the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state.
“But to our consternation, on getting wind of this legitimate and appropriate thing to do, attempts were made to seal the Assembly complex in order to disrupt proceedings and to prevent the members from carrying out their legitimate business.
“Following the disruption, a few of the members went and held a purported sitting at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, a venue outside the jurisdiction of the state House of Assembly, coming out to claim that they have elected the immediate past Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, as Speaker for the third consecutive time.”
Nothing that the move was however ‘ dead on arrival, the forum insisted that Nasarawa State House of Assembly does not have two speakers but one in the person of Hon Daniel Oga Ogazi
The forum warned security agencies to stay clear of the state House of Assembly and stick to their responsibility of providing security in the state instead of being partisans in the matter.
“Balarabe-Abdullahi cannot afford to set the State Assembly and Nasarawa State in confusion simply because things did not go his way this time.
“It is the same majority that gave him the mandate to serve as speaker in the past Assemblies that have now decided it should be the turn of another”, the forum noted.
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