In what political observers described as the tyranny of the minority, eight out of the 24 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Thursday morning, impeached the Speaker, Hon. Ayuba Abok.
Though Governor Simon Lalong said he was shocked by the development, those who should know said the state chief executive’s imprints were in the removal of Abok, a first-term lawmaker represents Jos East constituency.
The deposed Speaker was immediately replaced with Hon. Yakubu Sanda, an All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmaker representing Pengana constituency.
Hon. Musa Agah, lawmaker representing Rukuba/Irigwe constituency in the state House of Assembly, described the Speaker’s impeachment as “the height of illegality”
“It was this morning (Thursday) that some few members rushed to the Plateau state House of Assembly as early as 6 a.m.,” Agah told the Punch. “You know the state House of Assembly is made up of 24 members and the constitutional requirement for the removal of the Speaker is 2/3 majority which is 16 members.
“So, eight lawmakers rushed to the Assembly this morning against the House rules that say that plenary commences from 9 am and even if there is going to be an extraordinary sitting, the Speaker is the one who is empowered to convene but that did not happen. When some of us got wind of what was happening, we rushed to the Assembly complex only to discover that Security operatives had barricaded everywhere. Some of us were stopped from gaining access to the Assembly complex while they also harassed others.
“While the confusion was going on, the eight members said they have passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker and went ahead to purportedly remove the speaker.”
However, Governor Lalong, who received the new Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Sanda, at the Rayfield Government House in Jos, debunked the widespread notion that only eight lawmakers carried out the controversial process. He insisted that 16 lawmakers signed for the impeachment of the former Speaker.
But in a statement he issued on Thursday, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to thee Governor, Mr. Macham Makut, declared: “The new Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda has led principal officers and some members of the House to the Government House to assure the Executive arm of its collaboration and cooperation in running the affairs of the State.
“The new Speaker was received at the Government House by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Danladi Abok Atu, on behalf of the Governor.
“Speaking during the visit, the Majority leader of the House Hon. Naanlong Daniel said they were at the Government House in line with the tradition of the House to introduce the new leadership of the House whenever there is a change.”
That was not all. The governor’s spokesperson also declared that the new Speaker was elected after “16 of the 23 members of the House” signed the petition to impeach the former Speaker.
“He said the new Speaker emerged after 16 of the 23 members of the House signed the petition to impeach the former Speaker Rt. Hon. Nuhu Ayuba Abok over a series of allegations.
“The new Speaker Hon. Yakubu Sanda said the new leadership of the House will work in synergy with the Executive and Judiciary for the peace, progress and development of Plateau State.
“He said the House which now enjoys full autonomy will use its legislative powers to ensure that Government programs and projects impact the people at the grassroots level.”