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Nasarawa Assembly Crisis Deepens as Protesters Barricade Lafia-Makurdi Highway

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…Ask Gov. Sule to allow democracy to prevail 

Nath Gbaoron, Lafia

The lingering crisis over the speakership of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has taken a different dimension on Thursday as pro-Daneil Ogazi youths blocked the ever-busy Lafia-Makurdi highway in protest.

The protesters cordoned off one of the lanes of the popular highway in Shabu near Lafia, the state capital at about 12:45 pm, causing heavy gridlock in the process.

They bore placards with inscriptions such as “Gov Sule should allow democracy to prevail”, “Stop interfering in legislators’ business Gov Sule”, “Hon Ogazi is our choice”, and “Nasarawa is not a banana republic Gov Sule” among others.

The leader of the protesters, Malam Shuaib Bala Usman said that they decided to block the highway to register their displeasure over the utterances and actions of Governor Abdullahi Sule, which they described as “unbecoming” of a “chief executive of the state who is supposed to be a father to all.”

He said: “In democracy the majority carry the vote and there is separation of power.  The governor belongs to the executive arm of government and he doesn’t have any right to interfere in the affairs of the legislative arm. By coming out on national television to back what’s obviously an illegality, he is putting the state to ridicule and his much-vaunted integrity to question.

“We are calling on him to rescind his decision and position in the interest of peace and unity of the state.

“We have 24 lawmakers in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly out of which 13 lawmakers voted in favour of Daniel Ogah Ogazi, member representing Kokona East, and 10 lawmakers voted for immediate past speaker Hon. Ibrahim Balarebe Abdullahi. Unfortunately, the governor of the state displayed an undemocratic attitude by recognizing 10 members out of the 13 lawmakers.

“According to law, any election conducted outside the assembly complex is null and void. The former speaker recognized by the governor was a two-time speaker of 5th and 6th assembly; was the election that brought him to power conducted outside the assembly complex? Let the rule of law and our constitution be respected.”

Our correspondent reports that as the gridlock builds up, the situation around Shabu became chaotic with stranded passengers begging the protesters to remove the blockade to enable them proceed on their journey.

Elders and leaders of the community were seen persuading the youths to discontinue their action and seek an alternative way of resolving the anomaly.

In a similar situation, aggrieved women, youths, and other protesters barricade the entrance into the assembly over governor Abdullahi Sule’s interference on who becomes the new speaker of the 7th assembly.

The protesters who defied the heavy presence of the policemen at the entrance of the assembly complex, proceeded with chanting of songs and prayers asking God to intervene on the injustice being perpetrated in the state. The spokesperson of the group Mr. James Alu, leader of the Coalition for Justice comprising over 20 groups made up of people from various tribes in the state.

Mr. Alu said the group is an advocate of justice, peace and fairness for anybody irrespective of tribe, religion or association. He also said the group was in the state to ensure justice takes its right place for peace to reign.

Meanwhile the Hon. Balarabe Abdulahi led faction of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has approved the request of Gov. Abdullahi Sule for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers.

The Speaker of the House, Abdullahi announced the approval during an emergency sitting of the House Thursday in Lafia.

The Speaker said that the speedy approval was to enable the Governor to appoint the 20 Special Advisers that would assist him in achieving his administration’s good policies and programmes in the State.

“His Excellency has sent request for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers that will assist him in the consolidation of his policies and programmes.

“After extensive deliberation on His Excellency’s request, the request is hereby granted by this Honourable House,” he said.

The Speaker assured of the House readiness to partner with the executive arm in order to ensure speedy development across the State.

In their contributions, the factional members Rt. Hon Jacob Kudu ( APC- Nassarawa Eggon East) Hon Danladi Jatau ( APC- Kokona West)  Hon Suleiman Azara ( APC- Awe South), Hon Larry Ven Bawa ( APC- Akwanga North) , Hon Solomon Akwashiki (SDP- Lafia Central) , Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar( NNPP- Doma South and Hon Hajara Danyaro ( APC- Nasarawa Central) among others gave full support of the Assembly to approve the request of the Special Advisers.

The lawmakers said that the appointment of the Special Advisers would ensure speedy  development across the State.

In a related development, the factional Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi announced that Gov. Abdullahi Sule has approved total renovation of the assembly complex.

This he said was inline with the State Government commitment to create an enabling environment for the lawmakers and other staff for effective service delivery.

He said that the Ministry of Works would soon commence the work at the assembly.

“We are proceeding on recess today 8th June, to resume on July 10, to enable the Ministry of Work to renovate the House as approved by His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule,” he said.

Hon Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, (APC- Keana), the Majority Leader of the House moved a motion for the House to proceed on recess.

Hon Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, (NNPP- Doma South), the Minority Leader of the House seconded the motion.

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