Impeachment: Has Al-Makura’s deputy abandoned moves? Written by Hir Joseph, Lafia Daily Trust The first ever break since about a month now, when the heat of impeachment lashed at Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, came this week when on Tuesday, a probe panel dismissed all 16 charges of gross misconduct against him. The relief came the way of the governor when the 20 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers declined to enter evidence in proof of their allegations contained in the July 14 notice of impeachment, after they insisted that they lacked confidence in the membership of the panel in what appeared like the PDP in the state did not do their homework well. At the centre of it all is Al- Makura’s deputy, Dameshi Barau Luka, who would have been the major beneficiary if the impeachment succeeded. The hall of the public hearing at the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs in Lafia echoed with “as the court pleases,” from the governor’s legal representatives, cabinet members, and associates when the Yusuf Shehu Usman-led seven-man panel appointed by the Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, announced the ruling at about 1:50pm of Tuesday. “The panel has no option than to dismiss the 16 allegations against the governor of Nasarawa State,” the panel chairman declared, reading from the ruling that came about two hours after a six- man legal team of the 20 lawmakers, led by Mr. Ocha P. Ulegede, took their leave as part of the protest against the composition of the panel which they said was unsuitable to handle such an assignment. Before the ruling, the 20 members had held a controversial sitting in Karu, near Abuja – outside of the chambers of the assembly complex in Lafia, and passed a resolution directing the chief judge to reconstitute the panel. The same lawmakers, same day, petitioned the chief judge through their lawyer, Mr. Kyari Gadzama(SAN), demanding the reconstitution of the panel on grounds of alleged unsuitability of the members. Everyday saw a twist in the ongoing saga which happened within the period of the two-month recess by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA). Four members of the assembly, who happened to be members of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), the governor’s party, did not sign the impeachment notice, and have since declared that they were never notified of both the moves and the three NSHA emergency sittings which saw two motions and one resolution within the period of the recess. Unseen hands, rivalries pulling back impeachment On July 23, President Goodluck Jonathan sat two hours in a meeting with the principal officers of the NSHA, who signed the impeachment notice. The lawmakers were led by the speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed in the closed door meeting which was widely reported to be held for the president to intervene to save the governor. But barely a day after the meeting, the 20 members sneaked into Lafia under cover of darkness and heavy security escort to direct the chief judge to set up the panel, in what triggered fresh speculations that they were pushed by some unseen hands away from the president, who was initially alleged to have pulled the strings. But in the days to come, the momentum in the pursuit of the impeachment seemed to have slowed down, sparking fresh speculations that the alleged sponsors may have given up after realising the lawmakers had a bad case. This is just as sources have said the lawmakers, who long relocated to Abuja where they have been said to be holed up in a hotel, have had to run after many big shots with a roadmap of the impeachment in their hands, with nobody ready to take them there. There are too many bosses to count in the plot to remove Al-Makura, with each playing god and seeking absolute loyalty from both lawmakers and deputy governor Luka, whose defection to the PDP on March 3 laid a foundation for a PDP takeover in Nasarawa when the plot succeeds, sources said. The bosses, all of them said to be Abuja politicians of Nasarawa origin, may be interested in 2015, in what may have set in rivalries between them because of individual interests. Luka was said to have agreed to benefit only as governor after Al-Makura’s impeachment, but he is also said to be facing doubts from the bosses who may have seen his ambition grow overnight, suggesting he will have an eye on the governorship ticket in total disregard to the gentleman’s agreement. Sources also said one of the bosses had to even tell him off, informing him that a new convert into any religion does not lead prayers. Deputy Governor shuns PDP meetings Two caucus meetings have held since the commencement of proceedings into the impeachment plot. There was also a rally in Lafia, by leaders of the party and their supporters to show solidarity with the 20 members. Luka did not attend any of the three, nor signed the two communiqués issued by the party leaders. Luka, since his defection, emerged as the leader of the party in the state. Danjuma Joseph, his media aide, confirmed that Luka did not attend the two Abuja caucus meetings, or the Lafia rally, but added that he had no information about his boss’ reasons. “I don’t know why he didn’t attend the two meetings and the rally,” he said, adding “he is not in the state.” He said his boss is not ambitious about benefiting from the impeachment because “he is contesting in 2015.” State PDP spokesman, Yohanna Mark Neto also confirmed Luka did not attend any of the three events, but added that “it is not about the deputy governor; we are not doing this for any individual but for the PDP as a party.” ‘We are heroes, brave men’ Meanwhile, barely a day after the panel dismissed the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the governor; the 20 lawmakers declared that they are a body of heroes among Nasarawa people. The assembly declared that the present generation of lawmakers, especially the 20 PDP members who signed the notice, has done what no other legislature before them could attempt. “To say we are heroes; I mean those of us who signed the impeachment against the governor, will be an understatement. We are more than heroes among Nasarawa people especially the large PDP family in the state. We have done our people proud,” Mohammed Baba Ibaku, chairman house committee on information told Weekly Trust by phone. Ibaku, who is one of the signatories, said the ruling of the panel will not remove the fact that the 20 members stand out in the state by their action which he said is patriotic.He said the action of the 20 lawmakers has earned them respect among the people, who he said “are promising us automatic ticket in the 2015 election.” The lawmaker said: “We will speak today as proud and brave men among our people. The people, especially the large PDP family are proud of us. We have done our people proud by appending our signature on a document to check gross misconduct. Ours was to end the introduction and deepening of misery of our people. We have done our part. We are more popular today among the good people of Nasarawa, than ever.” However, Ibaku refused to say that it is over for the signatories of the impeachment notice, just as he said the house will receive and entertain the report of the panel, against earlier declaration that the NSHA will have nothing to do with it. “I still repeat that we don’t have a panel, and we are not expecting any report from them. But should they present the house with a report of their assignment, we will accept the report. We will then sit down and deliberate on the report, and we will use relevant sections of the constitution to knock out the report,” Ibaku said. But the house minority leader, Mr. Tanko Maikatako, who declined his signature, argued that the impeachment move was unpopular. “First, my colleagues did not consult with our people to so decide on the option of impeachment. They should have explored other legislative options to check the governor if they so found him to have committed certain offences. That would have saved the state from the stalemate that prevailed in our state for the past three weeks. I still appeal that my colleagues should return to the state and start where we stopped in our legislative governance to our good people,” Maikatako said. Al-Makura alone in trenches. Meanwhile, the governor remained almost alone in the trenches, with leaders of the party and other stakeholders keeping a distance. Apart from traditional rulers, only Senator Abdullahi Adamu voiced opposition against the move. There is hardly anybody still with Al-Makura among those who worked with him in 2011, in what saw the impeachment move almost succeeding
Posted on: Sat, 09 Aug 2014 15:55:50 +0000
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