News Editor
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Gov. Sule suspends proclamation, alleges insecurity threat
By Dauda I. Omaku
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has suspended the Tuesday planned innauration of the 7th Nasarawa state assembly, following what he attributed to insecurity at the complex of the state assembly.
Sule, in a statement signed by the acting clerk of the house, Ibrahim Musa, said the suspension of the assembly inauguration was due to the security advice issued to him.
“The Acting Clerk, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Ibrahim Musa 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,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, confusion, mal-drama reigned supreme tuesday morning following the leadership selection crisis that has been going on in the assembly as a result of the alleged support by governor Sule for the incumbent speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi against the interest of the majority assembly members
When our correspondent visited the Assembly complex Tuesday morning, it was gathered that 13 out of the 24 members ( majority) who are allegedly opposing the governor’s interference and support for the speaker were at the gate of the assembly as early as 3am ahead of the planned innauration.
It was learnt that the majority members took the decision to occupy the assembly gate to stop the planned innauguration without them having got whiff of the plan to use army and police to deny them entry.
Our correspondent further gathered that there were arrangements for the minority 11 members to gather in the assembly by 4 am ahead of the inauguration slated for 10am. This arrangement was to shut out the majority of members who are against the governor’ perceived speaker.
One of the lawmakers who spoke to our correspondent and did not want his name mentioned said that they got wind of the plan to shut them out from the proclamation decided to come to the assembly by 4am and we’re denied entrance into the assembly complex by the security agents earlier recruited and stationed there.
“We have been here since 3am because we understood the governor and his cohorts had plan to luck us out to enable them carry out the proclamation and conduct election to elect the leadership of the house without us and against the interest of the Nasarawa people “.
“We had earlier pleaded with the governor to allow democratic system workout in Nasarawa State House of assembly but governor Abdullahi Sule is insisting on planting his candidate against the interest of the majority of the members in the house”
“We will not leave this assembly gate until democracy is allowed to take place.” The lawmaker vowed.
Recalled that several interest groups, including the APC youths, had earlier addressed press conferences to appealed to Governor Sule to allow the state house of assembly handle its affairs internally without external interference.
Recently, some of the groups accused Governor Abdullahi Sule and traditional rulers of encouraging political crisis in Nasarawa state as well as vowing to resist the move to manipulate the state assembly.
In another l, vein, Gov Abdullahi Sule has approved the re-appointment of the Secretary to State Government, Aliyu Ubandoma.
Similarly, the governor had approved the appointment of some of his aides, which includes 6 Senior Special Assistants-SSA, 11 Special Assistants-SA’s, and 11 Personal Assistant- PA’s.
