Saraki faults closure of Plateau Assembly, asks political leaders to speak up

A former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has faulted the closure of the Plateau State House of Assembly over leadership crisis following the impeachment of the Speaker.

Ayuba Abok was, on October 27, impeached by eight lawmakers of the 24-member legislature and elected Yakubu Sanda as the new Speaker.

But Abok and members loyal to him are still laying claim to the speakership position, claiming that the process leading to the impeachment was unconstitutional.

While the crisis over who should be recognised as the authentic Speaker festers, security operatives sealed the complex and barred both factions from accessing the facility.

Saraki described the closure as “mere escapism” and using a wrong response to correct a wrong development.

He said the closure of the assembly would deny the people representation and prevent the legislature from performing the duty for which the members are elected.

The former Senate President, in a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the crisis that has kept the Assembly under lock was an embarrassment to Nigeria after practicing democracy for 22 uninterrupted years.

He said for the crisis, caused by simple lack of respect for due process, to happen in 2021 was only exposing Nigeria to ridicule in the comity of nations.

“How can we after 21 years of democracy be talking of the impeachment of a Speaker by six or eight members (whatever is the correct figure here) in a 24-member legislature and a picture of a parliamentary proceeding to impeach the speaker holding at 7 am? These are developments that will surely make this country a laughing stock in the International community.

“Yet, all our leaders and top politicians are silent. We, the political leaders, are behaving as we are unconcerned. This conspiracy of silence is the major worry that I have on this issue. We should all speak against the flagrant disregard for due process and lack of respect for the provisions of the constitution. This is the reason why we make a simple issue complex.

“It is trite to state that by the provision of our constitution, only 16 members can validly impeach a Speaker in a 24-member legislature. It is also not difficult to determine whether 16 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly want Hon. Abok Ayuba to be removed as Speaker or not.

“If those who want him to be removed have the number, it should be easy to determine during a peaceful, properly convened proceeding and if those against the Speaker do not have the number, they should bide their time and go back to renew their strategy. No state machinery or institution should be used to perpetrate or condone illegality,” he said.