Controversial memo: Presidency, PDP in secret plot to remove Nyako

The Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have resolved to impeach Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State,it was learnt yesterday. Their decision is based on Nyako’s recent memo to Northern governors on the insecurity in that part of the country. The Presidency and the PDP consider the memo a danger to national security. They are also relying on the reports of security agencies into the allegations contained in Nyako’s letter. The security agencies, including the Police, have faulted Nyako’s observations and rated the letter as “subversive and seditious.” Barring a change of mind, the planned removal of Nyako is billed to commence within the next two weeks. Some forces in the Presidency and PDP are said to be uncomfortable with the April 16 letter written by Nyako in which he accused the Federal Government of genocide in parts of the North
under the guise of fighting Boko Haram insurgency. The anti-Nyako forces ,sources said,claimed that the governor failed to substantiate the allegations at a session with the 36 governors in the country on April 24. They had initially proposed to the idea of President Goodluck Jonathan appointing military administrators for Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, but this was shot down after legal advice indicated that it was unconstitutional. The forces then opted for a plot to remove Nyako constitutionally from office using the Adamawa State House of Assembly. The first stage of the plot is to take total control of the House of Assembly from Nyako. That may have been achieved already after the PDP secured the support of a comfortable majority of the House on Wednesday with 25 members. The next stage of the plot is said to be the commencement of impeachment proceedings against Nyako which will be based on a letter to the Assembly detailing security reports on Nyako’s memo to Northern governors. A source familiar with the unfolding development said: “The lawmakers have already been told that security reports on alleged subversive activities of Nyako will be sent to them. “On the basis of the reports, the legislators are expected to initiate impeachment proceedings in line with Sections 188 and 189 of the 1999 Constitution. “The lawmakers are expected to receive security reports on Nyako any moment from now based on seditious breaches as applicable in Section 50-60 of the Criminal Code Act (LFN).” It was learnt that once Nyako is removed, he would be made to face treasonable trial. A member of the state House of Assembly, who does not want his name in print, said: “We have got a verbal notice from the Assembly leadership that a letter is coming from the Presidency. “But as at the time we ended sitting on Thursday, we had not received any letter or memo or report on Nyako. “If the alleged constitutional breaches are made available to us, we will look at the letter or memo on merit.” Some stakeholders in Adamawa State have, however, warned members of the Assembly against the plot to remove Nyako. The stakeholders reportedly told the lawmakers that attempt to remove Nyako is aimed at creating animosity between Muslims and Christians in the state. It was learnt that Muslim and Fulani leaders in the state have vowed to resist any attempt to make the Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari (a Christian) to succeed Nyako. One of the stakeholders said: “These forces in the Presidency should know that the fact that the PDP controls the majority in the state House of Assembly does not lead to automatic removal of Nyako. “The Muslims and Fulani in the state will feel shortchanged if Nyako is removed as governor and a Christian is made to succeed him in this circumstance. “The people of Adamawa State are not opposed to a Christian governor as was the the case with ex-Governor Boni Haruna, but it must be in a conducive atmosphere, not under treachery or duress. “When Boni was in charge, Muslim and Christian leaders in the state resisted plot by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to remove him because of his loyalty to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar. “When the chips are down, the PDP may not get the required two thirds to sack Nyako.” Another source said: “Adamawa may be thrown into a political turmoil, if moves are made by the presidency to remove Nyako. The governor may not be good and acceptable, but he fits into ethno-religious configuration of the state. “There is a cold war between the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Umar Fintiri, and the Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari, which would make the removal of Nyako difficult. “Fintiri, who had upstaged Ngilari politically many times, will certainly not make him to be either acting or substantive governor.” It was gathered that ex-Vice President Atiku’s factor might frustrate any plans to remove Nyako because the battleline is drawn between the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC). A chieftain of the APC in Adamawa said: “We are aware of their plot, but they do not know that this state is different. If they have anything against Nyako, let them wait till the end of his tenure.”[The Nation]