A crisis of confidence bordering on alleged partisanship and
partiality is currently rocking the seven-man probe panel set up by the
Nasarawa State Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to investigate the
alleged wrongdoings against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
Those kicking against the composition of the membership of the panel,
which they alleged was tilted in favour of the embattled governor, had
also reportedly packaged petitions against Justice Dikko, to push for
his dismissal by the National Judicial Council (NJC) if the panel is not
disbanded.
The development is said to have brought uncertainty into the job of
the panel, expected to begin full-blown proceedings after sallah break.
Complaints are coming from both the pro and anti-impeachment
lawmakers over members of the panel, with those pushing for the
impeachment feeling more hard done by.
The
impeachment process ends constitutionally if the panel clears the
governor of any wrongdoing on the 15 allegations of misconduct levelled
against him.
The governor, who last week vowed to judicially stop the panel, made a
U-turn at the weekend, by indicating his readiness to appear before it.
In the case of alleged partiality and partisanship being made against
the members, it was alleged that the wife of the chairman of the panel,
Yusuf Shehu Usman, is a known ally of wife of the state governor, as
well as a female judge in the state.
It was also alleged that the older brother of the chairman, who died a
few months back, was, until his death, a title holder in a particular
emirate (name withheld) in the state, with loyalty to the emir (names
withheld) who had allegedly been at the fore-front of the
“save-Al-Makura” project.
The membership of Galadima Keffi, Alhaji Abdu Usman, was also being kicked against on the ground of alleged party membership.
It was contended that his son allegedly contested and lost the
primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the chairmanship of
the local government.
Usman is also alleged to be friends with the former governor of the state and APC leader, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi.
Another member, Mohammed Sabo Keana, was alleged to be a politician whose impartiality could not be guaranteed.
He was the Secretary to the State Government in the administration of Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi.
He reportedly remains a card-carrying member of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), while allegedly maintaining his relations with
his former boss, despite being in different political parties.
The membership of Reverend Joel Galadima is also in contention, as he
is a member of the state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board as an
appointee of the governor who is also reportedly his kinsman.
The appointment of both Pastor Daniel Chaga and Samuel Chaku was also
said to be in alleged contravention of fair representation, as both
were said to be from the same Wanba Local Government Area of the state,
while no member was allegedly picked from the majority Eggon nation.
Eggon tribe is at the fore-front of political opposition to the
governor over an alleged breach of gentleman agreement between him and
Senator Solomon Ewuga to rotate the governorship on single-term basis.
Chaga and Chaku are allegedly nominated by the deputy Chairman of APC
in the state, popularly called Lamus, reportedly the political leader
of Wanba council.
The seventh member, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Usman, is allegedly a
prominent member of Nsala sect and allegedly attended a solidarity
meeting recently with the governor.
Nigerian Tribune also exclusively obtained what transpired between
President Goodluck Jonathan and Nasarawa lawmakers at a close-door
parley last week.
A source at the meeting disclosed that the National Security Adviser
(NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki; Attorney-General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation (SGF), Pius Anyim, told the lawmakers that the
president was not happy about the circumstances surrounding the
impeachment process and would want an end to it.
The lawmakers were, however, said to have resisted the move to stop
the impeachment process, adding that they were irrevocably committed to
it.
President Jonathan, who was said to be presiding over another meeting, reportedly met immediately with them.
The meeting with the president reportedly lasted about two hours, with the lawmakers said to have restated their commitment.
Jonathan’s worry was said to be about the alleged security report
that arms were being stock-piled in the state and any crisis there could
spill over to Abuja.
The said report also alleged that the impeachment was being largely
resisted by elite in the state, because a Christian deputy governor
would take over if a Muslim governor was sacked.
Jonathan’s fears were said to have been allayed and the meeting reportedly ended without the lawmakers giving any commitment.
SOURCE
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