A group under the auspices of Concerned Nasarawa APC Stakeholders’ Forum has cautioned the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule not to throw the state into crisis for throwing his weight being a group led by the Former Speaker Nasarawa State House Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe in violation of the court order.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja the Convener, Alhaji Ibrahim Shuaibu described the action of the Governor as a height of impunity, lawlessness and unacceptable which is capable of truncating the democratic process in the state.
He said a Federal High Court had initially barred Balarabe from parading himself as the Speaker of the state 7th Assembly following the emergence of Rt. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi who was elected by a simple majority of votes and within the assembly.
He slammed the Governor for organizing reception of the Balarabe led group of some Assembly members at the Government House, Lafia recently without recourse to the existing order of a Federal High Court on the Assembly matter is an aberration of his oath of office, which he swore with the holy Qur’an to uphold the Constitution and preserve democracy in the State.
According to him, “As part of the Governor’s disregard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and due process, we have it on good authority that the Governor directed the Accountant General of the State to release and pay June salaries to only the members of Assembly loyal to Balarabe, who up to this moment have not been properly inaugurated.
“This is the height of impunity and lawlessness going on at the moment in Nasarawa State. This is truly shameful!
” It’s obvious that the Governor’s interest in the Assembly leadership has worsened the crisis and has further brought other public officials in the State to moral compromise.
“Aside the contrary order recently issued by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Bashir, conflicting the earlier order of the federal high court Abuja, a judicial manipulation to truncate justice in Nasarawa State, we consider the role of Amirul Hajj of Aisha and her decision even as the Chief Judge of the state to lead the last sets of pilgrims from Nasarawa State to Saudi Arabia, totally strange. “A purely religious engagement of this magnitude should not be seen being coordinated by the highest judicial officer in the state, considering the sensitivity of her office. This has called to question the integrity and neutrality of the Chief Judge in handling this matter. We therefore strongly advise Justice Aisha Bashir to recuse herself from the Assembly matter, as she cannot be trusted to deliver justice on the matter.
“Accordingly, we call on the National Judicial Council to beam its search lights on the State Chief Judge and other Judges handling this matter, to ensure that Justice is served. This is because her role as Amirul Hajj to the holy land and event is a bribe and reward for tampering with justice”
The group noted that those who make the rules, must play by the rules just as it condemned the lawlessness and brazen impunity being exhibited by the custodian of laws.
“The Concerned Nasarawa APC Stakeholders are worried over the substitution of impunity and lawlessness in the political space of the state, perpetuated by individuals who consider themselves invincible and their political interests above the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“The continuous disregard for due process and existing order of a Federal High Court barring Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe from parading himself as the Speaker of the 7th assembly in an election where Rt. Hon. Daniel Ogah Ogazi was elected by a simple majority votes and within the assembly complex is the height of impunity and lawlessness not expected to be condoned by a Chief Executive of a state and any other elected public official no matter their interests.
“Governor Abdullahi A. Sule’s ill conceived hospitality and reception of the Balarabe led group of some Assembly members at the Government House, Lafia recently without recourse to the existing order of a Federal High Court on the Assembly matter is an aberration of his oath of office, which he swore with the holy Qur’an to uphold the Constitution and preserve democracy in the State.
“Gentlemen, our state is gradually drifting into a very dangerous path, there is no regards for due process and our constitution if the Assembly crisis is left unchecked. We call on His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State to order before he throws our dear State into a state of anarchy. A stitch in time saves nine,” Ibrahim added.