APC condemns lawmakers’ fresh plot to remove Al-Makura The All Progressives Congress has condemned the renewed plan by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to impeach the state Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura. The APC, in a statement in Ilorin on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that the lawmakers were bent on violating the constitution in their desperation to remove the governor. It noted that Al-Makura had been cleared of the charges against him by a duly constituted impeachment panel. The party said it would amount to an illegality for the lawmakers to draft a vacation judge to set up another panel to probe the same 16 allegations, which the governor had been absolved. It said the constitution is clear that only the chief judge of the state can set up such a panel, upon receiving a request from the Speaker of the House of Assembly. The APC, therefore, stated any attempt to draft a vacation judge to set up another panel would be against the constitution that gave the legislature the impeachment power in the first instance. The party also said Al-Makura could not be impeached on the basis of the same allegations. It noted that if the lawmakers were to follow the constitution, they would have to find a new set of impeachable offences against the governor. The APC added that they would have to notify the governor and forward their request to the chief judge, not to a vacation judge. It said that the latest move by the legislators, who had relocated to Abuja from their base in Lafia, was being instigated by the Peoples Democratic Party. The APC stated, “That this illegality is being contemplated under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan is clear for all to see. In fact, it is in line with the culture of lawlessness and impunity for which the Jonathan Administration has now become infamous.” The party said that the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, from Nasarawa State, had been goading the state legislature to disregard the constitution and remove the governor. The APC said that the reason for the minister’s action was because Al-Makura is in the opposition party. It said, ”It is also as clear as daylight that the kind of money being dangled at the lawmakers to impeach Governor Al-Makura at all costs could only have come from a deep purse or a war chest.” “With almost N30m and other perks being reportedly offered to each lawmaker just to take out an opposition governor, it is clear in whose interest and at whose behest such is being done.” It called on those it described as “the puppeteers of the marooned Nasarawa legislators” to call the lawmakers to order. “The lawmakers have tried and failed to remove Governor Al-Makura. Let them now return to Lafia and continue with their constitutional duties. They must give peace a chance,” APC said.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 22:14:52 +0000
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