Nigerians express worries over new wave of impeachments. Some eminent Nigerians have advocated the need to exercise of great caution on the current wave of impeachments sweeping across the country. They believe that if not carefully handled, the trend has the potential of plunging the nation’s democracy into imminent danger. A cross section of eminent personalities, who spoke in different interviews with Sunday Independent, urged members of State Houses of Assembly handling impeachments to be circumspect and deal with the issue wisely because, according to them, it could portend grave consequences for the polity. Last week, Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako, was impeached by the State House of Assembly, while his Deputy, Bala Ngilari, was reported to have tendered his resignation letter moments before his boss, Nyako, was impeached. Ngilari reportedly sent his letter of resignation to the Speaker of the State Assembly instead of the governor, as provided by the Constitution. The Speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri, was subsequently sworn in as Acting Governor. Ngilari, in a new turn of event, claimed that he was forced to resign. Already, Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has been served with impeachment notice, and from all indications, he man may soon be addressed as a former governor. The move is already causing chaos in the state as about three people were reportedly killed on Thursday in a bloody clash between supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. In Edo State, there are plans by the State House of Assembly to also impeach the governor, Adams Oshiomole. Commenting on the issue, outgoing Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, said in as much as impeachment formed part of the Constitution, it must be used wisely in the overall interest of the state. Ubani noted that with the way impeachment is being suddenly carried out by politicians, Nigerian democracy is being exposed to great danger. “You see, impeachment has always been in our Constitution. It was in the 1979 Constitution and even the 1999 Constitution. “During Obasanjo’s tenure, some of the impeachment carried out never followed the law, as quorum were never formed, and the courts were there to correct the wrongs. “But, the real point is: there is no governor today in Nigeria that is free if you really want to carry out impeachment, except few of them. “But then, impeachment must be used circumspectly and wisely in the overall interest of the people.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 07:09:50 +0000
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