Exposed: How two former governors, ex-environment minister conspired to distabilize Nasarawa assembly
It’s no longer news that two separate speakers have emerged at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, throwing the just inaugurated 7th assembly into a crisis of leadership.
What is however news is that credible sources are accusing two former governors of the state, who in their bid to salvage some measure of political relevance, conspired with the immediate past minister for environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, to cause disharmony in an otherwise peaceful and focused Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
The sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who allegedly played key role in the electoral misfortune of the party ahead of the 2023 general election, finally saw reasons to join forces with former governor Tanko Al-Makura, with the connivance of ex-environment minister to try to take control of the state assembly.
It was gathered reliably that the trio plotted and secretly met with the state chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Francis Orogu, where they procured his allegiance to use members of the assembly under the platform of the PDP to pave the way for Hon Ogah Ogazi to unlawfully inaugurate himself as speaker for the Nasarawa 7th assembly.
Aware of their dwindling political clouts and in their bid to clear the part to wrestle power from the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Sule come 2027, the two former governors were said to have buried their differences and joined forces behind Hon Ogazi.
The sources argued that it’s inconceivable for the PDP to conspire with some leaders of the APC in the state to purportedly elect a speaker for the state assembly.
Besides, the sources added that the entire process of self inauguration by Hon Ogazi as speaker, facilitated through the use of thugs and some security personnel, amounted to a nullity because only the clerk of the assembly can swearing-in the speaker.
” It’s not acceptable at all. How can the PDP elect a speaker for the APC dominated state assembly? Hon. Ogazi has only two APC members with him, Hon Hudu A. Hudu and Hon Baba Ali.
“Hon Ogazi and Francis Orogu were only able to reach this far because of the support they enjoy from the trio of Senators Adamu and Al-Makura and ex-minister Abdullahi,” the sources further disclosed.
The sources warned that the ruling APC in the state will not fold it arms and watch these former leaders try to cause confusion in the state capable of derailing the tremendous progress so far made by Governor Sule.
Hon Ogah Ogazi who represents Kokona East state Constituency under the platform of the APC inaugurated himself as speaker in a parallel inauguration after he broke into and hijacked the chamber of the assembly with the assistance of thugs and some security personnel.
26-year-old Mohammed Oyanki (PDP, Doma North) equally inaugurated himself as deputy speaker.
The members of the assembly loyal to the Governor, reelected incumbent Speaker, Rt Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, who were forced to use the state assembly annex and was dully sworn-in by the acting Clerk of the House.
The sources confirmed that the chief aims of the two former governors were to constitute a stumbling block for Governor Sule ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Proclamation order and authority to inaugurate the Legislature is the exclusive preserve of His Excellency the Governor and he delegated this to the Clerk of the Assembly The Clerk has since conducted his duty in line with the Constitution.
“Any other thing aside from this amounts to a nullity,” the sources maintained.
