Three Principal Officers Removed From Niger State House Of Assembly

Olabode Adaramola

Crisis bedeviling the  Niger  State House of Assembly,  came to the climax on Thursday in Minna the state capital, following the impeachment of  three  principal officers of the assembly, over allegation of gross incompetence against them by their other Colleagues in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.

National Wires gathered that the affected state Legislators were the Majority Leader, Hon. Saleh Ibrahim, representing Kontagora constituency, the deputy majority leader, Hon. Binta Mamman, representing Gurara constituency, and the Chief Whip Hon.Bello Ahmed, representing Agwara constituency,

Not even the intervention of the House Speaker, Rt. Hon.Abdullahi Bawa Wuse could prevent the affected key Principal Officers, from being impeached .

Drama was said to have commenced when the member representing Edati Constituency, Hon. Salihu Tama stood up to present a motion under the matter of urgent public importance,  but was promptly overruled by the Speaker who stated  that the member did not present him (Speaker) with the motion before the plenary and as such, the Legislator cannot be allowed to make his presentation.

The Speaker was equally overruled by other legislators who took time to educate him that motions under matters of public importance do not require the Speaker to see it in writing before it was presented.

“I gave him the opportunity to speak. the understanding is that he said he had a motion and the motion is being typed and it is almost complete. I now asked him if it is ready and he said that the motion is for flood disaster in Edati local government council of the state and that it is almost ready and that was why I said I haven’t given him the basis to speak. I overruled him because he did not give me the motion before the sitting commenced . And that is my stand on this matter”, the Speaker argued  .

Members however stood their ground, emphasizing that it had never been the practice of the House, and challenged the Speaker to point out the relevant session in the rules of standing order to support his claims , and for overruling the Legislator from making his presentation.

The member representing Borgu Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abba Bala, specifically challenged the Speaker’s stand, stressing that,  “If a matter of public importance is not put to writing, won’t it be presented? Has that always been the practice? I know of several cases where this is not the case in this House”.

He further stated  that “Why is it that someone is asking for his constitutional right and you didn’t allow him? It is not part of our rules that matters of public importance at any time must be given to the Speaker before it is said during the plenary. Why are you being partial? Your overruling on this matter cannot stand.”

In addition to this, the Member representing Bosso Constituency, Hon. Abdulmalik Madaki Bosso stated that the Speaker was wrong in overruling the Legislator without pointing him to the section either in the constitution or in the Assembly standing order.

According to him, “you need to draw his attention to the provision of the constitution which says that he must give you a copy of the motion before it is presented at the floor of the house. You overruled him without letting him know how he has gone wrong. If you are overruling him, draw the attention of the house to that part of the standing order. What you are saying has never been the case in the past, if there has been an amendment, the House need to know and be informed about it,” he submitted.

When he was finally given the opportunity to speak, the Member, representing Edati Constituency, Hon. Salihu Mohammed Tama moved for the impeachment of the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader and the Chief Whip.

“As a matter of urgent public importance, I move for the impeachment of Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader and the Chief Whip for their gross incompetence to discharge their constitutional responsibility.”

The motion was thereby seconded by the Member representing Borgu Constituency as the Legislators choose the successors of the impeached principal officers almost immediately.

The new leadership of the Assembly now include Hon.Mohammed Abba Bala, Majority Leader, the member representing Borgu Constituency, the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon.Abdulmalik Madaki  Bosso representing Bosso Constituency, while Hon.Salihu Tama Edati from Edati Constituency is the new Chief Whip.