Plenary at the Plateau State
House of Assembly was on Wednesday disrupted and the house adjourned
unceremoniously to avoid violent clash among members.
It was gathered that the
crisis started when the Speaker of the House read out a memo sent to the House
by Governor Simon Lalong.
Lalong was requesting the House
to approve the appointment of new Management Committee in four local
governments.
The House immediately became
divided as soon as the memo was presented as the majority APC members and
minority PDP could not agree on the request of the Governor.
All the PDP members which include;
Hon. Peter Ibrahim Gyendeng – Barkin Ladi (Minority Leader), Hon. Timothy
Dantong – Riyom, Hon. Musa Aga Avia –
Irigwe/Rukuba, Hon. Dusu Esther Simi – Jos North-West, Hon. Fom Dalyop Gwottson
– Jos South, Hon. Pirfa Jingfa Tyem – Langtang
North-North, Hon. Daniel Nanbol Listick – Langtang North -Central and Hon. Bala Fwanje – Mangu South;
opposed the said request by the Governor, describing it as “an illegal move”,
to deny the rural populace of the choice of their leaders.
The PDP Lawmakers also described
it as “rape on democracy”.
But the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ayuba
Abok and all the APC members insisted the House must endorse the executive
memo.
The next action that followed was
that the PDP members in the House staged a walkout from the chambers in
Protest.
Minority leader of the House and
member representing Barkin Ladi Constituency, Hon. Peter Gyendeng accompanied
by all the PDP members told journalists that, the action of their colleagues in
approving the appointment of the APC candidates is not only illegal but
undemocratic and full-blown dictatorship gearing towards disenfranchising the
people by denying them the right and liberty to choose their representatives.
“We the PDP members want to make
it clear that anything short of the rule of law and due process from the APC
led government in this regard will not only be vehemently rejected but will be
fought to a standstill.
However, the Plateau State
Chapter of the Peoples Democratic party, (PDP) through its Publicity Secretary,
Hon. John Akans said the action was undemocratic and an act of illegality and
injustice, adding that it will be resisted by the people of Plateau State.
“As a party that believes in the
rule of law and also that represents the interests and mandates of majority
votes on the plateau, we are on this note sending a very strong word of caution
to Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), APC and the state
government that any undemocratic act of illegality and injustice will face
appropriate resistance from the people of Plateau State.
“This illegal act will no longer
be tolerated by the people, as they have had enough of this oppression by
ungodly minds which are filled with ungodly values by an architect of injustice
in leadership position.
Despite the protest by the
opposition party, the appointed management committee was inaugurated at the
Banquet Hall of government house, Rayfield – Jos by Gov Lalong.
Reacting to the action by the
State Assembly, a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bitrus
Kaze, said, “I wish to join all men and women of goodwill on the Plateau,
particularly within the PDP family in commending the PDP legislators in the
Plateau State House of Assembly for standing tall in the face of intimidation
following Gov Lalong’s memo requesting the house to approve the appointment of
new Management Committee in four local governments.
Kaze said, “By staging a walkout
on the floor of the House yesterday, you defied all manner of intimidation and
defended our democracy and the interest of your people to the best of your
ability.
“In my view, you made us proud,
you have simply written your names in gold and posterity will be kind to you.
“I also take the opportunity to
congratulate our brother, Hon Joshua Laven, the Chairman Langtang North LGA.
“For our brothers, Hon. Aminu
Zang, Hon. Emmanuel S. Dung, Comrade Joshua Chong and Hon. Kim T. Danja, the
PDP candidates for Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Riyom LGAs
respectively.
“Rather, unfortunately, destiny
has placed on your broad shoulders the burden of our people. You have
unwittingly become the symbols of our collective struggle but the battle is not
over,” he stressed.
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