Adamawa gov’t suspended me for defecting to APC- Gombi LG chairman cries out

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The suspended chairman of Gombi Local Government of Adamawa, Alhaji Umar Rufai, has described the suspension of his council by the PDP led state government as a political vendetta.

Rufai told newsmen in Yola while reacting to his suspension that his council was suspended by the state government because of his recent defection to APC with eight councillors.

Rufai said the step taken by government to suspend his council over alleged gross misappropriation was a mere cover up.

“This is surprising coming from the state Governor, Mr Bala Ngilari who we all know refused to move with his former boss, Murtala Nyako to APC but was allowed to continue to hold his position as Deputy Governor to now sack us for defecting to APC.

“Our people say we should move to APC and that is what we did and we are ready to go to jail and cannot be intimidated by anybody”, Rufai said.

Rufai said that he had contacted his lawyers for the next line of action.

Adamawa state government had on Monday announced the suspension of Gombi Local Government council over alleged “gross misappropriation of public funds”.

The statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Andrew Welye, directed the council to surrender all government properties in their possession to the council Head of Service.

” In pursuant to powers conferred on His Excellency, the Governor by section 28 (2) of the Adamawa state Local Government Administration Law No.4 of 2000, the Gombi Local Government Council is hereby suspended from office with immediate effect pending further investigation into allegations of Gross Misappropriation of public funds as contained in an audit report submitted to government.

“The council is requested to surrender all Government properties and any other related security documents in their possession to Head of Service of Local Government Council immediately, please” the statement said.