Defection: Gov Ahmed defends Tambuwal

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

The Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has said that it is the business of the Judiciary and not that of any organ of government to interpret laws and the legal implication of political actions of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, who recently defected to All Progressive Congress (APC).

Tambuwal’s defection to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continue to receive negative action from Presidency, which has order the withdrawer of the Speaker’s security.

Gov. Ahmed, who stated this in Ilorin, during the swearing-in of members of the reconstituted Kwara state Judicial Service Commission, said that the constitutionality of the unilateral reduction in the allocations to states and local government councils by the federal government, adding that it needed to be subjected to examination by the Judiciary.

The Governor said “It is the business of the judiciary and not that of any other arm or organ of government to interpret laws of the land and the legal implication of political action such as cross carpeting at the National Assembly and indeed the Executive”.

He stressed that the unilateral reduction in the allocations due to states from the federation account, allegedly due to fluctuations in global oil prices and oil theft, were gradually impoverishing states and local governments, adding that the development could have dire consequences on the two tiers of government.

According to Gov Ahmed, “If this situation is not addressed unequivocally and quickly, the next few months will prove even more difficult for our state and indeed all others that are burdened by the unsubstantiated cuts in the federation account allocation.

“In the event that these cuts in allocation are politically motivated, those behind it must be reminded that Kwara state is still part of Nigeria and our people, who are bearing the brunt of these draconian cuts are bona fide Nigerians”, he stated.

The Governor, however, assured the state’s civil servants that the government would continue to explore all constitutional means to meet obligations, such as payment of salaries, even in the face of reduction in the state’s entitlement from the Federal Accounts by the federal government.