Femi Oyelola, Kaduna.
There seems to be no end in sight to the impeachment saga of the Chairman, of Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna Hon. Nasara Rabo as the State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos, and Speaker of the Local Government Legislative Council, Mr. Danjuma Gajere, are seemingly at a crossroad over the saga.
Gajere, revealed that himself and seven other councillors were invited to a meeting to find peaceful solutions to the impeachment of the Council Chairman Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos in his office.
He added that In a heated confrontation, Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos reportedly asked him and other Council members to “shut up.”
Speaking to journalists, the Speaker and the seven councillors expressed their disgust over the autocratic treatment displayed by Commissioner, Sadiq Mamman Lagos while emphasizing that the impeachment against Hon. Nasara Rabo stands and remains valid.
Conflict arose when the Commissioner, during the meeting, declared that the suspended chairman would resume office, denying the existence of any impeachment.
According to the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and other members of the Kagarko LG Legislative Council, said that upon inviting them to the meeting, the commissioner insisted the councils would not enter his office with their mobile phones to prevent them from recording the proceeding.
Tensions escalated when Hon. Sadiq Mamman, asserted that he had received a letter from the Kaduna State House of Assembly suspending the Speaker, Majority Leader, and the 6 councillors who met to impeach the Chairman were suspended by the same Assembly, claiming that he and the reinstated chairman, Nasara Rabo had pleaded with the Speaker of the State Assembly to drop the idea of suspending the councillors.
Some sources close to the Assembly revealed that the State Assembly’s reinstatement of the suspended Chairman was carried out to counter the Legislative Council impeachment of Nasara Rabo.
However, the 8 councilors; 5 of APC and 3 of PDP who were visibly furious over the poor treatment meted to them at the Ministry for Local Government Affairs, lamented that what transpired at the meeting was certainly undemocratic and unacceptable, especially given the fact that they acted according to law.
The offended councillors said despite their attempts to voice their concerns, the Commissioner blatantly refused to allow any discussion while threatening those who raised objections with suspension including the PDP opposition councillors.
The Speaker, Hon Danjuma Gajere Padalo, who insisted on speaking and was later allowed to speak, was sent out of the office after he reminded the commissioner that they acted by the Kaduna State law for the 23 local governments to which the rest of the councillors chorused yes.
The Majority Leader echoed the Speaker’s sentiments, described the meeting as autocratic, and expressed disbelief that such an executive order could be given without proper dialogue.
He revealed that the commissioner dismissed their impeachment letter, instructing them to respect Hon. Nasara Rabo’s return to office, and warned that refusal to comply with the directive to rescind the impeachment would result either in their outright suspension or dissolution of the entire LG council.
The councillors expressed sadness while emphasizing their commitment to the impeachment process and calling for justice through legal channels, insisting that the impeachment of Nasara Rabo stands and remains valid to which only a court of competent jurisdiction can overturn it while highlighting their dedication to democracy and the rule of law.
It was gathered that all six councillors who supported the impeachment, affirmed their support for the Speaker and Majority Leader, standing by the legitimacy of the impeachment process.
It could be recalled that on the 2nd of November 2023, the Speaker, alongside seven other councillors, out of 10 constituting the majority had in the exercise of their powers as provided by the Kaduna State of Nigeria Rules of the 23 Local Government Legislative Councils 2018, impeached Nasara Rabo from office for gross misconduct and sundry corruption allegation which did not go down well the Commissioner and some APC leaders in the state.
