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From John Adams, Minna
A major crisis is brewing at the Niger State House of Assembly as lawmakers, yesterday, removed three principal officers for alleged incompetent in the discharge of their constitutional responsibility.
The affected lawmakers are the Majority Leader, Saleh Ibrahim, representing Kontagora constituency, Deputy Majority Leader, Binta Mamman, representing Gurara constituency, and the Chief Whip, Bello Ahmed, representing Agwara constituency,
Drama began when the member representing Edati constituency, Salihu Tama, presented a motion under matter of urgent public importance before the House but was overruled by the Speaker, who said the member did not present him (Speaker) with the motion before plenary and as such, the legislator cannot be allowed to make his presentation. The Speaker was overruled by other legislators, who took time to educate him that motions under matters of public importance did not require the Speaker to see it in writing before it is presented.
The members stood their ground, arguing that it had never been the practice of the House, and challenged the Speaker to point out any relevant session in the rules of standing order to support his argument, and for overruling the legislator from making his presentation.
When he was finally given the opportunity to speak, Tama called for impeachment of the majority leader, deputy majority leader and the chief whip “for their incompetence to discharge their constitutional responsibilities.”
The motion was seconded by the member representing Borgu constituency.
The new leadership of the Assembly now include Mohammed Bala, majority leader, the member representing Borgu constituency; Madaki Bosso, deputy majority leader, representing Bosso constituency, while Salihu Edati from Edati constituency is the new chief whip.
