By Rasheeda Yahaya
Controversy has trail the Nasarawa State house of assembly over the emergence of two individuals as speakers of the house of assembly.
A situation many feel if not handled well may lead to breakdown of law and order in the state, this development is not good for the state at the moment.
ROtv24 gathered that while there is an annointed candidate for speakership by the governor of the state, the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and other aggrieved political parties, politicians in the state have their own candidate.
A source who spoke to ROTV24 on the condition of anonymity has explained in details what is currently going on and some of the implications which may be encountered if the issues is not tackled wisely.
Our source said:
“The debacle on the speakership matter in Nasarawa State is still in a controversial stage.
” two speakers emerged today from a different venue.
“Former speaker Ibrahim Balarabe(APC)enjoyed the supports and solidarity of the Governor and the entire executive council going by his proving loyalty to the Governor and the previous administration of Governor Umar Tanko Almakura,hence the overwhelming solidarity of the executive.
“unfortunately he only have 11 members out of the 24 Assembly members.
” Balarabe did not do his homework very well to attracts support despite served two terms as a speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
“However the Hon. Ogah Ogazi’s(APC)faction has 13 solid members.Ogazi has entered into political alliance with the opposition People’s Democratic Party(PDP) who have eight(8)members,NNPP and SDP .
” Ogazi is said to have enjoyed the support from the CAN,former Governor Almakura and the PDP stalwarts whom have failed to produce a Christian Governor,hence the plan to use Ogazi’s speakership as a platform to checkmates and frustrate Governor Sule who they all tagged as there political enemy at the moment.
“Ogazi is Almakuras boy and Almakura is not politically in terms with Governor Sule since he lost out at the last senatorial contest to PDP’s Senator Ogoshi Onawo.
” CAN has over time agitating for Christian leadership of Nasarawa State executive,legislative and the judiciary which has always been controlled by the Muslims since the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996.
” To grab the 8 PDP members Ogazi picked Hon.Oyanki(PDP) a youth of 26years from Doma North constituency to deputise him a calculation that PDP in the state is comfortable with.
“Although,the Balarabe faction picked Hon.Kudu Ajegena(APC) a Christian Eggon man from Nasarawa Eggon as deputy.
“It is worthy of note to know that both Balarabe and Ogazi were from Nasarawa West senatorial zone.while Balarabe is Egbira from Toto LGA,Ogazi is a Gwandara man from Kokona LGA.
“The Governor recognized the Balarabe faction as duly elected members of the Assembly.
“Meanwhile,the Balarabe faction. held there inauguration at the council chambers of the state ministry for local Government and chieftaincy affairs along Shendam road Lafia around 3:25pm while the Ogazi’s faction had there inauguration at the premise of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly along Shendam road almost same time .
“The Balarabe faction has an acting clerk to the Assembly in attendance while Ogazi’s has not.
“This is the present situation in Nasarawa State.
“IMPLICATIONS
The implications of this generated controversy is that the state now have no substantive speaker this is because the 13 Members led by Ogazi will not allow the Balarabe faction to occupy the Assembly chamber for there sitting and vice versa,hence the possibility of break down of law and order in the state.
“Consequently,this situation has the tendency of hindering all meaningful developmental strides as it may posed threat to the industrialization policy of the Governor because investors would begins to develop doubt on the legality of laws to be formulated by the House backing there investment in the state”.
ROtv24 will update you on the unfolding events….