Gombe Assembly Gets New Speaker, 36-Year-Old Luggerewo

• Members accuse former helmsman of incompetence

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, GOMBE – Incompetence and lack of trust in his leadership style have been advanced as reasons why the immediate past Speaker of Gombe State House of Assembly (GSHA), Abubakar Ibrahim Sadiq was sent packing from office.

Chief Whip of the Assembly, Musa Buba said 16 of the 24 members moved to impeach Sadiq when they could no longer bear his arbitrariness and mistrust posture since his election about a year ago.

Briefing newsmen shortly after their sitting, the Chief Whip said members had to change the House leadership because there was nothing to give them hope that Sadiq has the wherewithal to move the Assembly forward in its legislative duties.

According to Buba; “He lacked the trust of the Honourable members and a number of times, he had gone contrary to the provisions of our guiding principles, that is, the standing order of the House.

“The Constitution says that once you lack confidence in the Speaker, you can impeach him. Majority of the House members expressed their constitutional responsibility under section 92 sub-section 2. There is no sponsorship. We are responsible members elected by our people”.

The Chief Whip further said; “We have a good relationship with the Executive as lawmakers. It is just an internal issue and we love and respect our Governo.r”

However, Forefront gathered that before the impeachment, a House member, considered a ‘diehard’ supporter of the former Speaker, having got wind of the plot, mobilized some thugs to invade the House but they were overpowered by heavily armed Policemen who brought sanity to the Assembly for the proceedings to hold.

Also, a mild drama ensued when Clerk of the House was unavailable during the fracas to direct affairs of the House. In his absence, the 16 members went ahead to sit with the House Mace, Sergeant-at-Arms and other staff of the Assembly present.

The 16 of the 24 members who appended their signatures on the vote of no confidence, later voted to impeach Hon Sadiq through a motion moved by Mr. Shuaibu Haruna, representing Kwami East and seconded by Musa Buba, representing Balanga North State constituency.

Following their action, the House unanimously elected Hon Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo as the new Speaker and he was immediately sworn-in by the Deputy Speaker, Siddi Buba even as the Clerk was still missing

The House also replaced the Majority leader, Samuel Markus from Pero Chonge constituency while the Deputy Chief Whip, Yahaya Mohammed Kaka also lost his seat to Saidu Mohammed, representing Deba Constituency.

Speaking shortly after his election, the new Speaker, Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, thanked members for diligently discharging their constitutional responsibility after passing a vote of no confidence on the former Speaker.

He said the action taken was in the best interest of their constituents and Gombe State at large, adding; “We took this action purposely to ensure what Gombe citizens need in terms of legislations are judiciously delivered to  them.”