Our Suspension Illegal – Kaduna PDP Lawmakers
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The two legislators of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have described their indefinite suspension from Kaduna State House of Assembly as illegal and a clear act of victimization by the Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led administration.
The duo, Angulu Kwasau, representing Zango Kataf constituency and Bitiyong Yakubu Nkom of Kaura constituency, were suspended for allegedly indulging in acts thought capable of destabilising the Assembly’s activities.
But in a statement made available to Forefront, both legislators claimed; “We were illegally and wrongfully suspended from the State House of Assembly indefinitely. Both of us are PDP, from Southern Kaduna (SK) and Christians.”
Both blamed their ordeal on the uncompromising stand against the ill- treatment meted out to different categories of people in Kaduna State due to wrong government policies.”
They listed their offences as daring to oppose the State government’s “dismissal of over 3,000 Village and District Traditional Rulers; paying the Fulani herdsmen that were killing our people in Southern Kaduna and neglecting the victims; Sacking of over 21,000 Primary School teachers; destruction of homes and property of innocent citizens; illegal sacking of over 4,000 Local Government workers; unlawful arrests, detention and incarceration of journalists” among others
According to the lawmakers, “In all these, the State Assembly, which is supposed to defend the citizens by cautioning and curtailing the excesses of the executive failed woefully. We the PDP in the House have failed to give credible opposition because the Minority Leader, Barrister Kantiok Jeremiah compromised and became a sellout.”
Claiming that they have been vocal against the Governor’s impunity that subjects the people to pains and hardship, the statement said, “Consequent upon the foregoing, the Kaduna State Chapter of the PDP decided to change the leadership of the Party’s caucus in the Assembly”
The statement further disclosed that the PDP’s decision led to their formal appointment as a new Minority Leader (Bitiyong Nkom) and new Minority whip (Angulu Kwasau) respectively. It however alleged that Gov el- Rufai is not comfortable with this development as the change of PDP’s leadership in the Assembly would inadvertently give the new appointees the privilege to access all that goes on in government in the State, including financial deals.
The statement further explained that; “On Tuesday at Plenary, the Speaker was supposed to read the appointment letter from our Party leadership ushering us in as the new leaders of the PDP caucus but he failed to do so. Instead, a motion was moved and seconded by two APC members, who are Muslims, and without due process, the Speaker announced an indefinite suspension to the two of us”.
Insisting that people are strongly behind them and they are filing a case at the State High Court to seek a reversal of the suspension and compensation, the Assemblymen called for prayers to keep Kaduna state from evil plans.
