We’ve No Hands In Ningi Council Chairman’s Suspension – Legislators
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Members of the Legislative Council in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State have denied suspending the Council Chairman, Mamuda Tabla as widely reported in the social media on Thursday.
Distancing themselves from the so-called suspension order, the Council members, led by Speaker Yakubu Anas Muhammad, said the action is mischief-making aimed at causing political instability in the area, particularly at a time when the 2023 general elections is fast approaching.
Speaker Anas, who addressed journalists in Bauchi on Thursday, said the Legislative Council was only invited to a meeting at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office, Government House, Bauchi, where members were informed of the allegations levelled against the Executive Chairman.
He said it was therefore surprising that a letter went public indicating that the Council Chairman has been suspended from office.
Anas said being an elected arm of government, due processes are required to effect any change in leadership, adding; “Ningi Local Government Council was duly elected into office and by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and all other relevant laws, no one aside the legislative council has the power to suspend or remove an elected Council”.
In declaring their stand on the current impasse, the 18 elected members of the Ningi legislative council said; “With due respect and honour, we, the undersigned Councillors of Ningi Local Government, wish to disassociate our selves from the purported letter of suspension on the Chairman, Ningi Local Government going round in social media.
“We wish to categorically state that we never sat, deliberated and resolved to suspend the Executive Chairman. Therefore the said letter never emanated from us and we strongly condemned it and whoever writes or supports it.”
According to the legislative Council; “We want to further state that, we are in total support of our Executive Chairman. He has done nothing wrong to warrant any suspension from the Council.
“We also want to advise His Excellency, the Executive Governor to be weary of some self-seeking politicians around him, who are using the issue of alleged involvement of the Executive Chairman in the deforestation of Lame/Burra Game Reserve to achieve their hidden agenda of removing him from office.”
Further stressing their position on the matter, the Legislative Council claimed; “They thought that the Chairman will be a stumbling block in their quest for elective positions. But they should be reminded that it’s God Almighty that gives leadership to whom He wishes.
“We urge the Secretary to the State Government to identify and take necessary action against the perpetrators of this mischievous act.”
“Finally, we wish to reiterate and affirm our unalloyed loyalty to His Excellency the Executive Governor and his administration. We remain yours faithfully”, the Legislative Council said.