Nasarawa State Lawmakers Fight with Table and exchange Heavy Blows

The politics of fist and blows

Nasarawa Lawmakers Fight Over Appointment Of Sole Administrators

Some members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Friday engaged each other in a fight during plenary, as issues surrounding the appointment of local council administrators divided the House.

From the picture above taken during the fracas, One of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly’s lawmakers is seen holding a table above his head while others scamper for safety.

After a two-year tenure of the chairmen of 11 local government areas in the state ended on March 24, the Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, appointed and inaugurated sole administrators to man the affairs of their local government councils pending when elections would be conducted.

During the inauguration ceremony, Governor Al-Makura gave the assurance that elections would be conducted as soon as possible.

The swearing in ceremony of the administrators held at the Conference Hall of the Government House was graced by traditional rulers security personnel, members of State Executive Council.

The Governor’s decision, however, did not go down well for some lawmakers, as they had earlier resolved to conduct elections immediately after the expiration of the tenure of the local government council chairmen.

Six out of the 24 lawmakers alleged that the other lawmakers had received money to go against their resolution.

The allegations may have prompted the House leader to move for their suspension, a motion that resulted to chaos.

The suspended members prevented the sitting and exchange harsh words and then, a fight began. From that point on all the Nasarawa lawmakers who had issues to grind with another began to fight. During the fracas that ensued, some of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly members were seen exchanging blows and curse words.

One of the lawmakers took hold of the mace, the symbol of authority, but the custodian of the symbol requested that he should be given the mace. He handed it over and ran towards another lawmaker for a fight.

After some disagreements, one of the lawmakers moved for the adjournment of the sitting.

However, few minutes after the adjournment, some lawmakers convened another sitting and moved the motion to suspend six lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress indefinitely for alleged violation of the rules of the House without allowances but half salaries.

Shortly after, one of the suspended lawmakers, Makpa Malla, told reporters that they would seek redress in court before they drove out of the assembly complex angrily.

Nasarawa Deputy Speaker Gives Reason For Six Lawmakers’ Suspension

Meanwhile in a press conference, the Deputy Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly has shed light on the reason behind the suspension of six lawmakers in the House.

Mr Godiya Akwashiki spoke to reporters on Wednesday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.

He said that the crisis in the House is beyond the appointment of local government sole administrators, but as a result of misconduct and violation of the House rules by the suspended lawmakers.

Mr Akwashiki also revealed that the commotion is a leadership crisis noting that the suspended lawmakers were plotting to impeach the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker believes their reaction had nothing to do with the appointment but their quest to be leaders of the House.

He maintained that their suspension was as a result of their unruly behavior during sitting in the hollow chambers of the House. He also faulted their use of provocative words.

The suspended lawmakers, who see their suspension as vilification, have insisted to seek redress in court.

The Deputy Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly had earlier denied bribery allegations levelled against the House by six members in connection with the appointment of sole administrators.

The allegations led to the fracas that occurred in the State Assembly and indefinite suspension of the six lawmakers.

The suspended lawmakers accused 18 of their colleagues for going contrary to the resolutions of the House concerning the appointment of sole administrators by the state government.

Mr Akwashiki, who sees the exchange of blows as a normal happening in the legislative process, however, maintained that no money was received from the government to approve the appointment of sole administrators.

Deputy Speaker Denies Bribery Allegations

Nasarawa-State-House-of-AssemblyThe Deputy Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr Godiya Akwashiki, on Tuesday denied bribery allegations levelled against the House by six members in connection with the appointment of sole administrators.

The allegations led to the fracas that occurred in the State Assembly and indefinite suspension of six lawmakers.

The suspended lawmakers accused 18 of their colleagues for going contrary to the resolutions of the House concerning the appointment of sole administrators by the state government.

Mr Akwashiki, who sees the exchange of blows as a normal happening in the legislative process, however, maintained that no money was received from the government to approve the appointment of sole administrators.

Meanwhile, one of the suspended lawmakers, Makpa Malla, expressed dissatisfaction with the reaction of the members and told journalists that they would seek redress in court.

The suspension, which is indefinite, is to be effected without allowances and half salaries.

The House has since set up an adhoc committee to investigate the allegations and to report back to the House in a month’s time.


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