Nasarawa impeachment: Time for rethink
Recent events in Nasarawa State, particularly the impeachment move against Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura by the state House of Assembly, are a cause for grave concern. It is time for all well-meaning individuals to speak out for the sake of our dear state. One concedes that the constitution, in Section 188, empowers a state House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against a governor for acts considered as acts of gross misconduct. This is a weighty responsibility conferred on the legislature which should be exercised judiciously and as a last resort after exhausting all other avenues and taking the larger public interest into consideration. Such power may only be deployed in furtherance of “the peace, order and good government” of the state. The legislators should heed the wise counsel and appeal of royal fathers and other wellmeaning elder statesmen like the former executive governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu to “sheathe their swords” so as to allow sustenance of the current peace and tranquillity in the state.
When Al-Makura assumed the mantle of leadership in the state in 2011, he inherited a decayed infrastructure spread all over the state in the midst of a heavy debt burden bequeathed by the former administration. Notwithstanding this unenviable legacy and party differences, the new government did not bow to pressure to probe the previous administration. Instead, the governor continued to service the debt until its liquidation, and more importantly, set about implementing his development blueprint for the state.
It is necessary to recapitulate some major achievements of the Al-Makura administration as a reminder to our legislators and for other Nigerians to appreciate the outpouring of support for the governor across the state since the impeachment saga began. In just three years, the government has recorded unprecedented progress in such sectors as road construction, education, health, water supply, electrification, land administration, etc. All these achievements are despite the acknowledged poor finances of the state, being second to the last in the revenue allocation among the states of the federation.
The landmark achievements were made possible by prudent management of finances, transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption. Even though there is room for improvement like in any human endeavour, the governor has set a bar on governance in the state that his successors would strive to attain. He is one of a few governors not known for extravagance, profligacy, embezzlement and waste of public funds. He is the epitome of a hardworking, humble and selfless leader. He has succeeded in demystifying the office of governor by consciously refusing to be an overlord and a terror.
To ensure that projects are executed in accordance with works specification and avoid the abandoned project syndrome in government contracts, the governor dedicated each weekend for inspection of project sites so as to ensure faithful and efficient execution. The Assembly too, can intensify oversight visits to the projects to monitor progress of work and ensure value for money.
What one expects from our legislators as partners in progress is to complement the efforts of this true visionary servant-leader with legislative support and genuine scrutiny of his actions to the end of their respective tenures.
Many have wondered why the governor has failed to woo some members of the House to his party since assumption of duty. Rather, his party even lost a member to the PDP. The reasons are not farfetched. As a matter of principle, Governor Al-Makura is someone not inclined to placate, lobby or induce the legislators and other opposition politicians to defect to his party. His belief, which some consider naive in our circumstance, is that his good works are enough to endear him to all and sundry and provide the impetus for anyone to support or join his party voluntarily and out of conviction.
Let not the impression be created that the legislature is interested only in an investigation panel that will only do a hatchet job, no matter what. To seek to dictate to the chief judge how to constitute the investigation panel clearly runs contrary to the powers of the Assembly. The panel is working for the interest of the people, not the legislators or the governor. The lawmakers should, therefore, avoid actions that would plunge the state into an avoidable crisis.
Dr. Shuaibu Hashimu Abdullahi was a member of the House of Representatives. He wrote from Lafia.