Official cars rift: Gombe gov moves to reconcile with lawmakers
Go v e r n o r Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has commenced moves to end the purported rift between him and the state legislators over official vehicles and allowances.
The governor has reached out to some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to broker peace between him and the state House of Assembly members.
To this effect, a meeting was held at the Presidential Lodge on Saturday night. It was gathered that the meeting was presided over by a former minister of Transport, Senator Idris Abdullahi Umar with Senator Saidu Alkali, Chief of Staff to the governor, Abubakar Inuwa Kari and a chieftain of the APC, Abubakar Muazu Hassan and 22 lawmakers in attendance.
Our correspondent gathered that erstwhile deputy speaker, Shuaibu Adamu Haruna was absent at the meeting. The rift between the governor and the lawmakers led to the ouster of Haruna. The lone female member, Asmau Iganus (Shongom), was also absent at the meeting.
Sources at the meeting confided in this reporter that during the about fourhour discussion that ended around 12am, the lawmakers outlined their grievances that led to the alleged rift with the governor.
“Some of the issues are those of official vehicles, allowances and the appointment of a legislative aide by the governor. The house was not comfortable with the person appointed by the governor as his legislative aide,” a source said.
Our correspondent reports that issues relating to the provision of official cars and other allowances triggered the impeachment of the erstwhile deputy speaker last Tuesday.
The governor has already purchased official vehicles for the newly inaugurated commissioners in the state, while the lawmakers have been using their personal vehicles for official functions since their inauguration five months ago.
However, addressing newsmen after the meeting, Majority Leader of the house, Mr Simon Markus, denied any rift with the governor.
He said the impeachment had nothing to do with the state governor but was rather an internal adjustment for the house to run smoothly.
“It was an internal adjustment and has nothing to do with the governor. We have a good working relationship with him. We have a right under the law and it is normal in democracy to make such kind of changes for the smooth running of the house and to ensure effective representation of our people,” he said.
Mr Markus added that they were working with the executive arm to ensure good governance for the state in line with the mandate the people gave them.