Ex-Taraba Speaker and the Road Less Travelled
The resignation of former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Abel Peter Diah, should be considered uncharacteristic, writes Wole Ayodele
When former Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Abel Peter Diah announced his resignation as presiding officer of the Taraba State House of Assembly last Sunday, not a few Nigerians, particularly the people of the state expressed shock and disbelief over his decision.
Diah’s decision to step down as Speaker resonated across the length and breadth of the country and spread like a wildfire as it dominated discussions both at governmental, social and political circles.
Having spent over four years in the saddle and having enjoyed a smooth and cordial relationship with the state governor, Darius Ishaku, not a few indigenes and residents were bewildered by the sudden frosty relationship between the leadership of the Assembly and the Executive, which eventually culminated in his resignation as well as his Deputy, Charles Maijankai.
But for keen followers of political developments in the state, indications had emerged that there was a crack in the once burgeoning relationship and the speaker had indeed survived an impeachment plot two days before he resigned his position as the forces against the leadership were only able to get nine members while the remaining 15 stood solidly behind him.
THISDAY investigations revealed that the relationship between the governor and the speaker became frosty because of allegations that the House leadership authored a petition against the executive to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which the House leadership was said to have denied vehemently.
It was also alleged that the speaker, alongside some prominent members of the House, were planning to impeach the governor and his deputy, Alhaji Haruna Manu, to pave way for the emergence of the speaker as governor as was the case in Adamawa, when Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, where impeached and the then Speaker, Umaru Fintiri, became the governor.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back, THISDAY learnt, was the visit of the Nigeria Conference of Speakers to President Muhammadu Buhari during which the issue of financial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly was pushed forward.
Being the vice-chairman of the group, and one who was appointed earlier this year by President Buhari as the chairman of the presidential committee on autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary, Diah was very visible during the meeting and was seen as one of the proponents of financial autonomy for state legislatures.
Despite efforts to amicably resolve the issues including interventions by prominent political and religious leaders, the crisis deepened as external forces, particularly those against the re-election of Diah as the speaker earlier in the year quickly moved in to further draw a wedge between the two political lovebirds.
By 28 November, reports were already flying in the media that the state government had released N200 million to be given to the state’s lawmakers to effect a change in leadership.
But debunking the report, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, exonerated the governor of any complicity in the leadership crisis in the state parliament.
Abu said it was false that the state government sponsored the impeachment move with N200 million, saying the report was another wicked and malicious attempt to cause confusion and conflict in the relationship between the executive and legislative arms in the state.
According to him, the allegation was ridiculous and malicious, stressing that Governor Ishaku was an apostle of peace and would not do anything that will undermine the trust and understanding between him and the lawmakers.
Despite having the support and solidarity of the majority of the parliament, Diah announced his resignation as the speaker two days after the failed impeachment move, citing personal reasons and the overall interest of the state.
Although Diah may not be the first speaker or political office holder to step down voluntarily from office, his action nevertheless was uncharacteristic of Nigerian politicians.