In a move that would have severely surprised even those who want him impeached, Governor Tanko Al-Makura today made an appearance before the panel set up to investigate him.
Umaru Al-Makura
Majority of the lawmakers at the PDP-dominated Nasarawa State House of Assembly wants the governor impeached, in a saga that started a little over w month ago. Of the 24 members of the state’s legislature, twenty are members of the Peoples Democratic Party and they are believed to have been instructed to follow the impeachment of Al-Makura through the letter.
The governor, in a surprise bid to appear before the seven-member panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Suleiman Dikko, today, Monday, August 4, arrived some minutes past 9am and had to wait for over 30 minutes for the panel members headed by Yusuf Usman to arrive.
Al-Makura came to the venue of the panel’s sitting accompanied by several political appointees, Othman Bala Adam, member of the Nasarawa House of Assembly representing Keffi-East and a meber of the governor’s party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
The panel was instituted by the Chief Judge to investigating the 16 charges levelled against Al-Makura and despite the legislators rejecting the constitution of the membership of the panel, the Chief Judge has brushed aside their discontent, with the panel set to go ahead with the task.
Meanwhile, a protest organised in favour of Al-Makura by a group has coincided with the appearance of the governor before the panel investigating charges against him.
In a protest organised by a number of advocacy groups, with members bearing banners, flyers and others, the group moved round Ikeja axis, saying no to Al-Makura impeachment.
Some of the people participating in the protest were seen sporting T-shirts with the inscription of the Centre for Constitution Governance (CCG), a developmental and anti-corruption coalition founded by late Beko Ransome-Kuti.
More details to follow…