Bauchi assembly crisis: Reps panel concludes assignment after receiving 28 petitions

The investigative panel set up by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to intervene in the crisis rocking the Bauchi State assembly has concluded its assignment just it received no fewer than 28 petitions and memos submitted to it by the aggrieved parties.

While speaking to journalists at the end of the Panel sitting at the Command Guest House Chairman of the Panel, Sarki Adar, expressed gratitude to the people of the State for the cooperation and support the panel got throughout the duration of the assignment.

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He said that: “I want to thank the people of Bauchi state for giving us the support and cooperation we needed by coming in large numbers to submit their memorandums and made oral testimonies, and answered questions from Honourable Members as well”.

He added that “These (petitions) will go a long way in helping us as the basis of the input that will make up our report. We also want to thank the Press for being patient with us these three days”.

Sarki Adar added that “We have finished our assignment and are returning to Abuja where we will write our report and submit to the National Assembly as required of us. We have received 28 petitions.”

He added that: “All the petitioners expressed concern for the incident that happened and they also have hope that our committee will come up with recommendations that will help solve the crisis for the state.”

Sarki Adar then disclosed that the Committee will not waste time as it writes its report and submits same latest to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila not later than Tuesday next week.

The Committee which comprised of 12 members drawn from across all the geopolitical zones representing various tribes and across party lines, with Sarki Adar, as Chairman, started its assignment on Monday with a public hearing which was  concluded on Wednesday.

It will be recalled that the Bauchi State House of Assembly was thrown into confusion and crisis when elected Members held parallel inauguration leading to the emergence of two factional Speakers.

While Abubakar Y Suleiman was elected by 13 Members with the Clerk presiding over the sitting inside the Assembly complex, the factional Speaker, Kawuwa Shehu Damina, was elected outside the Assembly complex by 18 Members under the symbol of a Mace.