The heavy presence of security men deployed to the Plateau State House of Assembly on Monday heightened tension and speculation that the members are scheming to impeach Governor Simon Lalong over the insecurity in the state even as the House posited that it has no plan to impeach the governor.
It will be recalled the lawmakers over the weekend gave the governor two weeks ultimatum to address the lingering security challenges facing the state in which no fewer than 70 persons were killed within space of three weeks. The latest incident was the 32 that were killed last week at Yelwa-Zangam in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
The House had also ordered Governor Lalong to rise and defend his people against the security threats that have displaced several people from their ancestral homes.
In the early hours of Monday, a detachment of stern-looking policemen was seen at the entrance of the House of Assembly. They initially prevented both workers and visitors from accessing the Assembly, but later opened up the gate to workers while visitors were thoroughly screened and questioned on their missions.
However, the speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abok Nuhu Ayuba while on a national TV programme on Monday claimed that the Assembly has been sealed.
In a swift reaction, the State Government through a statement signed by its Commissioner for Information, Mr Daniel Manjang said the executive arm of government and the governor were not aware of the purported sealing of the House, saying it does not dabble into the affairs of another independent arm of government.
“It is on record that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako was the first Governor to implement full Autonomy for the legislature and Judiciary as well as Local Government in the country. It is therefore not possible for him to be associated with any action that will impede on the activities of the House which has its rules and conventions.
“The Governor remains the longest-serving Speaker of the House in the history of democracy in Plateau State, understands the workings of the House, and has demonstrated uncommon respect to the leadership and members of the Assembly.
“To the best of our knowledge, the House of Assembly remains open for legislative business. The good people of Plateau State and members of the public are advised to ignore the allegation and refrain from dragging the Executive arm of Government and the Governor into the affairs of the House,” he declared.
Reacting to the development, Member representing Pankshin South constituency and Chairman House Committee on information, Hon. Philip Dasun said the House was not sealed.
“It is not true that the House was sealed by security agencies but we have presence of security personnel in the House due to the tension over alleged plan to impeach the governor. But there is no plan to impeach the governor, we only gave the governor two weeks ultimatum to address the security challenges in the state.”
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