Stop legislative recklessness in Nasarawa, Falana tells Jonathan

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Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stop what he described as legislative recklessness characterising the plan by members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to impeach the governor of the state, Tanko Al-Makura.

Falana said on Saturday that the wave of impeachment in some parts of the country was part of the “planned manipulation” of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to “rig the 2015 general election.”

He added that the Presidency could no longer be distanced from the “legislative recklessness” in Nasarawa State.



The members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, who are bent on removing Governor Al-Makura, had passed a resolution asking the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, to dissolve the investigative panel he earlier set up to investigate the impeachment allegations levelled against the governor.

Many have condemned the call by the House of Assembly, saying it contravened constitutional provisions.

Falana said Jonathan must intervene in the developments in Nasarawa State, as they portended grave implication for the stability of the country.

His statement reads in part, “It is no longer a secret that the wave of impeachment sweeping across the nation is part of the planned manipulation of the 2015 general election in favour of the ruling party.

“In the process, the dubious agenda of turning Nigeria into a one party state will be achieved.

“In view of the potential danger which the trend portends for political stability in the country the illegality which has characterised the ongoing impeachment of the governor of Nasarawa State, Governor Tanko Al-Makura, must be halted by
President Goodluck Jonathan forthwith.

“It is no longer sufficient to distance the Presidency from the legislative recklessness
being exhibited with impunity by the
legislators. If the Presidency is not involved in what has become recurrent illegalities who stopped the Edo State police command from arresting four suspended legislators from conducting mock proceedings of the Edo
State House of Assembly? Why is the Edo State police command helpless when both
the high court and the court of appeal have ordered the suspended legislators to desist
from treating court orders with disdain?”

He faulted the proceedings of the Nasarawa Assembly which had been sitting at venue outside the chambers of the Nasarawa House of Assembly.