(1) We noticed, that a group under the guise of Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance (CCSGG) has attempted to smear the personality of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Abok Nuhu Ayuba, for no any reason other than his revelation of the involvement of Governor Simon Lalong on his failed attempt impeachment in the early hours of Thursday 28, October.
(2) The group as claimed, averred to be acting on behalf of 74 CSOs under her watch. We wouldn't want to mince word here, looking at the group's record of supporting callousness as against reputable institutions such as Transparency International (TI), May 24, 2017 and the United States Government on November 28th, 2019.
(3) As a matter of fact, we want to correct a particular phraseology of James Dauda, the supposed group leader who, in his intent to cause confusion addressed the Rt Hon Abok Ayuba as a former Speaker, but for the records, Rt.Hon. Abok has been and is still the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly. Mr Dauda has also claimed that Governor Lalong has no hand in the failed attempt impeachment saga of the Speaker staged by 7 and signed by 6 members of the House.
To rely on the statement issued by Senator Jonah Jang, a former Governor of the State,
"The hasty nature with which the Governor hurriedly received the 'new speaker' (illegitimate) knowing fully well, being a lawyer, that what happened was an aberration, speak volumes."
(4) The group again in it's quest to promote misrepresentation alleged that Speaker Abok was Impeached and Yakubu Sanda elected. No need to dwell on vain twaddling but observing setting rhethorics, the public need to know that Abok still holds the symbol of authority of the State Assembly and that no impeachment was carried out than the use of security forces to interrupt the sanity and smooth running of the House by external forces who wish to satisfy their selfish interest.
(5) You should also note, for the records, that Rt. Hon Abok Nuhu Ayuba is the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly and not 'former' as some individuals or groups may misrepresent.
(6) The Coalition, in it's frustrated piece, outlined what may be termed as the Governor's disagreement with Abok which spurred the engineering and supervision of the failed attempt impeachment plan, being for-(a) refusal of the Speaker to approve the list of Commissioner nominees as forwarded to the House by the Governor-(b) the Speaker's recalcitrance to corporate with the APC party structure in the Plateau, and in her judgement, this Pro-Good Governance group, as asserted, would justify the above argument that a sitting Governor who is also a legal luminary and a former illegally Impeached Speaker himself would engineer the forceful removal of the Speaker with only 6 of the 24 members in the House. Wow! What an insult to Nigerian democracy.
(7) There has been a misinformation in circulation of a petition to the EFCC against the Speaker for financial mismanagement, gross misconduct and what have you, chiefly promoted by one of 6 member signatories of the Impeachment Saga, Mr Naanlong Daniel. Another misrepresentation claimed that the Speaker demanded 200 million naira before presentation of the 2022 Appropriation Bill. To cut the long story short, the Speaker has since the beginning of his administration conducted carefully with regards to financial transparency and accountability. The allegations are nothing but pure lies brewed by merchants of doom and sponsored by social media influencers. We therefore challenge them to place their evidence in public if there's any, as alleged.
(8) Upon all allegations and accusations labelled, as emanated from the bully's handlers, the Speaker's only sin may be summed as:
- berating the Governor for not being proactive to protecting lives and property of Plateau citizens, especially regards to recent developments in Riyom, Miango (Bassa LGA) and Yelwa Zangam (Jos North LGA)
- for not suspending Hon Musa Agah Avia of Rukuba/Irigwe State Constituency when he stated on a live radio programme that the Governor was sleeping while his people were being killed.
- for not allowing himself to be used as rubber stamp or what others may termed a 'yes sir' Speaker.
(9) It therefore behove on us to reassure the people of Plateau State that the Speaker is determine and in no account is he willing to compromise or dance to the tune of the mighty, but that the collective will of all and sundry and that of the selfless and patriotic Hon. Members of the assembly shall always prevail as long as he remain in charge of the State Legislative arm of Government.
Signed: Itse Samuel Kaze
Media Assistant to Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly.
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