Following the lingering leadership crisis at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, some indigenes and residents of the State have called on the Inspector-general of Police, IGP Usman Baba, to intervene before the issue escalates out of control.
The indigenes, under the aegis of Concerned Nasarawa Stakeholders Forum, who took their protest to the Force headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, urged the IGP to call the Commissioner of Police in the State, Maiyaki Muhammed Baba, to order and investigate his activities for allegedly taking side in the crisis.
The protesters, with placards bearing various inscriptions, also urged the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, not to set the state on fire with his alleged imposition of a Speakership candidate on the State Assembly.
Some of the inscriptions included “Nasarawa Assembly Must be Freed from Bondage”, “Police cannot be partisan”, “Assembly elections outside Assembly complex is illegal”, “We Want Peace in Nasarawa State”, among many others.
Speaking to journalists during the protest and after submitting a petition to the Police authorities in Abuja, the convener of the forum, David Manga, explained that their demands were premised on the alleged partisanship of the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the State.
He said the singular act of the CP in withdrawing the security details of the speaker of the State Assembly was tantamount to exposing him to danger, saying such action could cause serious civil unrest and political instability in the State.
He said, “Even an ordinary member of the State House of Assembly is entitled to at least a Police officer not to talk of the Speaker and the number three citizen of Nasarawa State.
“Let it be emphasised sir, that the State House of Assembly established pursuant to the provisions of Section 90 of the Constitution is an independent legislative arm of government presided over by the Speaker of the House of Assembly.”
Recall that crisis erupted after the inauguration of the State Assembly with the emergence of two speakers – Daniel Ogah Ogazi, representing Kokona East constituency and Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, a former speaker of the Assembly.
While Balarabe-Abdullahi was elected at a sitting that took place at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogazi emerged as Speaker on floor of the State Assembly complex.
Addressing the protesters, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Emeka, said that their messages would be properly conveyed to the IGP, urging them not to foment any trouble.
According to ACP Emeka, “We have heard your grievances. Please, don’t let cause any trouble. I can assure you that your message will be properly delivered to the IGP.”
Last modified: June 15, 2023
