Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has denied knowledge of the failed impeachment move against the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Hyacinth Dajoh.
Four members of the State Assembly, namely, Mr. Alfred Berger representing Makurdi North State Constituency, Cyril Ekong of Oju 2, Abu Umoru of Apa, and Shimawua Terna of Kyan State Constituency were Friday at plenary suspended for three months by the House for allegedly initiating impeachment moves against the Speaker.
Their suspension following a motion my the Majority Leader of the House, Saater Tiseer who drew the attention of the House to the alleged plot by the four members to unseat the Speaker.
He recalled that the House had two days ago passed a confidence vote on the Speaker and Governor Alia and described the action of the four members as dishonorable and intended to create acrimony in the House because “they went behind to mobilize other members to cause chaos in the house.”
He moved that the House suspends the lawmakers “from legislative duties for six months for indulging in dishonorable actions capable of causing acrimony in the House.”
Seconding the motion, the lawmaker representing Gwer East, Elias Audu condemned the action of the quartet and supported the motion calling for their suspension for six months.
Also seconding the motion, the Majority Chief Whip, Peter Ipusu said if he had his way the four lawmakers would have been suspended for one year.
While condemning the action of the four lawmakers, Mr. Ipusu said “all our actions and our deeds have consequences. If somebody pulls a trigger at you and fails, it is better you kill the person before he gets an opportunity to do it again.
“Personally if I was to move the motion they should have been suspended for one year because they are not ready for us to be together as a House. All through yesterday Thursday) to this morning, it was problems left, right and center caused by one member of Makurdi North.
“I feel so pained that a member of the leadership of the tenth Assembly would be nursing the ambition of becoming a speaker when there is no problem in this House.
“He knews what he was doing, if he had succeeded, today he would have been sitting up there as the Speaker. He failed, he has no basis to remain in this House in the next six months. I want to support that motion wholeheartedly.
“let it also serve as a warning to those who may be trying to cause chaos, who may be trying to cause problem, who may be trying to destabilize this house as we are one united family, working for the betterment of Benue.”
Ruling, the Speaker disagreed with members on the call for six months suspension of the four lawmakers saying “I take exception to where you said they should be suspended for six months, they sound rather be suspended for three months.” He then directed the sergeant at arms to take the effected lawmakers out of the chambers.
Meanwhile following rumours that the plot to remove the Speaker was hatched and executed at the Benue Governemmt House, Governor Hyacinth Alia in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula denied having a hand in the plot.
He reiterated his commitment to the cordial working relationship with the Dajoh-led Assembly.
Part of the statement read: “the attention of Government House, Makurdi has been drawn to speculations bothering on alleged attempts to impeach the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hyacinth Dajoh.
“It is therefore pertinent to state that Governor Hyacinth Alia, is not aware of, and has no involvement whatsoever in, any purported attempt to remove the Speaker or in any activities currently taking place in the Benue State House of Assembly.
“The Governor holds the legislature in the highest esteem and maintains unwavering respect for the rule of law as well as the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government.
“He has consistently responded to communications and resolutions transmitted to him by the House. This commitment was demonstrated only a few days ago when he promptly upheld and implemented critical resolutions of the Assembly conveyed to his office.
“The Governor continues to enjoy a cordial and productive working relationship with the Dajoh led Assembly, and remains committed to supporting it in the discharge of its legislative duties for the overall development of Benue State.”
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