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Nasarawa State
Governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma and members of the People’s Democratic Party
in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHOA), yesterday, were in a
meeting to discuss what members say was to find a resolution to the
21-point allegation by some indigenes who are pushing for the
impeachment of the governor. The assembly has shelved its sitting since
Monday when all the 24 members received stamped copies of the petition.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Joshua Agadu; the House Committee Chairman
on Information, Baba Ibaku, and the leading opposition voice in the
House, Innocent Lagi (Wamba, Labour Party) drove into the complex on
Monday for the day’s sitting. They did not form a quorum and had to
leave after frantic calls to other members.

The speaker, Musa
Ahmed Mohammed was away in Abuja attending the Speakers’ conference,
according to his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Tanko.

Yesterday’s
meeting with the governor took place in Government House, Lafia and
members refused to brief the press after the meeting. But the House
Committee Chairman on Information, Baba Ibaku phoned severally to make
threats on this reporter as he rained insults on him.

He expressed
unhappiness over an earlier report on his visit to the complex, Monday,
for the day’s sitting which was aborted in order to stop the petition
from being read on the floor.

The 21-point
allegation, that the sum of about N70 billion was allegedly stolen by
the administration of Mr Doma since 2007, is before the House with a
demand for members to begin impeachment proceedings to remove him from
office.

Mr Adamu denies link

Copies of the
petition were sent to anti-graft agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC as
well as labour and trade unions, women and religious organizations and
the Emir of Lafia, Mustapha Agwai. It was signed by five indigenes of
the state:

Is’haka Salihu, Ogah Doma; Samuel Alu, Daniel Ogah Ogazi, Mohammed Bala and Philemon Eka.

In the petition
titled “A Demand for the Impeachment and Removal of Governor Aliyu Akwe
Doma”, the petitioners demand an impeachment of the governor by the
House, urging members to invoke Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution to
do so.

Meanwhile, the
former governor of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, has denied any links
with the group behind the allegation. Speaking during a visit to the
governor’s campaign office in Lafia, Mr Adamu said he fully backed the
governor’s second term bid.

“Between you and me and God, I am hearing this (insinuations of his
involvement) for the first time. It is too bad if the media says so.
But that will not make me to panic,” he said. “I am behind Doma’s bid
for second term. I have my convictions. Once I dedicate myself to
anything, I do it.” Mr Adamu said his visit to Doma’s campaign office
was planned long before the petition, and must not be seen as a
self-clearing visit. “I had a date to come, I had notified them of my
coming,” he said.