On Removal of Kontagora LG Chairman

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Dear Editor,

“A politician imitates the devil, as the devil imitates a cannon: wheresoever he comes to do mischief, he comes with his backside towards you” – John Webster.


The Niger State government in outright complicity with the state House of Assembly and the legislative army of Kontagora LG, removed the Executive chairman without following the due process of the law.

Section 3 sub – section 2 (c) of the state local Govt. law, as amended in 2004, which among other things stated that the Governor should furnish the House with the circumstances or otherwise to the suspension of any council chairman. This section was breached by Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger State over the removal of Kontagora LG chairman, Hon. Abdulhamid El- Waziri.

This Executive high handedness was captured vividly by the reaction of the people across the state.
Debating on the matter, a member representing Mokwa Constituency, Saidu Idris, had argued that a council chairman can only be removed by two-third of the councilors while his alleged offence should be forwarded to the state House of Assembly.

Idris was supported by a member representing Bida (1) Constituency, Isa Kawu, who had argued that it would be out of law for the House to just approve the request of the governor when they knew nothing of what had transpired, pointed out that the House must not be seen as promoting illegality.
Insisted that supporting the impeachment of the chairman without making reference to the relevant laws was akin putting democracy in the state in jeopardy.
Punishment of any chairman, according to Kawu, should be done in consonance with law and not on the personal interest of the governor whom he said has no absolute power over who should occupy any elective position, especially in the council area.

Finally,this seemingly muddling of the legislature by the executive arm of Government should be discouraged by well meaning Nigerians.


Jeff Nkwocha
LocalGovt. Study Network
www.nigeria-local-government.blogspot.com
08030485016