By Ali Abare
His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State is a leader who keeps to his promise. He has demonstrated this rare leadership qualities times without number as he always strive to keep to his words.
While administering the oath of office to the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, eight newly appointed permanent secretaries and two members of the state judicial service commission, Engineer Sule assured the people of the state that his administration is leaving no stone unturned in its determination to resolve the leadership crisis at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
When the Governor used the opportunity of the event to reaffirmed his earlier stance on who is the authentic speaker of the assembly, some faceless group that many identified as mostly hatchet men hired in Abuja, issued press statements that bordered on impugning on the impeccable character of the Governor.
A group, Concerned Nasarawa Citizens, which is at the forefront of the campaigns to forcefully instal the falsehood that is represented by the Hon Daniel Ogah Ogazi purported speakership, used every manner of offensive word to describe Engineer Sule.
As if that was not enough, in their bid to blackmail the people towards identifying with their inglorious agitation, the same group, ostensibly funded by those who do not mean Nasarawa State well but who are desirous of causing disharmony in the state by planting their stooge as speaker of the assembly, staged a protest at the force headquarters in Abuja, where they called on the Inspector General of Police to transfer the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, for allegedly supporting the authentic speaker of the assembly, Rt Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi.
It is indeed obvious, that from the flurry of activities by this group mostly in Abuja and other individuals like the former chairman of Karu Local Government Area, Mr Samuel Akala, the Nasarawa Concerned Citizens, is a hastily assembled ensemble funded by a deep pocket far beyond the capacity of Hon Ogazi who appears more like a pawn in a high profile game of power.
It all started like a joke, with Ogazi defying all entreaties as he danced to the tune of his backers, turning his back on Engineer Sule, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and especially his colleagues at the assembly
Apparently high on some false promises from his backers, Ogazi turned rebellious, committing himself into an unholy alliance with the members of the opposition parties, reminiscent of the Bukola Saraki era at the senate.
He defied every entreaty to renounce his position and to return to the fold. Instead, Ogazi went gaga, renting a SUV and donning a faked insignia of the speaker of the house of assembly, in a ludicrous display of insatiable quest for power.
In a democracy, power flows from the people and in this regards, Ogazi has failed in his attempt to bamboozle his way to become the speaker of the 7th Assembly. Instead, he has turned into a caricature and an outcast.
Ogazi and his handlers dwelled extensively on the initial claim that he was elected speaker because 13 members of the 7th Assembly were on ground while a God-knows-who purportedly inaugurated him into office.
This argument has remained central and overriding narrative for Ogazi and especially the Nasarawa Concerned Citizens. Akala, while appearing on prime television where he insulted the person of the Governor, premised his argument on the fact that, 13 members of the assembly voted for Ogazi.
Whether that was a fact or not, this fundamental premise for which Ogazi and his backers essentially capitalize upon, has collapsed like a pack of cards. Like all falsehood, time has exposed the shaky foundation on which some detractors sought to hijacked the state assembly for unwholesome purposes.
As His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule promised during the recent inauguration of appointed top government functionaries, the chickens are finally coming home to roost for Ogazi and his sponsors.
This is because the authentic speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, on Thursday, received and inaugurated three lawmakers, including Hon Mohammed Oyanki ( PDP- Doma North), self-acclaimed deputy speaker. The others are Hon Ovey John ( PDP-Keffi East ) and Hon Hudu A Hudu ( APC- Awe North).
Administering the oath of office to the three lawmakers, Speaker Balarabe Abdullahi Ibrahim congratulated them on their resolve to demonstrate their love for Nasarawa State.
” I congratulate all of you. It is a demonstration of love for our state and our people.
” We have resolved collectively to partner His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule in order to bring speedy development to communities across the state.
” We have given our commitment to our people to solicit for development to our various constituencies, hence the need to effectively partner with His Excellency, ” he stated.
Rt. Hon Abdullahi called on the lawmakers to continue to show love for the state and their people, noting that the interest of the state should be their first priority.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after their inauguration, Hon Mohammed Oyanki, who was the Deputy Speaker in Ogazi-led faction said that they have decided to join Balarabe in the interest of peace, unity and development of their constituencies and the state at large.
“In the interest of our people and the state, we decided to join Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Assembly to contribute our quota to the development of the state,” he said.
Also speaking Hon. David Maiyaki, Senior Special Assistant to Engineer Abdullahi Sule on Legislative Liaison, called on members yet to be inaugurated to avail themselves in the interest of the state.
With this development, the rug has been finally removed from under Ogazi. It’s still not late for the lawmaker to denounce those instigating him to become a rebel in a party he has helped to build. Like the prodigal son, Ogazi can still trace his way back home, to the embrace of his party and colleagues.
Abare writes in from Lafia, Nasarawa State.
