Kogi Assembly Crisis: You are Noise Makers, 15 Members Tell Their Colleagues

Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja

The G-15 members in the Kogi State House of Assembly wednesday said the actions of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has vindicated their allegation that the presidency is deeply involved in the state assembly crisis.

Reacting to their development, factional Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Sunday Shigaba, described the purported suspension of the embattled Speaker, Momoh-Jimoh Lawal, and nine of his loyalists by the Umar Imam-led faction as not only laughable but sad.

He berated the AGF over his opinion in the matter, saying: “As for the attorney general, it was more like sharing his own personal opinion. If his submission is being followed by the Inspector General of Police (IG), it is unfortunate for a personality in which people build trust can descend so low.

“It also confirms what we have been saying about executive interference; that the presidency is being involved in the crisis. We said it.”

He described the G-5 members as ‘noise makers’ and called on the people of the state to disregard actions purportedly taken by them, including the passage of the 2016 appropriation bill, in the name of the assembly.
He described the development, including the alleged impeachment of Lawal by five of the lawmakers and subsequent election of the assembly leadership as a display of lawlessness.

Shingaba said: “For all we know, they are G-5 and I think every action, every activity of the G-5 that we know-to come out and say they suspend the speaker and the rest of us-it has no basis. It is of no effect, it has no ground. Every aspect or activities carried out by the G-5 is not recognised by the law. It is null and void.
“When they did the purported impeachment, no quorum was firmed to even sit and come out with any decision; whatever they build up in numbers is not recognised until they are legitimately sworn in.

“You need a minimum of one third (seven members) to sit. To elect principal officers of the assembly, you need simple majority, and to come up with the impeachment of the speaker, you need two third. Whatever their argument is, they missed the point. Two third of 20 is 12, so they are just noise makers overreaching themselves, and it is sad.”
The lawmaker disagreed with those insinuating that they were being sponsored, saying no one need to be sponsored to fight for his or her right.
“Those who care to fight for democracy and decency know that we are fighting for a cause,” he said.