Jos Crisis: Security Beefed up at Plateau Assembly

Seriki Adinoyi

Security has been beefed up at the Plateau state House of Assembly following the killings in Jos and the resolutions by the Assembly asking the governor to end the violence within two weeks and querying the alleged bias shown by the Federal Government.

Based on the heavy presence of security personnel at the Assembly complex, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, on Monday, said the Aswembly had been ‘sealed’.

But the clerk of the House has reported that “the House is not exactly sealed” but that there is heavy presence of security personnel around the Assembly, adding that activities are still ongoing in the House.

The Assembly has been critical about the manner Governor Simon Lalong had poorly handled the Jos crisis, and had given him two weeks to stop the persistent killings.

The House had also queried thr manner the Federal Government condemned the killing of Muslim commuters but kept mum over the killings in Christian community.

It is alleged that the tough stance of the House culminated in the heavy presence of security at the Assembly Complex.

Also denying that the House had been sealed, commissioner for information, Mr Daniel Manjang said, “The attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to allegations made by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba who appeared on Channels TV programme on Monday 30th August claiming that the Assembly Complex has been sealed.

“This false allegation has further been circulated on social media associating the Executive arm of Government and the Governor as being behind it.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that the Executive arm of Government and the Governor is not aware or behind the purported sealing of the House as it does not dabble into the affairs of another independent arm of Government.

“It is on record that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako was the first Governor to implement full Autonomy for the legislature and Judiciary as well as Local Government in the country.

“It is therefore not possible for him to be associated with any action that will impede on the activities of the House which has its rules and conventions.

“The Governor remains the longest serving Speaker of the House in the history of democracy in Plateau State, understands the workings of the House, and has demonstrated uncommon respect to the leadership and members of the Assembly.

“To the best of our knowledge, the House of Assembly remains open for legislative business. The good people of Plateau State and members of the public are advised to ignore the allegation and refrain from dragging the Executive arm of Government and the Governor into the affairs of the House.

“Those who have any concerns should channel them to the security agencies and desist from peddling falsehood against the Executive arm of Government and His Excellency the Governor.”