POLITICS
tribune.com.ng – THE Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Honourable Mohammed Gamunu, representing Edati constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, became the third speaker to be impeached by the assembly members since the inception of the incumbent administration of Dr Babangida Aliyu since May 29, 2007.
The impeachment of the embattled former speaker followed a motion of urgent public important brought by the chairman, committee on information in the assembly, Honourable Mohammed Lokogoma, representing Wushishi constituency of the state, which the former speaker tried effortlessly to overrule but was vehemently rejected by a majority members of the legislative arm, who insisted that the matter must be heard.
Nigerian Tribune investigations further learnt that the former speaker, who apparently sensed the danger ahead, allegedly called for adjournment of the sitting but this again was said to have been rejected by majority of members of the assembly making the session to become rowdy with some pro-speaker members attempting to carry the mace, out of the chamber but were overpowered by the anti-speaker members of the assembly.
It was further gathered that this point, tempers were said to have risen to the extent that members allegedly exchanged blows among themselves and while the proceedings for the impeachment was going on, the speaker allegedly quietly sneaked out of the chamber to pave way for real business of the day.
Further probe revealed that immediately after the speaker had left the chamber, the member representing Mokwa constituency of the state, Honourable Usman Adamu, drew the attention of the assembly to its standing rules on the implication of a Speaker walking out while the assembly was still in session.
He, therefore, nominated Honourable Isah Kawu to immediately occupy the seat vacated by Honourable Gamunu and this was supported by 20 out of the 27 members of the house.
They consisted of 24 members that were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 3 others elected on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the last year’s general election.
Honorable Isah Kawu representing Bida 1 constituency was then sworn-in as the fourth speaker in the life of this administration in the state.
Other members of the leadership of the assembly removed in the process included the deputy speaker, Ahmed Bello, who was replaced by Honourable Abdulraman Gambo representing Borgu constituency and the majority leader, Mohammed Dada, representing Bosso constituency; he was replaced by his kinsman from Paiko constituency, Honourable Yusuf Kure.