By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
As the 7th Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA), is about to be inaugurated on Tuesday this week, a group known as ‘Nasarawa State Concerned Citizens’, wants democracy to prevail in order to have a credible and acceptable principal officers of the assembly.
The group made its position known in a press conference held in Lafia, the state capital at the weekend.
Concerned citizens were reacting to a news that filtered in last week that the immediate past speaker of the Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, is the anointed candidate of the government.
The text read and signed by Comrade Ibrahim Muhammad, said they want a system that provides enabling environment, laws and freedom for the people to choose their leader through the ballot without any sentiment, intimidation, fear or favour.
“As Nasarawa State House of Assembly members Elect are preparing to elect their new presiding officers, democracy must prevail in order to have a credible and acceptable principal officers through a transparent and legitimate process”
“Former President of America, Abraham Lincoln define Democracy as a government of the people,for the people and by the people”
“As it is the race for Speakership of the soon to be inaugurated 7th Assembly is been keenly contested among three people namely the immediate past speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, Hon Daniel Oga Ogazi of Kokona East and Hon Danladi jatau of Kokona West”
“It is however unfortunate that the race for the Speakership is taking a bad dimensions where some resorted to campaign of calumny and blackmail instead of marketing the credibility of their aspirant”
“We therefore want to draw the attention of the people of Nasarawa State that the election of Speakership is entirely the constitutional responsibility of the members elect”
“However report reaching us is that Gov Abdullahi Sule and the state leadership of APC have favoured the immediate past speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi to go for 3rd term”
“Of course, the governor and the party can advise and give a direction to members elect under the party’s platform since it has a minor majority and it is expected that the speaker should come from the ruling APC” he said.
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