TRACKING>>Two groups – Bauchi State Concern Citizens and Coalition for Progressive Political Parties (PPP) – have urged All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to stop interfering in the crisis that greeted the inauguration of the 9th Bauchi Assembly, where two Speakers were elected.
The Bauchi State Concern Citizens said since the state was not an APC controlled state, any further attempt to cause chaos by any person or group would not be tolerated.
A statement signed by the group’s secretary, Aliyu Ladan and Public Relations Officer (PRO) yesterday, said: “The recent attempt by some unscrupulous, unpatriotic and unprogressive politicians to cause chaos and confusion during the inauguration of the 9th Assembly members is really unfortunate and such similar attitude could not be tolerated in future, for the overall interest of peace, progress and stability in the state.
“The successful inauguration of the 9th Assembly and the peaceful conduct of the election of the leadership in the House was a clear testimony of a true democracy and good governance.
Read Also: Court stops Bauchi factional speaker, deputy
“The entire process of the inauguration of the House members and the conduct of election of their leadership was in accordance with the Standing Order of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Act of 2015, which enable the one-third members of the House to legislate freely and as well as to decide to elect their leaders.
“Therefore, one-third of the members have made quorum and, as such, their decision and resolution are valid upon all their members.”
“Comrade Oshiomhole should stay away from the affairs of Bauchi State, since the state is not an APC-controlled government. Any attempt to cause chaos or trouble in the state by any person or group of persons of whatever status or capacity will not be tolerated or condoned by our government.”
Also, PPP, which comprises of 30 political parties, said yesterday that the APC National Chairman was not abreast of the full fact of what played out at the inauguration of the 9th Assembly last Thursday.
Addressing a news conference on Monday, the PPP Chairman, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Green Party of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, Mohammed Burra, called on the APC National Chairman to stop interfering in Bauchi State’s matters.
Burra said a quorum was formed before the election of the Assembly Speaker.
He alleged that 13 out of the 31 members in the House participated in the election.
Burra said the Speaker, who was inaugurated is an APC member and the members that elected the Speaker are from all the political parties, including the APC.
Burra said after the election, another set of APC members came out from a hideout, parading another person as Speaker.
He hailed Commissioner of Police Habu Sani Ahmadu for dousing the tension in a professional manner.
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrin, also queried the APC National Chairman for calling out Governor Bala Mohammed over alleged involvement in the confusion that ensued after the Assembly’s inauguration.
He said the members of Assembly have decided by electing Abubakar Suleiman as their Speaker.
However, the state government insisted that Sueiman Abubakar, who is representing Ningi Constituency is the recognised Speaker, having been elected by 11 lawmakers in the House.
Reacting to the development, the governor’s spokesperson, Dr. Ladan Salihu, said the governor never meddled in the Assembly’s election.
