Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has described the face-off between the executive and members of the State House of Assembly for which there were threats to impeach him over alleged extra budgetary spending as unnecessary and exaggerated.
The governor has therefore pleaded with the lawmakers to exercise restraint saying the crisis “should not be allowed to be a dividing force or blown out of proportion.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor (Media and Press Affairs), Sani Mairiga, told Journalists in Abuja that the roles, duties and responsibilities of both arms of government were clearly defined in the constitution.
“There is no reason whatsoever for the Executive and Legislature not to work together for the development of Nasarawa state. There is no need for any rivalry between the Executive and Legislature; it is absolutely unnecessary because both arms are part of the same government elected by the people to deliver dividends of democracy.
“We acknowledge the fact that there could be disagreement once in a while and might belong to different political parties; however, it should not be allowed to be a dividing force or blown out of proportion. What the people of Nasarawa state want is good governance and responsible government,” Mairiga said.
According to him, both the Executive and Legislature were operating on the same wavelength, except that sometimes, they saw things from different perspective.
He said a healthy and harmonious relationship was key to good governance, adding that “disagreements between these two arms of government were often exaggerated and over dramatized.”
Al-Makura said in some instances, such disagreements might help to reinforce mutual respect between the two arms of government and promote accountability.
Speaking on the resignation of his two aides, Hajara Danyaro and philip Iyakwari, the governor said they did that to pave way for the development of Nasarawa state, taking into cognizance the need for both Executive and Legislature harmony.
The Governor called on the people of Nasarawa state to accord his administration the desire support and understanding in its desire to deliver the much needed dividends of democracy.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring a cordial relationship among the three arms of government, adding that “Nasarawa state belongs to all of us irrespective of religious, ethnic or party differences; we should strive and take it to a greater heights.”