Strong indications have emerged that the embattled Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, may have opted to fight-off his impeachment after several interest groups within and outside the state mobilised to help save his job.
With this new thinking, very reliable sources said that Nyako who had on Monday informed closed aides of his decision to resign rather than be impeached, has changed his mind based on the support he is getting from different interest groups.
One of the efforts to save Nyako is from traditional rulers in the state, with sources stating that the state’s council of traditional rulers met at the Palace of the Lamido Adamawa on Tuesday on steps to prevail on the lawmakers to drop the charges against the embattled governor and his deputy.
A national newspapers had also reported that two former Nigerian leaders, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, used the occasion of Tuesday’s meeting of the Council of State to prevail on President Jonathan to use his office to save the governor.
However, while efforts were being made to stall the impeachment, a seven-member panel investigating the allegations of ‘gross misconduct’ against Nyako and his deputy continued its work and has finally secured venue where it is expected to sit for six weeks.
After being prevented from using several choice venues for its sitting, the seven-member panel appointed by the state’s acting Chief Judge, Ambrose Mammadi, finally secured the auditorium hall of Ribadu Square, Yola, for its public sitting.
The panel could not formally begin sitting on Tuesday after it emerged that the first venue they used- J & J Holiday Villa – had sent the committee packing owing to a large presence of security officials which the hotel described as bad business; saying the presence of soldiers would scare away customers.
The clerk of the Adamawa House of Assembly, Francis Gbenenso, who was tasked with the job of securing another venue was also reportedly turned down by all the hotels he visited on Tuesday.
Gbenenso’s efforts to get approval for the use of both the NLC Club and NUJ Press Centre were declined by the officials of the two labour organisations.
Sources however, said that the clerk successfully secured the Ribadu Square auditorium where the panel members reportedly held their meeting behind closed doors.
Majority leader of the Adamawa House of Assembly, Ishaku Bala, told journalists that contrary to reports that the committee may sit and conclude its job within the week, it may likely sit for six weeks.
“They first of all have to get their admin set up ready, part of which is securing a befitting venue, hold their meetings and then decide on a timeline of their activities,” he said.
Bala also said everything regarding the impeachment is now in the hands of the panel. “It is out of our hands or the hands of the Chief Judge now,” he said.
He said the panel is expected to invite the lawmakers to appear before it, after which the deputy governor will appear, followed by the governor, who is expected to be the last to appear, adding that it is after all the appearances that they will submit their findings to the Assembly.
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