A group under the aegis of concerned stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lafia Local Government Area (LGA), has supported the Nasarawa State Assembly’s decision to suspend the Chairman of Lafia, Mohammad Haliru-Arabo, for three months.
The Spokesperson of the group, Muhammad Habibu stated this at a press conference in Lafia, the state capital.
He explained that the assembly, in line with its constitutional role, examined the allegations against the embattled chairman and found that he clearly breached the law in the purported suspension of the speaker of the Lafia Legislative Arm, Mohammed Shu’abu-Madaki.
“Section 128 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, empowers the House of Assembly to investigate any matter relating to the execution of state laws, administration of public offices and conduct of public officials.
“Local Government Chairmen fall directly under this constitutional oversight; therefore, the assembly has the right to ask the council chairman to step aside to interfere with the ongoing investigation,” he explained.
The spokesperson appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule and the House of Assembly for the way they are handling the affairs of the state and urged detractors to allow the government to continue to provide good governance and security to the people of the state.
The suspension the Lafia Local Government Chairman, Mohammad Haliru-Arabo, as announced by Speaker Danladi Jatau, is reportedly over Haliru-Arabo’s alleged involvement in the crisis rocking the council’s legislative arm.
The Assembly has directed the Deputy Chairman Uba Arikya to oversee the council’s affairs pending the outcome of the investigation.
However, APC chieftain, Abubakar Usman-Sandaji, has criticised the suspension, describing it as deeply flawed, politically charged, and dangerous to democratic governance.
Usman-Sandaji argued that the assembly acted hastily without providing credible evidence to justify the suspension.
The crisis has led to the police taking over the Lafia Local Government secretariat, with some protesters arrested for demonstrating against the suspension.