Controversy trails Nasarawa impeachment saga

The ongoing impeachment process against the embattled Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura is witnessing a fresh controversy that may save the day for the state’s helmsman.

Pro-impeachment stakeholders are reportedly not speaking with one voice on the agenda, as diverse personal, group and business interests are said to be dividing the once-cohesive opponents of the governor.

It was learnt that those pushing for the removal of the governor and their sympathisers may have lost, at least for now, the crucial support in the area of provision of security for the lawmakers, following threats on their lives and that of their family members.

A solid security arrangement is seen as sine qua non for a speedy and smooth execution of the impeachment agenda, as witnessed in the Adamawa scenario.

The pro-impeachment Nasarawa lawmakers, who are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hue, had been in Abuja for about a week, consulting with federal stakeholders and billed to return to the state on Tuesday to further take the agenda forward, by formally asking the state Chief Judge to constitute a panel to try the allegations of misconduct against the governor.

Despite reportedly having all their staffers on ground awaiting their return for the planned sitting, it was learnt that the lawmakers had to make a detour to Abuja at the entrance of the state capital, Lafia.

The emergency detour was reportedly occasioned by the realisation that the security promised them was not on ground as allegedly agreed.

Calls reportedly made to the source expected to put the security in place were said to return negative, as he allegedly told the lawmakers that he had not received the requisite signal.

It was learnt that the lawmakers, hell-bent on not backing down at the zero-hour of the impeachment saga, resolved to write directly to heads of security agencies for official protection.

A local security outfit in the state was said to be providing security for the lawmakers’ family members and property, which had reportedly been under constant threats from Al-Makura loyalists.