Fight in Sokoto Assembly

… Speaker escapes with broken mace

From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto

Pandemonium broke out in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, yesterday, as some  lawmakers attempted to impeach the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji.

The aggrieved lawmakers numbering ten had accused the speaker of enriching himself via corrupt means, and called for his immediate impeachment.

Drama started when the speaker arrived the chamber and ordered the House Leader to commence the proceeding.

But, in a counter move the Deputy House Leader, Ibrahim Kabiru Kware led other aggrieved lawmakers to chant: ‘Barrowo, barawo’ (meaning thief.)

The chantings, however, caused commotion among members, especially those loyal to the speaker, a situation  which led to a free for all.

In the pandemonium that ensued, the House mace was broken while the speaker was whisked away by security personnel attached to him. He took away the broken mace.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the fracas, spokesman of the  aggrieved ten lawmakers, Sani Yakubu, representing Gudu Constituency, accused the speaker of being a stooge of the executive.

He lamented that the House had so far approved loan of over N100 billion for the state government, which according to him, may plunge the state into debt that it may not be able to repay for a long time.

“The speaker has been spending money recklessly without the approval of the House. We have approved over N100 billion loan for the state government and from now to next year, if nothing is done, Sokoto will not be able to pay salary by next year. He has made himself a stooge of the executive. He has put Sokoto in danger.

“I have been in the House since 2007 and I have never seen a corrupt leader like the present speaker, Maidaji. He is the most corrupt speaker we have seen.

He disclosed that more members are ready to join other aggrieved members to impeach the speaker at the next seating.

The lawmakers who are apparently from the political camp of the immediate past governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, however, denied having his backing to remove the Speaker.

Responding to the allegation, the Speaker of the House, Alhaji  Maidaji, described the allegation as false, saying there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

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