Bauchi assembly leadership impasse fuelled by personal interest – Tukur

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

‎Former member representing Lere/Bula State Constituency in the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Aminu Tukur has said that the conflict that has engulfed the assembly since its inauguration is not in the interest of the state, but the personal quest for leadership.

Tukur described the leadership crisis in the state House of Assembly as a case of “a tattooist who does not want to be tattooed.”

The former lawmaker stated this on Tuesday while addressing the House of Representatives ad hoc committee set up by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila to intervene in the Bauchi state House of Assembly leadership crisis at the Command Guest Inn, Bauchi.

“The legislative arm of government remains the pivot of democracy in any given circumstance for transparency in the administration of justice, governance and national cohesion,” he stated.

Tukur, who cited Order 2, rule 2 of the standing orders of the state House of Assembly 2017 as amended, pointed out that “on the first day of the meeting of state House of Assembly pursuant to the proclamation of the governor of Bauchi state, members shall assembly at the time and place so appointed. Here, no specification is mentioned of time of convergence.”

“The former speaker of the assembly, along with 11 selected members acting on the script of former Governor Mohammed Abubakar, converged at the House as early as 7am and repealed a law that was enacted by the same House in 2017.

“The law was for the then governor to recover looted state properties in the possession of his immediate predecessor. On losing his second term bid and sensing nemesis would catch up with him, he summoned his cronies in the House to do his bidding against the standing orders of the House.

“This was effectively done before most of us could arrive at the stated time of 10am, a clear contradiction to the standing orders in place,” he said further.

Tukur urged members of the 9th state assembly to eschew bitterness and rancour and put the interest of the state first above personal quest.

“The state cannot afford to have a state executive arm of government tailored to serve a certain interest of the past that was characterized with failed promises to continue to direct the affairs of 6 million people in the state,” Tukur said.