Impeachment: Kano Deputy Gov cries out as police seals off Benue Assembly

Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, has raised the alarm over threat to life and move to impeach him by the State House of Assembly.

This was contained in a petition addressed to the Police and State Security Service (SSS).

In the petition addressed to Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command and copied to the Assistant Inspector General in-charge of Zone I and the State Director of the SSS, Hafiz requested deployment of more security details around him.

According to him, credible information at his disposal indicates that the state government has released funds to mobilise youths from the 44 local government areas of the state to protest against his stay in office.

The embattled Deputy Governor has come under serious attack as a result of his loyalty to former governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya movement.

In a recent audio which went viral on social media, Hafiz, while addressing supporters of the Kwankwasiya movement at Mambaya House, re-affirmed his support and loyalty to the Kwankwaso where he clearly stated that he is not in support of Ganduje’s second term bid while eulogising the former Governor to whom he dedicated an award given to him recently in London.

In another development, Deputy Chairman of Gabasawa Local Government Area, Hassan Waizi Gabasawa, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The move, he said, was to enable him join Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who recently defected to the PDP.

This is coming barely less than 24 hours after the Kano State House of Assembly Speaker, Yusuf Ata, was impeached.

Meanwhile, the battle in the Benue State House of Assembly has taken another dimension as the Nigeria Police personnel posted to the complex has ordered staff of the Assembly to vacate their offices until they are asked to resume.

Clerk of the House, Dr. Torese Agena, while briefing journalists in Makurdi, on Tuesday, said the staff were sent packing on orders of the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, Mr. Besan Gwana.

He explained that barely two hours after resumption of work on Tuesday, operatives of the Nigeria Police ordered that the staff to vacate their offices without delay.

Agena said he contacted the Police Commissioner who confirmed the development, claiming that he was acting on “orders from above”.

He noted that the Police Commissioner could not give reasons for his action, neither did he state the duration for the vacation.

The Clerk while calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Inspector General of Police to withdraw his men from the premises of the State Assembly, also acknowledged the negative impact of the ouster on legislative activities in the state.

He said the action was one harassment too many, adding that for two weeks now, staff of the Assembly have not been allowed to do their work smoothly.

Commenting on the ugly situation, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Colonel Paul Hembah (rtd), confirmed the development, saying he had also contacted the Police Commissioner who said that his action was based on orders from above.

He noted that when asked further on the plight of the civil servants in the Assembly, Gwana promised to contact superior authorities for clarification and the next line of action.