Impeachment plot: I'll remain Nasarawa governor, says Al-Makura

By The Citizen
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The governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, on Tuesday, told the 20 lawmakers pushing for his removal in office through impeachment procedure that no one could tamper with his mandate.

The governor, who promised to make himself available before the seven-man probe panel to clear all the indictments, stated this while receiving various groups, which paid him a visit during the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations at the Governor's Lodge, Lafia, the state capital.

He further told the sympathisers that the era of sharing public funds among few individuals or looting state treasury had gone finally in the state, saying his mandate went beyond the 20 lawmakers, who were hell-bent on his removal from office, as it would be jealously guarded by the people of the state.

Al-Makura lamented that all the allegations levelled against him were frivolous and would not distract his administration's attention in forging ahead with its developmental stride and the provision of social amenities that had direct advantage on the populace.

According to him, 'I am happy with the way and manner you protected your mandate. You have shown them that nobody can tamper with your mandate. All what they have said about me is absolutely lie. I will defend myself at appropriate time. I am accountable to you, not those 20 people. I will defend myself, and all my lawyers are ready to exonerate me.

'I want you to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another. I want you, as well, to continue giving your adequate supports to this administration, so that we will continue to give you all the dividends of democracy,' he assured.

It will be recalled that the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Musa Ahmed, on Monday, July 14, directed the clerk, Ego Maikeffi, after 20 out of 24 lawmakers signed impeachment notice, to serve Al-Makura for gross misconduct, a situation which later resulted to pockets of violent protests within and outside the state capital, before the security operatives brought the situation under control.