Zamfara Assembly Mulls Impeachment Proceedings against Deputy Gov

• PDP disagrees with lawmakers, defends Gusau’s action • Says 1999 Constitution guarantees his right to assembly

By Onuminya Innocent

The Zamfara State House of Assembly may have perfected a plan to impeach Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mahdi Gusau for convening a political rally attended by thousands of supporters statewide, THISDAY has learnt.

As part of its impeachment plans, the assembly has summoned the deputy governor to appear before it next week for holding the rally amid intractable security challenges in the state.

Multiple sources yesterday confided in THISDAY that the lawmakers might initiate impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor if he failed to justify holding a political rally at the time the state was battling grave security challenges.

Gusau had addressed a teeming number of his supporters during a solidarity rally penultimate Saturday during which he said that the defection of his principal, Dr. Bello Matawalle would not affect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in future elections in the state.

Gusau, son of a former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau and currently the youngest deputy governor in the country, had also said he would not defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Matawalle, who officially left the PDP on June 29.

He had also said Matawalle’s defection would not in any way affect the chances of the PDP in future elections, assuring PDP’s supporters that he would mobilise grassroots support to bring the PDP back to the seat of power.

In a letter addressed to the deputy governor, the assembly accused him of disrespecting the Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Rabiu in a WhatsApp message.

Consequently, the assembly summoned the deputy governor to appear before it on July 27 to explain why he held the rally without considering the security situation in the state and in defiance to the advice of the security authority in the state.

The assembly added that the decision of the deputy governor to convene the rally in solidarity with the PDP might aggravate the security situation in the state.

Apart from the invitation, there are indications that the lawmakers were plotting to impeach the deputy governor for refusing to defect to the APC alongside Matawalle.

It appears the lawmakers are merely using his holding of the rally as a smokescreen.

The Director of Press and Public Relations, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Mustapha Kaura confirmed the invitation, though did not entertain questions on the assembly’s plot to impeach the deputy governor.

Also, Speaker of the assembly, Hon. Nasiru Magarya confirmed the invitation to Mr Gusau, noting that it was wrong for the deputy governor “to hold a political rally in a critical time like this”.

The motion to invite the deputy governor was moved by Yusuf Alhassan representing Maru North constituency. Alhassan accused Gusau of attempting to cause unrest in the fragile state and thus needed to be summoned to explain.

However, a political associate of the deputy governor, who confidentially spoke with THISDAY, claimed that Gusau had not received any letter of invitation from the assembly.

Condemning the decision of the assembly to invite the deputy governor, Zamfara PDP berated the assembly for inviting Gusau for staging a political rally in the state.

A member of the PDP Caretaker Committee and its immediate past Publicity Secretary, Shetima Gusau said the decision of the lawmakers was nothing, but intimidation.

Shettima explained that the deputy governor had not breached any law by visiting the state, noting that it was Gusau’s constitutional right to receive his supporters who welcomed him when he came to Gusau last week.

Shetima said: “Last week what happened was not a political rally, but rather was a welcome home by the supporters of the deputy governor.”

He maintained there was no security breach or security threat in the state.

Shettima advised the lawmakers to mind their business saying any wrong action from them to the deputy governor would fuel insecurity in the state.