Plateau Assembly Impeachment ; Police Move In To Prevent Chaos

By Ayodele Oni

Security agents in Plateau State on Monday dispersed protesters and some hoodlums that stormed the Plateau State House of Assembly complex in what appears to be a new twist to the crisis in the Assembly.

The protesters, some loyal to the impeached Speaker, blocked the gate of the Assembly complex in Jos, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards.

This was ongoing as the 13 anti-impeachment lawmakers, led by the former Speaker, Ayuba Bok, were in the Chambers.

Attempts by some hoodlums to force their way into the complex through the back entrance, leading to smashing the entrance door to the Chambers, however drew the attention of Policemen that had been deployed to the complex.

The group that had been keeping vigil outside the complex confronted the invaders to protect the members in the Chambers, a situation that led to pandemonium.

It took the intervention of security operatives before normalcy was later restored at the assembly complex.

The Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Edward Egbuka, who was at the scene in the company of some police officers, also met with members of the assembly.

The crisis in the parliament deepened after eight members of the Assembly impeached Abok as the Speaker on Thursday last week.

Mr Yakubu Sanda, who later emerged as the new Speaker, assured his colleagues that he would work in synergy with the Executive and Judiciary for the peace, progress, and development of the State.

According to him, the House will use its full legislative powers to ensure that government programmes and projects impact the people at the grassroots level.

The new Speaker was later received at the Government House by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Danladi Atu, on behalf of Governor Simon Lalong.

Reacting to his impeachment, Abok said he would continue to stand for truth, justice and the rights of the Plateau people.

He said he was not disturbed by the development, rather it has only given him more strength to stand for the people.

“We have been standing for the people of Plateau, we stand for truth, we stand for justice, we stand for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we stand for democracy.”