Al-Makura defends appointment of sole administrators

The Nasarawa State Governor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura has cleared the air on his alleged unilateral appointment of sole administrators for the 11 local councils in the state, which led to a free-for-all on the floor of the State House of Assembly last week.

Recall, that six members of the House were opposed to the governor’s action, which resulted to a serious scuffle in the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled state, which earned them indefinite suspension for “misconduct and for bringing the House to disrepute.”

The governor said he was compelled by a court order to appoint sole administrators to avoid a vacuum in the councils, after its verdict that the chairmen must vacate their offices on March 24, 2016, with a restraining order that he must not appoint any director of Administration or secretary to Local Government as chairman.

Said he; “The issue about the appointment of sole administrators came after a court judgment. The former chairmen went to court against one-year tenure and the court granted them two-year tenure. When their tenure was about elapsing, they returned to court to demand a three-year term. But on March 23, a day to the end of their two years in office, the court ruled against their request for a three-year tenure.

“The court said the chairmen must vacate their offices on March 24, with a restraining order that the governor must not appoint any director of administration or secretary to Local Government as chairman. Although the court directed that only an elected government must be put in place, I cannot conduct election in 24 hours.”

Al-Makura explained that he was left with no option than to invoke the doctrine of necessity, by appointing sole administrators, noting that the Legislators were duly informed that by virtue of the court order, that he had to decide on a makeshift arrangement, not to create a vacuum that may cause crisis at the local government level.

“I wrote the Assembly, but I was not looking for permission. If I asked them for permission, I will be violating the court order.”

While denying his involvement in the ‘show of shame’ on the Assembly floor, he said the lawmakers had their problem long before now; noting that; “While the arrangement was on, six members, whom they alleged have interest in the leadership of some councils, resorted to protest on the floor of the Assembly.

“A lot of people are missing the point; I have no problem with Nasarawa House of Assembly. As a father of all, I will call them for reconciliation.”

He however, assured that the election might hold in the next six months because of certain statutory regulations and financial implications to determine the successful conduct of the poll.

The last council election in the state held on Saturday, March 22, 2014, the tenure of the elected council officials expired on Thursday, March 24, 2016.