Embattled governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako has been said to be considering resigning his position even as the impeachment panel defied his declaration of a public holiday and began sitting at a private hotel in Yola.
DailySun reports
with his days in office already numbered, Nyako had on Sunday, before declaring the two-day holiday, met his family members and told them of his decision to resign before his impeachment sails through. It was at the meeting that he was advised to delay his resignation and explore the option of scuttling the panel’s inauguration with the public holiday.
As a fallback option, the governor was also said to have had a private meeting with the former Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibo, when a deal was struck to support the latter in the race to succeed him. Part of the arrangement, it was further learnt, is for Modibo to run on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the election that will be conducted within three months of his vacating the office, through impeachment.
A credible source close to the governor admitted that the Modibo option may not be new to the state politics, adding: “We have tested that last year when the governor was still in PDP and we had to support the candidate of KOWA party in a by-election into the House of Assembly for Nassarawa Bin Yeri constituency against the candidate of the PDP then, even though we lost, but it’s not an impossible option. For us, that is better than settling for Auwal Tukur, who is already spreading the rumour that he is the anointed candidate of the Presidency and Gundiri, who plays the politics of religion.”
It remains unclear as at press time if Nyako’s deputy, Bala Ngilari, will equally resign along with his boss or will wait for the outcome of the impeachment process.
All efforts to get the reaction of the governor through his spokesman, Ahmed Sajoh, failed as he declined to pick his calls or reply to a text message on the plan by his boss to resign rather than wait for his impeachment which may come later this week or early next week.
Meanwhile, the seven-man panel constituted to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy commenced sitting yesterday in Yola behind closed doors and under heavy armed security.
Stern-looking security personnel detailed to keep surveillance on the venue of the sitting were also backed by military Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) patrolling the street, where the hotel is located.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Speaker, Mr. Solomon Kumanga, stated yesterday that the panel is now independent, having been inaugurated and started its work.
Meanwhile, the House has frowned at the public holiday which Nyako declared, describing it as ill-timed.
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