It was funny reading the account given by the erstwhile Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, on how and why he was impeached as reported by THE NATION Newspaper 30th October, 2021 titled “Lalong Supervised My Impeachment Says Plateau Assembly Speaker.”
His claims were totally absurd and lies.
Most losers try fighting back and exonerating themselves from being the cause of their misfortunes, that’s exactly the path taken by Abok.
It was reported he went to Jos East to lobby the All Progressives Congress, APC, party faithful to pass a vote of confidence on him, and also moved to Abuja and attended a program on not too young to run seeking support to come and claim back his position as Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly.
The convener of the Not Too Young to Run Movement, one Itodo who was totally ignorant of the antecedents of Abok and his ignorance of legislative function, but believed the lies spoken by the Impeached Speaker, agitated for his reinstatement saying the President should issue a directive to security agencies to restore order in the House and ensure Abok Ayuba is accorded full legal and security protection to preside over the legislative business of the House without intimidation and interference. And that the National Assembly should invite the Inspector General of Police and Director General of the DSS for questioning in their involvement of what he called constitutional breached of the institutions. And also that the eight legislators that impeached the speaker should be held accountable for subverting a constituted authority and undermining the constitution of the Federal Republic.
This is another crass show of ignorance, by the convener of not too young to run.
In a democracy, there is rule of law and due process. Itodo has depicted that he did not believe in that, if not he wouldn’t have asked the President and National Assembly to act as if they a competent court of law.
He doesn’t believe in fear hearing, by implication he does not believe in justice. He heard the side of the erstwhile speaker and believed but what about the side of the governor and other members of the House?
If these are the kind of people and their beliefs agitating for not too young to run, our democracy is already dead before they assume power.
The issues of Lalong supervising his impeachment, has be addressed by the governor.
The lies Abok placed before the public are what I will like to address. He claimed that six persons impeached him, but after the election of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda, 12 officials of the House went to Government House to inform the executive over the new development. Thus, contradicting Abok’s claim. He explained that he fell apart with Governor Lalong over killings and that he forced Lalong to start visiting IDPs and communities attacked.
In December 2016 a year and some months after Lalong became Governor, he went to Dogo Nahauwa over the 2009 massacre to show his love and concern, where was the lying Abok Ayuba? Was he the person that advised Lalong to do that? In July 2018, Lalong visited IDPs at Angul D, was it at the instance of Abok Ayuba? Long before the lying Ayuba came to the House, Lalong has been visiting communities attacked by crises.
The truth is Ayuba as Speaker did not fall apart with Lalong over crises, but because his principal and demigod, Letep Dabang was removed as APC Chairman Plateau State Chapter.
Before the lying Abok came to the House, Governor Lalong has taken measures to curb insecurity in the state such as: setting up peace committee between Berom and Fulani headed by Chief John Gobak to end attacks on communities in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South; the Peace Building Agency headed Joseph Lengmang; Mobile Police Barracks in Shendam and Gharshish, Air Force Base in Kerang, and the Dutse Uku Watch Tower for early warning signs.
In his second term, Governor Lalong set up inter-religious council, and passed into law anti land grabbing and anti kidnapping bills. Were these not done before the attack on Yelwa Zangam where Abok used it as scapegoat to fight the governor? These security measures taken by Lalong, were they not out of love for peace and security?
Now, Abok was sent to the House of Assembly to make laws that will solve our problems and not to make noise, and false claims. How many bills has he raised for peace to reign in Plateau? Noise are not bills or laws. Frowning at the governor are not bills or laws. He should mention his efforts for the restoration of peace on the Plateau. Lalong as an executive have them, but Abok as a legislator should show us his efforts. Mind you, Lalong did not visit Yelwa Zangam and Miango because of Abok, he has been doing that long before.
It is said, “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.” Abok’s friends are mostly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the followers of the fallen APC party chairman, Dabang.
The PDP members came out end masse and supported the attrocities of Abok calling them patriotism. They protested at the House of Assembly and issued a statement.
If Abok truly means that he supports peace on the Plateau, why is he parleying with the party that eluded peace and is angry with its restoration?
Since the current PDP came to power in 2007, in 2008, when against good pieces of advice and warning from security agencies went ahead and conducted the Jos North LG elections, Plateau ceased to know peace which the spilled over is what Lalong is working to eradicate. After the emergency rule in 2004, Plateau witnessed peace until this PDP led by Jang killed it. This same PDP was advised in 2012 at a meeting at Hill Station Hotel Conference hall to call for a meeting with religious leaders and stakeholders to find lasting solution to the crises bedeviling the state, but it refused. The Governor said he will never do that.
Since crises broke out under Jang in 2008, he never visited any community, but it is his structure that Abok is parleying with and accusing Lalong who visited Dogo Nahauwa where massive genocide took place, that the PDP leadership never visited till he left power.
This same PDP leader said in May 2014 that he did not know why God made him a governor that everyday he woke up to the news of his people being attacked. If almost everyday there was an attack under the PDP, that shows Governor Lalong has done a lot in the restoration of peace. But Abok accused this man but parleys with the party that during its regime could not bring peace and is fighting the government that is restoring peace.
When Lalong came newly and we had peace for over two years, the PDP during its press conference on May 29, 2017, attacked the peace and criticize it, calling it a farce instead of being happy that what they could not do, God brought Lalong to achieve it. These are the people supporting Abok, and he is parading himself a man of peace.
Oh I almost forgot, it was under the PDP that culture of highway blockade whenever attack took place in the bush ensued came into effect.
This same PDP because of its nepotism and wickedness almost split the state if not that new states were not created. In 2012 from Bokkos LGA down to Qua’an Pan, there was a clamour for the creation of South Plateau State excising Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Jos East, Jos North and Bassa. The current brotherhood was almost destroyed, and these are the friends of Abok.
Who is Abok fooling?
Abok has failed to realise that success is the hardest thing to manage. His ascension to the Speaker of the House has made him so pompous coupled with the songs from nightingales of sycophants projecting him a hero without achieving extraordinary feats. And because of his blindness he became a tool of destruction and sabotage to the peace and progress of Plateau State, but claims heroism.
Freelance Reporters 