THE week started on a rather embarrassing note for the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, and his deputy Mrs. Wale Fwa, who both lost their leadership positions in the house after they were impeached by their fellow opposition legislators.
Mr. Sadiq and Mrs. Fwa both belong to the People’s Democratic Party, through which Sadiq represents the Fufore constituency, his deputy represents Demsa constituency.
Opposition member Mr. Jerry Gundusi of the Action Congress of Nigeria, representing Gombi constituency, on Monday moved the motion for the impeachment just before the acting speaker, Fwa, moved to adjourn the sitting.
The motion was supported by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) member representing Mubi-north constituency Alhaji Abubakar Jalingo Oddly enough the PDP members who are in the majority did not oppose the motion to sack the leadership of the House.
Citing Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution, Gundusi told the House that the leadership of the House had abandoned their constitutional responsibilities of championing issues that could improve the state, and turned the Assembly into a private estate for few individuals .
The acting Speaker accepted the charges raised against the leadership of the House and vacated the Speaker’s seat for the clerk of the Assembly to take over proceedings.
The PDP member representing Nasarawo/Beren Ahmed Ganwaso nominated Alhaji Ahmed Umaru Fintri, representing Madagali constituency and was seconded by Jalingo, the only member of CPC in the Assembly.
The member representing Numan constituency Laori Kwamoti was also elected unopposed as the deputy Speaker.
After taking the oath of office, Fintri pushed away the chair of the former Speaker and asked for his seat to be moved there.
It was learnt that members were not happy with the Speaker over his role in frustrating some of the House decisions to checkmate the activities of the executive.
Some of the issues the Assembly members raised were the non-appointment of the chief judge of the state for over two months and the non-payment of workers’ salaries.
Fintri who commended the members for voting him as the Speaker promised to work closely with the governor to ensure the success of the PDP government in the state.