Bauchi Assembly of Youths Political Actors, BAYOPA, and the Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience BOBALAC, have appealed to the leadership of the 9th National Assembly to initiate a process of dialogue to resolve the issues in dispute in the context of the pending court actions.
A press statement jointly signed by the Central Co-coordinator BAYOPA, Prince Hashima Bala, Chief Convener BOBALAC, Mr. Shipi Rabo, Head Strategy and Programmes BAYOPA, Engr Muhammad Aminu and Secretary BOBALAC, Barrister Musa Abdullahi respectively made available to newsmen in Bauchi, the groups maintained that the inauguration of the 9th Bauchi State house Assembly, held on Thursday, June 20, 2019, that resulted in the emergence of Abubakar Y.Suleiman led leadership was valid and well in order.
According to the statement, inauguration of the 31 members of the Bauchi state House of Assembly has put to a halt the proceedings of the House of Representatives Adhoc committee, pending the determination of the suit by the court.
“In view of the resolution of the House of Representatives of Wednesday 24th July 2019, we shall as a matter of responsibility, use this medium to request that the proper thing to be done is allowing the court to determine the matter as a matter of deferring to the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and the law”
“We can recall at the tail end of the tenure of the 8th Senate consideration of the report on the circumstances bordering on the alleged theft of the mace in which the name of distinguished Senator Ovie Omo Agege, now the deputy Senate President, featured prominently was suspended on the ground of the matter being pending before a court of law”.
“It is our point that the same position should be maintained with respect to the Bauchi State House of Assembly matter” the statement said.
The groups explained that in the event the settlement process fails, it shall not only press on with the said on-going litigations on behalf of its clients, it shall also initiate new ones so that the laws on the issues of the correct Interpretation of section 11 sub-section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, among other powers of the state assembly.
It would be recalled that the Bauchi State House of Assembly was thrown into confusion and crisis on June 20 when members-elect held parallel inaugurations leading to the emergence of two Speakers.
Abubakar Suleiman (Ningi, APC) was elected by 13 Members with the Clerk presiding over the sitting inside the Assembly complex, while the factional Speaker, Kawuwa Damina (Darazo, APC), was elected outside the Assembly complex by 18 members.
