Following the lingering leadership crisis at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, some indigenes and residents of Nasarawa State have called on the inspector general of police, IGP Usman Baba to intervene before the issue escalates.
The indigenes, under the aegis of Concerned Nasarawa Stakeholders Forum, who took their protests to the Force headquarters on Wednesday, urged the IGP to call the commissioner of police in the state, CP Maiyaki Baba to order and investigate his activities for allegedly taking sides in the crisis.
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The protesters, with placards with various inscriptions, urged the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule not to set the state on fire with his alleged imposition of candidates for the leadership of the state assembly.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Nasarawa assembly must be freed from bondage”, “Police cannot be partisan”, “Assembly elections outside assembly complex is illegal”, “We want peace in Nasarawa State”, among many others.
Speaking to journalists during the protest and after submitting a petition to the police, the convener of the forum, David Manga, explained that their demands were premised on the alleged partisanship of the commissioner of police (CP), in the state.
He said the singular act of the CP in withdrawing the security details of the speaker is tantamount to exposing him to danger, saying such action could cause serious civil unrest and political instability in the state.
Recall that the crisis started at the state’s assembly with the emergence of two speakers – Daniel Ogah Ogazi, representing Kokona East constituency and Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, a former speaker in the assembly.
While Balarabe-Abdullahi was elected at a sitting that took place at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogazi emerged as speaker from the proceedings at the State Assembly complex.
Addressing the protesters, an assistant commissioner of police, Kingsley Emeka, said that their messages would be properly conveyed to the IGP, urging them not to foment any trouble.
According to him, “We have heard your grievances. Please, don’t let us cause any trouble. I can assure you that your message will be properly delivered to the IGP.”