*Probe panel ends sitting
*He must go, PDP stakeholders insist

By Umar Yusuf

The seven-man panel investigating the “allegation of gross misconduct” levelled against Gov Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and his deputy, Mr Bala Ngilari, by the state House of Assembly concluded its public sitting, yesterday.

Former Vice President Abubakar and Gov Nyako

The panel, which commenced sitting on Friday, rounded off  with only the complainant (Adamawa Assembly) appearing before it to state its case against the respondents (governor and his deputy) who failed to appear on the grounds that they had not been served with the notice of impeachment.
The panel, after waiting in vain for the representatives of Nyako and Ngilari, went ahead to watch a video clip tendered as exhibit and  also cross examined the only witnessed presented by the House, Mr Wafarninyi Theman.

Counsel to the Assembly at yesterday’s sitting, Hussaini Maidawa and  Leonard Nzadon,  who led Theman in  evidence, concluded their presentations by  urging the panel to take their applications against the governor and deputy governor as a proven case of the allegations raised against them.

In his response, the Chairman of the panel, Mallam Buba Kaigama, said the committee would take its time to go over the presentations and other evidence provided by the Assembly objectively and come out with its position.
Meanwhile, strong indications emerged, yesterday, that the rumored consultations between the Adamawa lawmakers, and the executive arm over the impeachment move against Nyako and his deputy might be in vain despite the intervention of religious leaders, traditional rulers, and prominent Nigerians.

A Special Adviser to Adamawa State Government, Mr. PP Elisha, speaking with  journalists, yesterday, said  all  efforts to resolve the crisis  was being truncated by the PDP stakeholders hell bent on  removing Nyako through illegal means.

He said in their desperation to ensure that the impeachment plot scaled through, the PDP stakeholders issued a threat to sack any of its members that may retrace his step from the impeachment process despite the fact that the governor exonerated President Goodluck Jonathan who is the national leader of PDP from the exercise.

“The whole impeachment move is being staged managed by the so-called Adamawa PDP stakeholders who are trying to draw President Goodluk Jonathan into a thing he knew nothing of.”
Elisha added that in his bid to ensure that peace reigned  in Adamawa, Nyako was not leaving any stone unturned as he had gone back to Abuja to renew negotiations with the lawmakers as he could never be intimidated by the antics of the PDP stakeholders.

“Not minding the antics of the so-called PDP stakeholders, Governor Nyako has moved to Abuja in order to continue consultations with the lawmakers as he was keen to see to the resolution of the impasse,” he said.
He added that if the lawmakers removed Nyako unconstitutionally, the government will challenge the process of  removal.