Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngilari

The newly sworn-in Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngilari, was at the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cement his relationship with the state executives of the party.

While delivering his speech to party’s stakeholders and supporters, the governor expressed gratitude to members of the state House of Assembly for the removal of his former boss, Murtala Nyako, from office.

He said he saw no fault in Nyako’s removal from office “because the lawmakers were simply doing their legislative function.

“ Let me use this opportunity to thank most especially the state House of Assembly for performing their legislative duties that led to the removal of my former boss and by the divine arrangement of God, I am the new governor of the state.”

Meanwhile, the fate of former acting governor of the state, Mr. Ahmadu Fintiri, appears to hang in a balance following last Wednesday’s Abuja Federal High Court ruling, which halted the state’s governorship by-election and with the  emergence of Ngilari as the governor of the state.

It was also learnt that members of the state assembly convened an emergency session yesterday barely 24 hours after Ngilari took the oath of office in Yola, the state capital, in what was initially thought to be a session to evaluate the latest political development. It was speculated that Fintiri, who was the speaker before he became the acting governor, would preside over the session to pass the message that he had assumed his original position as Speaker of the assembly.

However, Fintiri was not present at the session, which was presided over by the acting Speaker, Mr. Kwamoti La’Ori.

The hurriedly held session lasted for 20 minutes and there was neither the mention of the court decision, the swearing-in of Ngilari nor the fate of Fintiri on the Order Paper for deliberations.

The new governor, while delivering his speech at the PDP state secretariat, said: “I want to tell the world that there is no discord among us. If anybody is talking about discord, that person is not a Christian or Muslim. What comes my way (being sworn in as governor) is not a surprise as God meant it to be that way. All that happened to me is now history.

“I pray that those I offended should forgive me and I also forgive those who offended me, therefore we must now work together as a family, l can’t claim to be an island as I need your advices to move the state forward.”

In his reaction, the state PDP Chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, said: “When God says yes, no one can say no,” adding that the emergence of Ngilari as governor was an act of God.

He said the state PDP must abide by every bit of the Nigerian Constitution as it has now confirmed Ngilari as the authentic governor of the state.

While welcoming the governor to the party’s secretariat, Madaki said: “This is your house; PDP is one party but uses different batons to execute their duties. The PDP leadership is fully on ground for you.”

The party leader said the PDP leadership is one, adding that only the personality that pilots the affairs of the party is subject to change, so “we are happy it’s PDP that goes and comes, the party remains intact,” he added.

However, Senator Bello Tukur, who was at the meeting, applauded the qualities of Ngilari as a brilliant person who is slow to speak but when he happened to speak, he speaks volumes of wisdom that might be a guide to all.

Responding on behalf of the state assembly members, Hon Salisu Kabilo, who represents Verre state constituency, noted that the lawmakers would be loyal to  the new governor calling on the people of the state to support the new administration.

Consequently, Fintiri’s removal as acting governor has raised expectation that there may be new permutation given the fact that the new governor and Fintiri are from Madagali Local Government Area of the state which may contravene the federal character.

The member representing Michika state constituency and Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Information, Mr. Adamu Kamale, who had sought suspension of relevant rules to express personal opinion, stressed the need for the assembly to commend Fintiri, being one of the assembly members who performed excellently as acting governor.

Kamale however used the forum to touch on the resumption of Fintiri as Speaker of the assembly based on the constitutional provision but the matter was postponed to another legislative meeting.

He said as lawmakers, they have since complied with the ruling of the federal high court, which directed that Fintiri should vacate his seat as acting governor, while Ngilari is sworn in as substantive governor of the state.

While he said that the ruling is susceptible to litigation in court by some interest groups, it is however apt that Fintiri occupies his seat as the speaker of the state assembly, “because he went for a state service as the chief executive of the state on acting capacity.”

According to him, it is constitutionally binding on him to go back to occupy his seat as the speaker of the state assembly, which he declared that the constitution is clear about and should be complied with.

However investigation has revealed that some lawmakers are scheming to deny the former acting governor from returning as Speaker of the assembly, preferring the former acting Speaker, Laori Kwomati, while Fintiri remains a floor member.

Although the outcome of their meeting was yet to be known, feelers coming in indicated that the meeting might not be unconnected with the recent political development in the state, which culminated in Fintiri vacating his seat for Ngilari.

Meanwhile, Ngilari yesterday approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council and political appointees with immediate effect.

A statement signed by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Chubado Tijjani, said all affected office holders should hand over all documents and other government properties to permanent secretaries in their various ministries.

The statement, however, said the heads of statutory commissions were not affected by the dissolution.

The affected appointees, who were less than three months old in office,  were appointed by Fintiri.

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