NASARAWA: State Assembly Demands Emergency Rule
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday at its plenary session condemned the attacks by the Ombatse militia on Adabu, Obi and Assakio Alago communities, and called on government to declare emergency rule on the southern senatorial district of the state.
The Assembly resolved to invite Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, the director of the Department of State Security, the police commissioner and commandant of the of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to appear before it at an executive session to explain why breakdown of security has continued unabated.
The date for the session is to be set once Al-Makura returns from a foreign trip.
The members were unanimous in condemning the federal government’s failure to restore public confidence in its ability to guarantee safety of life and property, and the inability to bring to justice those who are believed to be members of the outlawed Ombatse group.
The member representing Udegye/Loko constituency and chairman of the House Committee on Information and Security, Hon. Mohammed Baba Ibaku, regretted that Nasarawa has become the “home of solid crisis” and called for a state of emergency to be declared in the southern senatorial district so as to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.
He also chided the first civilian governor of the state, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, for absolving Governor Al-Makura of any blame because he does not control the military, police or civil defence corps.
Hon. Francis Orogu, representing Keana constituency, blamed laxity on the part of the security operatives as responsible for the magnitude of the destruction, saying there had been rumours of possible uprising since Thursday morning but no machinery was put in place to avert the crisis.
The Assembly also urged the youths to desist from being used by politicians in fighting for their personal goals by inciting ethnic sentiments, even as the condoled with all those who lost their loved ones to the crisis.
The lawmakers also advised the state government get its priority right - not to embark on local government elections while the state was on fire.
It will be recalled that a communal clash between the Ombatse and Alago tribes of Nasarawa state began on Friday and continued on Saturday. The crisis started with the resistance by Ombatse militia to the arrest of their member caught with weapons through a tip off by Alago youths, and has consumed the entire town of Assakio in Lafia east and part of Obi local government area.
Source: Legit.ng
