IMPEACHMENT: THE BANE OF NIGERIA DEMOCRACY

Balarabe Musa:1st impeached governor in Nigeria

BY AYODELE SEUN

Nigeria fourth republic that began on May 29, 1999 has witnesses all kinds of political problem and undemocratic processes by the political actors. Nigeria civilian rules from first republic to third republic undergo difference political challenge and crisis. But our democracy is growing and most of these problems has become things of the past with the just concluded general elections in 2015, our democracy has outgrown godfatherism and politics of bloodshed, but one of these problems still remain with us, which is impeachment; impeachment has become political tools in the hand of Nigeria politicians that use it at will against their perceived political enemies.

Impeachment is the act of removing a public official, either elected or appointed, before a tribunal charged with determining the facts of the matter. Impeachment in Nigeria is not peculiar to this fourth republic alone.

Impeachment of note actually started in second republic in Nigeria. When the then Kaduna state Governor, Balarabe Musa elected on the platform of People’s Redemption Party (PRP)  clash with the Kaduna state House of Assembly  dominated by National Party of Nigerian (NPN). He was unable to form a cabinet since he refused to nominate NPN members and the House of Assembly refused to ratify his nominated commissioners list 3times and he governed close to 2-year without commissioners. Eventually, impeached on 23 June, 1981. Making him the first Nigeria state governor ever to be impeached.

Impeachment saga has dominated fourth republic, it all started with the impeachment of then president of the Nigeria Senates, Evan Enwerem in November 18, 1999 and his successor Chuba Okadigbo and Adolphus Wabara were also impeached. Severally, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared seat of his Vice president vacant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar which was over turn by the courts. Many states governors witnesses impeachment saga these governors are Diepre Alamieyesigha, Bayelsa, Ayo Fayose, Ekiti, Rasheed Ladoja, Oyo and Joshua Dariye, Plateau.

Governor Joshua Dariye was impeached on November 13, 2006 but on April 27, 2007 the Supreme Court ordered his reinstatement with immediate effect. Also impeached was Governor Rasheed Ladoja on January 2006, but reinstated in December 2006. Governor Ayodele Fayose was also impeached but recently the court declared his impeachment unlawful, null and void. Governor, Peter Obi was also impeached on November 2,2006 by the state house of assembly after seven months in office and replaced the next day by Virgina Etiaba, his deputy, making her the first ever female governor in Nigeria history.Obi mandate was restored after the court of Appeal sitting in Enugu ordered for his reinstatement on February 9, 2007.

Many speakers of the States House of Assemblies were also impeached in Nigeria. Most Nigeria state governor has turn their deputy governor to spare tyre and they have become endangered species , State like Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba,Imo and Ondo states deputy governors has once be impeached in one dispensation.

Bauchi state deputy governor,Alhaji Garba Gadi was impeached on August 14, 2009 for his refusal to defect from All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) to the PDP like the governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda but the state High court ordered for his reinstated immediately on June 26, 2010 and also directed the state government  to pay Gadi salaries and allowances accruing to him while the illegal impeachment lasted.

Taraba state deputy governor, Alhaji Sanni Danladi was impeached by the state House of Assembly on October 2012, but the Supreme Court ordered for his reinstatement on November 21, 2014 and his now the present acting governor of Taraba state.

Imo state deputy governor, Jude Agbaso was also impeached on March 28, 2013. And was accused of acts of grave corruption, including the demand of a bribe of more than N400 million from a contractor.

Ondo State deputy governor, Ali Olanusi was also impeached on April 27, 2015 because he defects from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC).

Recently, Many State House of Assemblies (Adamawa,Ekiti, Enugu, kebbi, Niger and Ondo States) has been instigating impeachment against the state governor over misconducts or misappropriation of public fund. But there are two silent factors to these 11th hours impeachment: The governor undoing that make the house members loss their bid for reelection and secondly, the last chance for them to collect their political gratuity from the governor.

All these impeachment sagas has under tune of political gain and is undermining our democracy, impeachable offences and it processes has been stipulated in the constitution and our legislatures should stop mocking our democracy.