Yakubu Busari
The embattled Chairman of Jos-North Local Government Council of Plateau State, Hon. Shehu Bala has resumed office with all the legislative arms saying the exercise is illegal and capable of truncating Plateau democracy without the due process of law.
He said the drama prescribed by the Executive Governor of Plateau state is not in line with the constitution so he described the suspension as a miscarriage of justice without listening to their own part before taking such a dangerous decision.
We didn’t expect somebody to sit in comfort to effect suspension so we called on Caleb not to be misled by another greedy politician to cause confusion that would create problems.
Bala warned that he scored 160,000 votes to emerge as an elected Chairman of the Local Government council so no among of threats and intimidation would make him abandon his people’s mandate.
He advised the incumbent Governor of the state, to seek a better understanding and know that the Plateau State House of Assembly has no power(s) to recommend the sack of all democratic structures at the Local Government level in the state.
Hon. Bala, who was in his office at Jos North Local Government Council this morning told Journalists that, the Governor may have been ill-advised by non-lovers of Plateau and Democracy.
According to the Chairman, “The purported suspension was made only on social media. The Councilors who are supposed to watch over our activities were also taken unaware. The Governor is a Lawyer and so, we were taken aback to see him following the political train instead of the Law.
“We actually received a communiqué from ALGON on the 25th of May, 2023, requesting us to furnish the House with the details of our income and expenditure and we forwarded same through the same channel. But, in less than 24 hours we saw on social media that we have been suspended from office.
“Tell me, who does this?
“The House does not have a direct oversight function on Local Governments, but the Councilors. The Law is clear on that! It is therefore shocking that, because of personal pride and intention(s), the Councilors were allegedly suspended too!
“However, let’s ask ourselves one question. Can all the 17 Local Government Chairmen commit the same offense with the Councilors too? This must be politics taken too far! I expect the Governor to have drawn a line between politics and governance.
“I therefore call on citizens in the LG to remain calm as I am still in office to protect the mandate, they gave to me”.
During the visit to the Council this morning, found out that, the alleged suspended Councilors were also in their chambers, carrying out the day’s business.
