The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Umeh, has advised state Governors to learn their lessons from the impeachment of Murtala Nyako, former governor of Adamawa State, by the state’s House of Assembly.
The APGA chairman said this while answering questions from journalists after inaugurating the newly reconstituted members of the APGA Caretaker Committee in Imo state, he accused most Governors of becoming “so reckless in the management of the affairs of their states”, contrary to the provisions of the country’s constitution and their oath of allegiance.
According to him, APGA has put in place a strong structure that would actualize its bid to reclaim Imo state, which was lost with the defection of Governor Rochas Okorocha to the All Progressives Congress.
Asked whether he felt that the impeachment fever would spread to other states, he said those who have been abusing their offices should be sacked without delay.
Umeh said, “How I wish that there would be an opportunity to get more people who have been abusing their offices to be removed from office; let me tell you, a lot of people have been very careless in office in Nigeria and what we are asking for is for them to know that they are accountable to the people while in office.
“Anybody that is guilty of such offences like recklessness and lack of accountability should be shown the way out of governance provided it duly followed the provisions of our constitution.
“There is so much impunity and recklessness in this country. Some Governors have done certain things contrary to the provisions of the constitution to which they swore.
“The provision for impeachment is provided in our constitution. Section 188 of the constitution makes elaborate provision for impeachment of a President or Governor who has committed any impeachment offence.
“I do not know how they did Nyako’s impeachment because I am not from Adamawa State; if the people involved feel that the impeachment was not constitutional, they can seek redress in court. In Anambra state, for example in 2006, Peter Obi was unconstitutionally impeached, we went to court and he was reinstated. If they are sure that the constitution was breached, they can head to the court to seek redress.”
