The fight to halt corrupt practices in Nigeria seems to have shifted from the public service, national assembly, judiciary and corporate bodies to the palace.
In a surprise move, the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa has removed the former Governor of Adamawa State; Murtala Nyako and his son Abdul Azizi who is the current Senator representing Adamawa Central from the Adamawa Emirate Council, pending the time they are able to clear their names over the corruption allegations leveled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Secretary to the Adamawa Emirate Council in a letter dated 4th October, 2016, wrote formally to communicate the removal order to the Nyakos. Former Governor Nyako was before then, the “Seriki Yama” (Chief of the South of Adamawa), while his son Abdul Azizi was “Seriki Matasa” (King of the boys or Youths) of Adamawa.
When The Palace Watch put a call through to the Secretary to the Adamawa Emirate Council; Umaru Hammanjoda on the subject matter, the Personal Assistant to the Lamido of Adamawa, Abubakar Dahiru said the Secretary was meeting with the Lamido on the matter. The P.A. however, agreed to speak with us. The following interaction took place.
What exactly is going on between the Nyakos and the Emirate Council?
Abubakar Dahiru “The Nyakos are very funny set of people. You see, anybody familiar with the antecedent of the Lamido, knows that he has this zero tolerance for corruption, especially among title holders of the Emirate Council. Let me refer you to the Lamido’s statement in May 2010, in which he said: “traditional titles in Adamawa were not for sale and would be given only to worthy candidates based on the recommendations of the Emirate’s kingmakers.” In view of the foregoing, nobody would be surprised that the Nyakos were deposed. Therefore, the continuous retention of the Nyakos in the Emirate Council will amount to aiding, abetting and sympathising with acts of recklessness and corruption, which the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari is doing all within its power to curtail.”
“Former Governor Nyako is not only a former high ranking Military Officer and Governor of Adamawa State; he was, before his removal from the Emirate Council, a high ranking member of the Council as “Seriki Yama.” If such a member of the council is allowed to continue to sit with other eminent sons and daughters of Adamawa state in the Emirate Council, without first clearing his name, the general impression outside would be that the Adamawa Emirate Council is in support of his actions alongside his son.
“The Emirate Council’s action is a deliberate effort to help the present administration in the sanitisation of the Nigerian system and give impetus to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to curtail corrupt practices in Nigeria.”
In a swift reaction, Senator Abdul Azizi Nyako in a letter dated 20 October, 2016, written in his official letter-headed paper as the Senator representing Adamawa Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties entitled “RE DEPOSITION AS SARKI MATASA ADAMAWA” acknowledged the receipt of the letter dated October 4th deposing him with effect from 16 October 2016 as Sarki Matasa Adamawa.
In his letter addressed to the Secretary, Adamawa Emirate Council, Yola, Adamawa State, Senator Nyako stressed that the reason for his removal was laughable, as being arranged by the EFCC on purported charges of “Corruption and Looting” does not mean that he is guilty of the offence. He went further to say that the reason stated for his removal is untenable, considering the fact that the Lamido himself was once indicted and convicted by Justice Husseini Oyewo Commission of Inquiry for criminal charges of “Embezzlement of Public Funds.” He alleged that the Lamido spent one year and seven months at the Yola Prison, and yet, he is today the Lamido of Adamawa. Senator Nyako concluded his letter by saying that Allah the Almighty has decreed that his time as Sarki Matasa of Adamawa was over, and that he accepted the decision of Allah whole heartedly with cheers.
Abubakar Dahiru dismissed Senator Nyako’s allegations that the revered Lamido was once indicted by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, saying the allegation was reckless, unfounded and malicious. He said for the purpose of records, what happened was that the present Lamido was a Commissioner of Works and Animal Health during the civil administration in the old Gongola State that preceded the military coup of 1983, which removed former President Shehu Aliyu Shagari from office as President and sacked all the state governors then. He explained that when the military toppled Shagari’s government, they ordered all public office holders then, federal and states, to be remanded in prison custody pending the completion of investigations of the cases leveled against them. And since the present Lamido was in government then, he was kept in Yola prison alongside other colleagues of his in the old Gongola State cabinet. After proper investigations he was released as nothing incriminating was found against him.
Expectedly, on the 2nd of November 2016, the Adamawa Emirate Council formally replied Senator Abdul Azizi Nyako’s allegations as follows:
“Re Deposition As Sarki Matasa Adamawa
I am directed by His Royal Highness, Lamido Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Aliyu Musdafa, Ph.D., CFR, to write and acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 20 October, 2016. With the above caption and also to inform you that contrary to your allegations he was not indicted by any judiciary commission of inquiry. The fact is that when the military took over in 1983, all political office holders nationwide were investigated along with His Royal Highness, who was also investigated and released after being cleared of any wrong doing.
However, to say that he was indicted is not only a bloody lie but also a violation of his human right, but if you are interested in joining issues, His Royal Highness will certainly not hesitate to make public further details of you and your father’s crimes. You are also to be reminded that the Adamawa Central Senatorial seat you are occupying today does not reflect the views of your constituency, which is Adamawa South but a direct result of the influence of His Royal Highness. When your father was exiled after being impeached and removed, and having lost all credibility within your senatorial zone, His Royal Highness made sure that you became a Senator even in Adamawa Central Senatorial seat, but today you are trying to bite the fingers that fed you. This is surely unethical.”
The letter was signed by Umaru Hammanjoda Secretary, Adamawa Emirate Council, Yola.
Abubakar Dahiru stressed, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Emirate Council will never go back on its decision no matter the efforts to intimidate or blackmail the Lamido.The Council’s decision to depose the Nyakos, he said was good for the image of the Emirate.
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