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Maku seeks state of emergency in Nasarawa

By Chuwang Emmanuel, Lafia
27 July 2016   |   4:46 am
Former Minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku, yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of economic and social emergency in Nasarawa State.
Labaran Maku

Labaran Maku

• Condemns suspension of lawmakers

Former Minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku, yesterday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of economic and social emergency in Nasarawa State.

The ex-minister, who made the call while addressing journalists at his Akwanga home, described Nasarawa as “a failed state.”

He said the call became necessary, in order to save the state from the recklessness and financial mismanagement of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura

Maku, who is also the National secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said the governor’s leadership has no sympathy for the suffering masses, especially civil servants.

He urged the president to invoke the doctrine of necessity by sponsoring a bill to constitute a team of elders, representatives of workers, civil society groups and other stakeholders, to manage the resources of the state.

The ex-minister described the state as, “laboratory case of a failed state with total absence of governance, functional government utilities and institutions, coupled with total absence of security.”

“Where did Al-Makura invest the about N100 billion he collected from the federation account in the last five years? What about the over N40 billion he received as loans, apart from the internally generated revenue, the millions of ecological, Sure-P and MDGs funds, including the over N400 million flood victims funds?” he asked.

He faulted the use of management committees in the running of local council areas.

According to him, since Al-Makura finds it lawful to operate that way, it would not be wrong if the president approaches the National Assembly with the suggested emergency rule.

Maku, who was also the APGA governorship flag-bearer in the last election, also condemned the state legislators’ decision to suspend six of their colleagues.

The assembly, had on April 5, banned six lawmakers from parliamentary activities for opposing the governor’s appointment of sole administrators in 11 local councils and allegedly disrupting the house sitting during the presentation of the controversial bill.

The legislators had earlier been suspended for six months with half salaries, without other entitlements before suspending them indefinitely.

He described the decision as wicked, vindictive and undemocratic.

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