March 17, 2024
The eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have raised the alarm over alleged harassment by security operatives, bullying by political thugs in the state, and threats to their lives.
The affected lawmakers who made this known at a news conference in Zaria on Sunday, March 17, described the recent development as illegal and flagrant infringement on their legislative immunity.
Leader of the group, Bashir Aliyu who represents Gummi 1 constituency explained that the affected members were illegally suspended and harassed for exposing a high level of insecurity in the state and the prolonged absence of the Speaker and his deputy from the state.
However, in an effort to align themselves with constitutional provisions and yearnings for peace in the state ravaged by insecurity, 8 out of 24 State Assembly members were suspended.
Aliyu further alleged, in a twist of the event, that political thugs suspected to be loyalists of Speaker Bilyamin Moriki, attacked some of the suspended members at the deputy governor’s daughter’s wedding on Feb. 24.
He described the political thugs’ attack as a threat to their lives, which he said should not be taken with levity.
He also alleged that a joint team of police and civil defence armed with sophisticated weapons were trailing the suspended members at their various houses to arrest them which forced them to go into hiding.
Aliyu said: “In what can be described as an additional infringement on their legislative immunity the suspended members were served letters reference No. ZMHA/ADM/223/Vol. 1 dated March 7, 2024, instructing them to return official vehicles given to them to the office of the Clerk of Assembly within seven days.
“We want to notify that Democracy is in danger in our dear sympathetic state despite insecurity and poverty and other challenges bedeviling the state hence the call for the intervention of key stakeholders to salvage the situation.”
It would be recalled that, on the 27th February 2024, Zamfara State House of Assembly, suspended eight lawmakers for alleged violation of the Assembly’s Order 10, Rule 9.
