The recent ruling of the Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Lafia, ordering the reinstatement of Mohammed Alhaji Haliru (Arabo) as the Executive Chairman of Lafia Local Government Council, should not be twisted to portray Governor Engr. A. A. Sule as a hero of “neutrality” or “inclusiveness.” The judgment is simply a reaffirmation of the Supreme Court’s long-standing position and a confirmation of the clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The High Court’s decision is not a favour from anybody; it is a confirmation of the Supreme Court’s earlier rulings and the constitutional order that democratically elected local government chairmen cannot be illegally removed under any guise. The judiciary only did what the law requires.
For emphasis, the Supreme Court has delivered multiple judgments declaring that no State House of Assembly, Governor, or any of their agents has the power to suspend or dissolve elected Local Government Chairmen. Only the Local Government Legislative Council has such authority—certainly not the State Assembly. This is the law, and the court simply restored what should never have been tampered with.
The 1999 Constitution is explicit in Section 40, which guarantees freedom of association:
“Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons… and he may form or belong to any political party or any other association for the protection of his interests.”
Haliru (Arabo) merely exercised this constitutional right by supporting whoever he wished politically. That cannot be a crime in a constitutional democracy.
Now that the law has spoken, those behind the illegal removal are exposed and embarrassed. Instead of accepting responsibility for their miscalculation, they are now looking for who to blame.
Governor Engr. A. A. Sule and his team have now realized the blunder. Their attempt to hide behind the narrative of “patience and tolerance” cannot erase the fact that the entire state knows the Governor was behind the illegal removal simply because the chairman supported a different political interest. The confusion and blame-shifting we are seeing today is a direct result of the law catching up with them.
As for the attempt to portray former IGP Mohammed Adamu Abubakar and the APC State Chairman as “the problem” of Nasarawa APC, that claim is not only surprising but utter bunkum. When did having masses support an aspirant become a problem for the party? When did women and youth supporting an aspirant become a threat? When did stakeholders and elected officials openly backing an aspirant suddenly become an offence? When did philanthropic activities, medical outreach, and community support become a “party crisis”? So the expect IG Adamu to start running away from people as they do?
The truth is simple: popularity is not a crime. Supporting an aspirant is not insubordination. And no amount of propaganda can change these facts.
In conclusion, the court ruling has merely reaffirmed the truth. Those trying to twist the narrative or divert blame should take a moment to reflect. The constitution has spoken, the court has acted, and the people of Nasarawa State understand exactly what happened. And, the people of Nasarawa state now who are the problem of Nasarawa APC and who are the lovers of Nasarawa masses.
Aminu Sani Akwanga writes from Lafia, Nasarawa state
