Fintiri formally resumes as Adamawa speaker

Ahmadu Fintiri, former acting governor of Adamawa state, has formally resumed as speaker of Adamawa state house of assembly.

Addressing the plenary session on Tuesday, Fintiri said the legislature, which is “the defender of democracy”, needs to “exercise the constitutional duty of ridding Adamawa of bad governance once again without hesitation”.

Fintiri, who presided over the day’s plenary, thanked the members for their cooperation.

“As I happily resume my duties as the honourable speaker once again, after a brief but action-packed stint as the acting governor of Adamawa state, I thank honourable colleagues for the overwhelming cooperation I have enjoyed as your ambassador in the executive arm,” he said.

He thanked them for making personal sacrifices and enduring immense pressure to ensure that “our democratic intervention against bad governance and administration succeeds, in line with the popular demand of the people of Adamawa state”.

Fintiri also commended members for having confidence in him as a worthy representative, noting that what was achieved in the short time he was in governance would not have been otherwise achieved.

“As a law-abiding citizen and the number one law maker, I have taken events that occurred in the last couple of days in stride and I pledge to stand by the truth, no matter the blackmail and intimidation,” he said.

The former acting governor said his brief stewardship had resuscitated the state, which had been on a “life support in the past seven years”. He asked the people of the state to disregard the rumour that the interim government he led for 86 days would be investigated for spending N18bn.

He challenged those behind the claim, which he described as ridiculous, to provide evidence for expenditure that was incurred illegally.

During an emergency sitting last week, the state assembly had resolved to allow Fintiri to continue as the speaker after he was sacked as the acting governor by a high court order.

Adamu Kamale, chairman, house committee on information, said the house took the decision in view of Fintiri’s impressive performance.

Kamale described the speaker’s resumption as a home-coming , adding that he therefore did not need any formal inauguration.