On Sunday, Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, shocked people within and outside the northeastern state when he declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays.
Arguably the most frequently-asked question of the day is why citizens of the state have suddenly been gifted two days away from work? Two reasons: one, the stated; the other, the implied.
According to Nyako’s chief of staff, A. Abba, July 7 and 8 were approved as work-free days “to enable the people of the state to reflect on the current happenings in the country and to use the period to offer special prayers for peace in the state and the country.”
The period is to also “allow Adamawa workers reflect on their current challenges” and its is also a “thanksgiving period for the citizens to appreciate God’s protection despite all challenges.”
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Three explanations that amount to no explanation! On the day the holidays were announced, citizens of the state were actually enjoying a work-free day — a Sunday that they could have used to reflect on the country’s current happenings or reflect on their challenges or thank God for protection.
As has been widely argued, Nyako has declared the holidays to stall his impending impeachment. After the court ruling compelling the acting chief judge to inaugurate a panel to investigate the allegations against him, it was expected that the inauguration would hold on Monday. Were it not for the holidays, the seven-man panel would have commenced sittings by now.
Such is the speed with which this impeachment is to be prosecuted that a lawmaker recently told TheCable that Nyako could be booted out of office within 10 days.
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So, really, who would blame him? This is a man whose impeachment is now all but certain. With 20 of the 25 members of his house spoiling for his removal, his fate has clearly been taken out of his hands. Now, it is inconsequential if Nyako is truly guilty of “misconduct and corruption”; majority of the state legislators want him out, so it’s hard to imagine a turnaround, guilty or not.
Now, if Nyako has the numbers against him, why should he be censured for exploiting the only factor in his favour: state executive power. This is perhaps why conversations around the propriety of his dubious public holidays are needless. Instead, what is the efficacy of this lifeline that the septuagenarian is so desperately clinging to? Has someone tried it before, and did it work? Yes, then no!
3 comments
The acting Cheif judge has only 3months to be in office and that expires today hence the public holiday declaration.Inyako still has the prerogative of appointing another person as Acting CJ. Somebody loyal to Nyako may be appointed tomorrow as Acting CJ..Lets watch with keen interest as the drama unfolds
These politicians are funny. The same Nyako that reluctantly accepted Obasanjo’s bait to become a Governor in 2007 is now possessed of power. Public holiday or political holiday, if your people are tired of your leadership, is it not honourable to quit honourably rather than being dishonourably booted out? Abi what type of country is this?
“Perhaps the president succeeded in destabilising the APC camp, but the holidays did little to prevent the court from nullifying Atiku’s disqualification.”
APC in 2007???