Kaduna Speaker Resigns
By Sam Adzegeh, Kaduna
Monday, September 22, 2008
Abdullahi Adamu Ikara, speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, resigns on health grounds
The Kaduna State House of Assembly, last week, got a new leadership with the assumption of office by Ahmed Hassan Jumare as speaker. Jumare, member representing Makarfi constituency, was elected speaker at a brief session after the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu Ikara, former speaker, due to poor health. Ikara was forced to resign after his prolonged illness generated series of protests from stakeholders across the state. He was said to have suffered a stroke and was still reporting for duty.
Surprisingly, the pressure to resign came mostly from his own Ikara constituency. Early last August, more than 1000 members of his constituency wrote to the house, requesting that Ikara resigns his headship of the house. In the letter, the concerned members argued that the former speaker was not giving them adequate representation due to his failing health. The former speaker, however, held on doggedly, insisting that he was in enough good health to continue to steer the affairs of the house. But at all public appearances, it was obvious that Ikara was not strong. He was often seen limping along with the aid of a walking stick.
Last week, however, Ikara caved in to the pressure. Newswatch learnt that the leadership of the PDP in the state under Ya’u Sa’i Jama’a, the state chairman complained to Namadi Sambo, the state governor that Ikara’s continued stay as speaker of the house was polarising the house and adversely affecting its activities. It was learnt that following this complaint, the governor decided to advise the former speaker to step down.
Before proceeding to the lesser hajj, Sambo was said to have held a meeting with top members of the party in far away Lagos where the decision was taken to drop Ikara. Ikara was, however, said to have remained adamant, insisting that as an elected representative, he could not be forced out until his people recalled him. In the end, Sambo was said to have offered the former speaker two options. He was told to choose between resigning as speaker and completing his tenure as house member, or be impeached and recalled from the house. It was this hard choice that eventually forced the former speaker to throw in the towel. Newswatch learnt that the state government even offered to again fly him abroad to seek additional medical treatment for his ailment.
Delivering his resignation address, a tearful Ikara admitted that his state of health had deteriorated in the past one year, and regretted that this had adversely affected his ability to be effective as speaker. "Despite the spirited prayers and intervention of the state executive for proper medical attention here at home and abroad, it is apparent that things have not significantly improved for me to effectively steer the affairs of this honourable house," he said. He urged his colleagues to continue to uphold the role of the house as the first realm of government in the state, and to continue to pray for his recovery as well as the development of the state.
After his speech, there was a brief re-election ceremony during which Jumare was nominated as the new speaker and the members unanimously adopted him. In his remarks, the new speaker expressed gratitude that he was considered credible enough to lead the house. "I am quite mindful of the enormous responsibility you have bestowed on me, and I feel confident that with your understanding and co-operation, we shall succeed in our constitutional mandate," he said.
The new speaker, who hails from Makarfi Local Government, was born on June 1, 1960. He was elected chairman, Makarfi local government in 1999 and served in that capacity until 2003 when he contested and was elected member, House of Assembly in 2003. He holds an advanced diploma in Public Administration from Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria.
Shuaibu Makarfi, public relations officer of the House, said it was good that the change of guard in the house had ended without any serious crisis. Obviously referring to the widespread jubilation which followed shortly after the swearing-in of the new speaker, Makarfi said every member in the house wished the former speaker well and was praying for his complete recovery. "After all, anybody can fall sick," he said.
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