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Adamawa Governorship Battle: Ngilari’s Resignation Still Stands – Lawyer

A Legal Practitioner, Norrison Quakers, says the resignation letter of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari, still stands, as it was voluntary.  On Channels Television’s … Continue reading Adamawa Governorship Battle: Ngilari’s Resignation Still Stands – Lawyer


Morrison_QuakersA Legal Practitioner, Norrison Quakers, says the resignation letter of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari, still stands, as it was voluntary. 

On Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, on Friday, Mr Quakers hinged his statement on the resignation letter of the Deputy Governor which was handed over to the speaker of the State House of Assembly before the impeachment of the Governor,  Murtala Nyako.

Mr Quakers questioned why it took the former deputy governor a long while after the impeachment of the governor before he realised that the governor’s seat was vacant.

“Why did it take him several months to wake up to the realisation that there is vacancy. Where was he when the governor was at the impeachment proceedings?” He questioned.

Quakers, stressed that the letter still stands since it was a voluntary action of the deputy, emphasising that it does not matter who he gave the letter to, but the fact still remains that the “deputy governor has written a letter and he is as good as gone”.

Backing his statement, he stated  that the constitution approved of the vacancy of the governorship position since the deputy governor resigned, an act he stressed made it possible for the Speaker of the House of Assembly to be sworn in.

“The constitution as it is, even though, is not a perfect document has provision for situations like we are experiencing currently in Adamawa State. The constitution, in section 191 stipulates what should be done if there is vacancy in the office. In all of this, the aspect of resignation is personal to the occupant or occupier of that office.

“Ordinarily the deputy governor should have stepped in after the governor’s impeachment. In the absence of the governor, the deputy acts  as governor until the House of the Assembly gives a go ahead to swear him in,” he explained.

He stressed that  Politicians in Nigeria, needed to be honourable, expressing disappointment with the deputy governor’s plan to return to the Government House after his resignation letter was made public.

“After the governor was impeached, a lot of us expected the deputy governor to be sworn in, only for us to hear he actually resigned. Now how come he is suddenly turning around to say that he never actually resigned.

“We should be honorable in this country. Did he leave the office? Yes he actually left the office,” Mr Quakers stressed.

He said that the former deputy governor apparently decided that rather than being subjected to an impeachment proceedings, he should resign.

“Now the deputy may have thought that a man who resigned can no longer be impeached, but governance is not by compulsion,” he insisted.