Hyacinth Dajoh,
Just 24 hours after stepping down as Speaker, the Benue State House of Assembly has slammed a three-month suspension on Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, its immediate past leader.
The decision was reached during plenary on Tuesday, presided over by the newly elected Speaker, Alfred Emberga.
Dajoh’s suspension comes amid allegations that he was orchestrating a plan to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The motion for the suspension was moved by Emmanuel Shimawua, representing Vandeikya Kyan constituency, and seconded by Abu Umoru James of Apa constituency, both of whom were only recently reinstated after their own suspensions were lifted on Sunday.
In a related move, the Assembly also re-screened and confirmed two commissioner-nominees previously rejected under Dajoh’s leadership; Prof. Timothy Yangien Ornguga and James Dwen.
Furthermore, the lawmakers approved the recall of several state officials who had been on one-month suspension by the governor.
They include; Grace Adagba, Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Maxwell Ogiri, Executive Chairman, Otukpo Local Government and Michael Upper, Executive Secretary, State Lottery and Sporting Board.
This development follows a series of political upheavals within the Assembly.
On Friday, four lawmakers; Alfred Aondoaver Emberga (Makurdi North), Shimawua Emmanuel (Vandeikya 2), Cyril Ikong (Oju 2), and Abu Umoru (Apa), were suspended for allegedly conspiring to remove Dajoh from office.
But in a dramatic turn on Sunday, an emergency session led by Deputy Speaker Lami Danladi overturned the suspensions, reinstating the lawmakers.
Political commentator Che Rex weighed in on the crisis, stating, “These are ego battles that do not serve the people. What we need is peace in the Assembly to legislate good governance.”
