A renowned activist in Kogi State, Comrade Idris Miliki, has condemned the suspension of nine lawmakers and seven local government chairmen by the Kogi State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Kogi State House of Assembly suspended nine lawmakers and Seven Council Chairman on Thursday over alleged gross misconduct, terrorism, electoral violence and anti-party activities in the just concluded 2023 general election.
Miliki, who took a swipe at the decision of the Assembly led by its speaker Hon. Mathew Kolawole to suspend the lawmakers and council chairmen, said the hallow chamber should not turn itself into a unit or department under the Government House in the State.
The activist called on Governor Yahaya Bello to respect democratic principles and due process in all his activities, including dealing with all citizens of Kogi State.
While describing as worrisome and dangerous to democratic development on the latest happenings in Kogi State House of Assembly, Miliki said, “the legislators are supposed to be independent arms of government that set out its own rules and procedure. The recent development where members are suspended at random, call for caution, as legislators are elected to represent their constituencies, any suspensions carried out on any of them legitimately or otherwise have reflection and impact on the constituencies they represent.
“Where a crime or criminality has been established, reports should have been made to relevant security agencies for proper investigation and persecution, as everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Before any local government chairman can be remove, the legislative arm of such Local Government should have play a verifiable role, by carrying out their own legislative investigations as prescribe by law, and reports are made to the State Assembly in our own opinion. All reports made available to the public, doesn’t indicate such processes has been followed”.