COMRADE ISA AREMU
The use of impeachment and threats of impeachment against governors of states controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) is suspicious, the National Vice-President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Isa Aremu has said.
The labour leader argued that the sanctity of tenure of an elected public office holder is needed to sustain democracy.
His comment comes on the backdrop of the impeachment of former Adamawa State Governor. Murtala Nyako and the impeachment notice served Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State. They are both of the APC.
Aremu, who spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on the state’s radio programme, The Platform, urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to use his office to harass opposition governors.
He said: “What is worrisome to me is that of Nasarawa. The impeachment notice was served just at the time the President, who comes from another party, was visiting the state. I mean we should not give it the impression that the President is using his office to torment a governor in an opposition state. I don’t think this is the intention of the President.
“What I am saying is, even the timing alone makes it to be suspicious. The President is an elected President. Currently, he is our President. He has the right to relate with elected governors but he cannot relate with you when, as he is arriving at the state, the governor’s job is being threatened.
“I want President Jonathan to use his office to re-direct our political discourse along the line of statesmanship. He has done it before and I think he can do it before. Several times, he was threatened with impeachment and Nigerians stood up to say no.
“I am not a fan of some of these governors. Some of them are known for recklessness and a lot of executive impunity. But a good number of them engage in self-help for themselves rather than public service for their people. Of course, there are some governors who have also performed, who endeared themselves to the electorate in their states.”