Ten members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, recently suspended for allegedly speaking out on the security challenges affecting their constituents, have formed a parallel legislative assembly in the state.
They described their suspension as illegal, misleading, and baseless.
The lawmakers, who had earlier reaffirmed the selection of Bashar Aliyu Gummi as Speaker following the impeachment of former Speaker Biliyaminu Ismail Moriki by a majority of the House last year over alleged high-handedness and misconduct, convened in Gusau on Wednesday to deliberate on key issues of public interest.
Presiding over the sitting, factional Speaker Bashar Aliyu Gummi, representing Gummi 1 Constituency, after more than two-hour session, issued a one-month ultimatum to Governor Dauda Lawal to decisively address the worsening insecurity in the state, including banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
The lawmakers, drawn from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused the state government of complacency amid the escalating security crisis.
The group urged the state government to change its approach and provide full support to security agencies risking their lives to protect citizens.
They also decried the alleged poor welfare and inadequate equipment for the state-owned Security Protection Guards (Askarawa).
They both questioned the legitimacy of their suspension, pointing out that a Speaker who was impeached by 18 out of 24 members should not have the authority to suspend others.
In a scathing criticism, the lawmakers also alleged that some of Governor Lawal’s associates from Niger, Kaduna, and Adamawa states had acquired multi-billion-naira properties shortly after visiting Zamfara, suggesting misuse of public resources.
During the session, all participating members contributed to discussions on insecurity, alleged constitutional breaches by Governor Lawal, and the arbitrary dismissal of civil servants without just cause.
