By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its immediate past Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, for three months over an alleged attempt to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The suspension followed a motion moved on Tuesday by Terna Shimawua, member representing Kyan State Constituency, and seconded by James Umoru of Apa State Constituency. Interestingly, Shimawua was among lawmakers suspended last Friday by Dajoh before he resigned as Speaker.
Ruling on the motion, the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, reduced the suspension period from six to three months without subjecting it to the usual voice vote.
In another development, the Assembly reversed its earlier decision and confirmed the nomination of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as Commissioner. Ornguga, a law lecturer at Benue State University, had been rejected last week under the leadership of former Speaker Dajoh.
Berger, while reading Governor Alia’s letter to the Assembly, also presented five additional nominees, including Ornguga and James Dwem, both of whom were previously turned down over petitions against their nominations. The governor argued that neither nominee had been convicted of any crime, hence the appeal for their clearance.
Surprisingly, lawmakers who had earlier opposed their confirmation remained silent as the Speaker approved both nominees without the customary voice vote.
The Assembly also lifted the suspension on three political office holders earlier sanctioned by the governor. They include Grace Adagba, Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board; Maxwell Ogiri, Chairman of Otukpo Local Government; and Michael Uper, Secretary of the State Lottery Board.
