By Juliana Katung
Kaduna (Nigeria)–The suspension of 2 PDP members in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, northwest of the country, has been described as a disgrace to democracy .
As a result, the affected members have therefore been advised to go to court.
The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State Chapter, Felix Hassan Hyat made the assertion when dozens of stakeholders from the party suspended members’ constituencies, Zangon Kataf and Kaura local government staged a peaceful solidarity protest to his office in Kaduna, saying that it’s remained mute on issues that matters but suspended their members for baseless reason.
According to him, the Assembly that used one and half hours to pass a supplementary budget, did not comment on the last fire incidence that gutted the old Panteka market when what he called the ‘fire extinguisher’ agency claimed that it’ did not have water when they were called.
“If the majority members in the Assembly are afraid of only four members of the opposition, that means that they don’t know what they are doing or why they are elected in the House”, Hyat noted.
According to Hyat, “the PDP caucus in the Assembly saw the need to change their leadership, sat down in a meeting, change the leaders and communicated to the party which in turn, in a letter dated 21st, November 2017 wrote to the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, but instead of announcing the changes on the floor of House, suspended key newly officers in conspiracy with one of the PDP members.”
He alleged that the motion that was moved on the floor of the House on the suspension, was drafted by one of the leaders among the out gone leadership.
“We have already communicated the change of the party leadership of the Kaduna Assembly to the National head quarters of the party and the party will censor any member that is involved in the conspiracy ” the chairman added.
To the protesters, the Chairman told them that they were fighting for their rights and assured them of the party’s commitment to ensuring that justice prevailed.
He advised the speaker to honourably do the right thing by reversing the suspension as well as announce the change of leadership.
Earlier, the two team leaders from Kaura and Zangon Kataf constituencies, Sale Pashi and Joseph Auta respectively condemned the suspension of their members by the Assembly and described it as illegal.
The ruling party, they said have no right to interfere with their party matters.
While thanking the party leardership for approving the appointment of the members as minority leader and minority whip which led to the suspension from the assembly, they said the action of the lawmakers showed that both of them were force to record with.
They however, appealed to the party leadership to do every thing within its power to ensure the appointments are sustained and the suspension canceled.
