By Apaa Jande.
It has been revealed that embattled Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange, has recruited thugs and armed militia men from across the state to disrupt today’s sitting of the Assembly.
According to sources, the Speaker adopted these latest measures when it became evident to him following developments from last Tuesday’s seating, that he may not be able to stave off the wave of opposition that has risen against his continued leadership of the House.
The group known as Consensus for Change made up of a coalition of 18 lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have taken a stand that following the weight of corruption allegations levelled against the Speaker and principal officers of the House lately the leadership has lost the credibility to continue to lead the House.
The group is therefore, demanding that the Speaker and all principal officers of the House resign their positions in the interest of the sanity and integrity of the Legislature as an arm of government in the state.
But the Speaker, at last Tuesday’s sitting of the House had declined entertaining a request by the group to raise a point of order through Hon. Kester Kyenge representing Logo State Constituency, a situation which resulted in rowdiness on the floor of the House.
The Speaker had then adjourned sitting to today, Thursday, and addressing a press conference in Makurdi yesterday, he alleged that the Kester Kyenge- led group is trying to impeach him through unconstitutional means which he vowed to resist.
It is this resolve to fight for his survival on the Speakership seat that sources reveal has led Ikyange to resort to desperate methods of violence, which many fear may visit untold consequences on the House.
Aondona Isaka wall