Nyako – Why Do They Celebrate?

WHY would anyone celebrate the
impeachment of Murtala Hamman-Yero Nyako
as governor of Adamawa State? How would
his departure improve governance or benefit
the State? Would the resources that would be
wasted in conducting another election to fill a
position that would be vacant only four
months after, not have made the Adamawa
State House of Assembly more circumspect?
In no way are we suggesting that Nyako, 70,
should have been left in office after the
allegations of serious infractions. Exactly when
did the infractions take place? When did the
State Assembly know? Why did an
impeachment become the only method of
dealing with the matter?
Adamawa could do with a new Governor, it
has an acting one. The same applies to many
States where governors are lords, beyond the
law, above everyone and everything. They run
on executive fuels available to them alone.
The State is theirs. They dispense patronage.
They infringe on rights. In addition, some
pillage the treasury, which is mostly accepted
as theirs.
A former Chief of Naval Staff, a former Deputy
Chief of Defence Staff, who left service as Vice
Admiral, and Governor of Adamawa State since
2007, Nyako has been one of Nigeria’s top
political actors for more than three decades.
His unforgiveable sin was being in the “wrong”
party at the time his offences became issues
that could affect governance in Adamawa
State.
They are not alone. Governors run their States
to their pleasure. Considerations for the
welfare of the people are minimal, if any. No
governor is ever impeached for not caring for
the people, though the Constitution in Section
14 (2b) rates the welfare and security of the
people as the primary purpose of government.
Are the celebrations in Adamawa over the
enthronement of welfare and security of the
people as the primary purpose of government?
No, the celebrations are about a new
government, new appointments, and new
opportunities for other people power to enter
the power ring. So many new things would
happen in the new Adamawa government,
without a change that would benefit the
people.
Adamawa is not alone in a democracy that
excludes the people. The people serve as the
best excuse for anything politicians want to
do. In the people’s name, they can move
mountains, but not for the people’s benefit.
Nyako is gone, just as it is guaranteed that
the politics of the new government is about
appropriating the State for new power
mongers. There should be better reasons for
the expensive exercise of impeaching a
governor.