Nasarawa speakership crisis: Ogazi steps down for Abdullahi

Mr Daniel Ogazi, All Progressives Congress (APC- Kokona East) and factional Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has stepped down to pave way for Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, (APC-Umaisha/Ugya) to emerge as the speaker of the assembly.

Ogazi announced his withdrawal from the contest at a press conference on Friday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Ogazi and Abdullahi were elected at different locations, on June 6,  thereby creating two factions of the 7th Assembly in the state.

Abdullahi was elected a sitting at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by 11 members-elect, while Ogazi was elected by 13 others at the State Assembly complex.

Ogazi said that the decision to stepdown his ambition was in the best interest of the development of the state.

He noted with concern that while other states were moving on, Nasarawa was negatively impacted due to lack of functional assembly.

He explained that himself and other members loyal to his course  were worried that his ambition to be speaker of the 7th Assembly had aroused opposition with an attendant negative consequence on governance in the state.

He further said that the unfortunate development was a serious course for concern, hence the need for him to reconsider his stance and come to a compromise.

“I compromised not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is a decision that best serve our collective interest as a state in order to make any reasonable progress.

“While other states of the federation since the inception of this new dispensation have recorded tremendous successes, ours is negatively impacted due to lack of a functional assembly.

“A situation that has plunged the state into needless constitutional crisis, attracting negative attention from within and outside the state.

“I hereby, set aside my speakership ambition with an assurance to henceforth unite and work for the collective good and in the overall interest of the State,” he said.

Ogazi appealed to his  supporters to see reasons with them on why Nasarawa State must make progress regardless of any personal interest.

He appreciated all the stakeholders, who intervened towards ending the impasse, especially Gov. Abdullahi Sule for ensuring that normalcy was restored at the Assembly.

He, therefore, on behalf of other members of the group pledged to work with the speaker of the 7th assembly to make laws and support Gov Sule for the overall development of the state.