Madness in Zamfara

Indeed only rascality and impunity can describe the current madness of the executive being perpetuated in Zamfara State. One wonders if buoyed by the travails of the current Senate President and his deputy who are locked in a cat and mouse game of immense proportions over a forgery scandal involving Senate rules, Governor Yari of […]

Indeed only rascality and impunity can describe the current madness of the executive being perpetuated in Zamfara State. One wonders if buoyed by the travails of the current Senate President and his deputy who are locked in a cat and mouse game of immense proportions over a forgery scandal involving Senate rules,
Governor Yari of Zamfara State has decided to act his own version of Tom and Jerry to copy the drama at the national stage.
In a move reminiscent of a fledgling dictator using the state apparatchiks in a Gestapo like manner, the embattled Governor swooped upon the State House of Assembly, arresting its Speaker and Deputy while sending the rest of the house members scampering for cover to escape the blitzkrieg of the hot tempered governor.
Where is the outcry over the threat to intimidate and muscle out the legislature? If care is not taken, more governors would see the Zamfara episode as a pathway to whip their state assembly members into line.
Since when did plotting to impeach a governor become a criminal offense worthy of the intervention of the DSS? Has the Executive become so power drunk that they have become dictators who fail to see the oversight functions of the House of Assembly in its constitutionally recognised role of providing checks and balances?
Governor Abdulaziz Yari stands accused of embezzling Billions in Naira including the bailout fund meant to pay workers.
Indeed it is on record that most governors embezzled this bailout fund as alleged by ICPC investigation into the utilization of the funds so isn’t it proper for the lawmakers in the affected states to start probing this horrendous crime? But in a fit of madness, a justified Legislative function has turned into a kangaroo court and distasteful game of Russian roulette.
This is not democracy, for if because of the toga of immunity gives a governor the passport to commit impunity without any brake pads to put the brakes on this out of control vehicle of governance, then democracy is dead in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s democracy is dying a slow but sure death at the rate we are going. Alas the madness in Zamfara is just one more chapter in the book of horrors perpetuated in Nigeria.
If the Executive rascality in Zamfara is left to stand, the end is nigh for our democracy as we move into the era of autocratic rule of the Warlords with the biggest war chest. God forbid.

Usman Mohammed, IBB University, Lapai-Niger State.