From Yakubu Busari, Jos
Ex-Minister for Sports and Youths Development, Barr . Solomon Selcap Dalung has advised Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to inaugurate the remaining seven members of the Plateau State Assembly to avoid unnecessary constitutional crises that might affect the peace security and good governance in the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our medium at Sabon-Baraki of Jos South Local Government Council of Plateau State on Monday, Dalung said the country operates a monolithic judicial system
He said because the Magistrate Court, High Court the Appeal Court and Supreme Court all fall within the judicial ranking system in Nigeria, the judgements they give are pinned on high records referred to as precedence and so, any of the courts that has the final jurisdiction on a matter is regarded as the Supreme Court court on that particular matter.
He further said that as far as Nigeria was concerned, the Court of Appeal is a Supreme Court in respect of election matter regarding the National and State Houses of Assembly and the judgement is final so it can’t be challenge by anybody.
He therefore admonished Governor Caleb Mutfwang to know that he cannot sit over or adjudicate over the Appeal Court decision on the State House of Assembly matter already.
He stressed that the Supreme Court lacks the jurisdiction on the State House of Assembly or the National Assembly poll matter.
He said, “the governor as a lawyer as soon as possible should facilitate the inauguration of the state house of assembly member, all those that the court has declared as winners, as duly elected. They should be sworn-in.”
According to him, “We are not happy with it but there is nothing we can do because the court has decided so we cannot do otherwise, but abide by the decision. The court took that decision therefore the governor can’t chose another path.”
Dalung further stated that the inability of Governor Mutfwang to inaugurate the affected lawmakers is unconstitutional and by doing that he is s putting the state under a very serious risk .
“I know that the governor has ba large heart and should not allow people to toe that illegal path because it would take us into another fresh constitutional crises that would affect the peace and security of the state.”
Dalung advised the governor to do the needful or stand the risk of allowing the National Assembly which has the constitutional right, to take over the legislative power of the Plateau State House of Assembly. This may lead to ceding power to the National Assembly and the ssubjugation of the State Assembly to manipulation.
He disclosed that once granted that power, the National Assembly would exercise right after the inauguration and then handover the Assembly back to it’s new leadership.
” So I will prefer that the governor inaugurates the House and let the House of Assembly know that all of us are indigene of Plateau State and are working for interest of the people of the state.
“We need to work for Plateau but if the issue slips off his hand, it is going to affect his integrity as a leader, which will in turn affect the stability and bring back the rancorous political situation that we had during electioneering.”
According to Dalung, if that situation prevails, then the House of Assembly will be drawing its strength or power from the federal government and the governor will be boxed into a corner as the Kano State governor is currently boxed into a corner over the emirship tussle.
Solomon Dalung advised the governor to disregard everything, everybody and anyone who is advising him against the inauguration of the House of Assembly.
” Such persons are either the governor’s enemy or potential enemy or planning to join the governor enemies and this will not augur well with the state.”
