The Sokoto State House of Assembly has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Awaisu Aliyu, a member representing Gada West constituency on the platform of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC). Aliyu is expected to retract statements he made in a recent interview with Iconic Television, which went viral on social media. The interview contained statements that the Assembly described as false and scandalous against its leadership.
According to the House Committee on House Service, Ethics and Privileges, the interview was posted on September 23. The Committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim, considered the statements made by Aliyu as capable of defaming the image and good name of the House. The Committee invited Aliyu to explain his actions and gave him a fair hearing. During the hearing, Aliyu admitted to granting the interview but made representations that were not supported by tangible evidence.
The Committee found Aliyu's claims concerning the construction of the Tashar Illela-Road Block Road to be false. The project, according to the Committee, was inherited from the previous administration and had already been captured in the budget for completion. Aliyu's actions were said to constitute an offence contrary to Section 17 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.
The Deputy Speaker said Section 14 of the Act provides for a member who fails to abide by the laid-down procedures of the House to be reprimanded or suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding one legislative session without pay. Aliyu apologized to the Committee and the Assembly over his actions. The Committee recommended that Aliyu should liaise with Iconic Television to bring down the interview and hold a press conference with media organizations in the state to retract his statements.
The Committee's recommendation stated that failure to hold the press conference within 24 hours would lead to Aliyu's suspension from the legislative service of the House for a period of three months. The Speaker, Alhaji Tukur Bala, put the Committee's recommendation to a voice vote, which was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers. The Assembly's decision was made to ensure that members respect the laid-down procedures and do not make statements that could tarnish the image of the House.
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has shown its commitment to upholding the dignity of the institution and ensuring that its members conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the House. The Assembly's decision to suspend Aliyu for three months if he fails to retract his statements within 24 hours sends a strong message to members to be mindful of their utterances in public.
The development has significant implications for the ADC lawmaker and the Assembly as a whole. Aliyu's suspension would be a major blow to his constituents and could affect the ADC's representation in the Assembly. The incident also highlights the need for lawmakers to be cautious in their public utterances and to ensure that they do not make statements that could be considered scandalous or defamatory.
Key points
- The Sokoto State House of Assembly has threatened to suspend Awaisu Aliyu, an ADC lawmaker, for three months over false statements made in a viral social media interview.
- The Assembly gave Aliyu 24 hours to retract his statements and apologize through a press conference with media organizations in the state.
- Failure to comply with the Assembly's directive would lead to Aliyu's suspension from the legislative service of the House for three months.
