Governor Aliyu Begs Senate President

The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, on Thursday reportedly tendered an unreserved apology to the Senate President, Senator David Mark, ThisDay reports.

The governor tendered the apology in Minna, due to the unruly behavior of Hon. Abdullahi Degechi Usman Cheche, on account of the physical attack on Senator David Mark by Niger Zone A member of the House of Assembly.

Aliyu also disclosed that the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), government and the people of the state were embarrassed by the shameless show of disrespect shown by the member.

The governor stated that Hon. Cheche’s action was despicable, notorious and dishonorable for a lawmaker.

“I am indeed embarrassed when I watched on television and on social media the disgraceful conduct of Cheche against the senate president. While such conduct is not expected of a lawmaker, it is even shocking the member had the effrontery to attack the senate president who was one time the governor of Niger State. I expected him to respect Senator Mark either as senate president or as a former governor of his state who performed excellently well and has earned the respect of people of the state. We must understand that leadership comes with maturity and scrupulous disposition to persons or issues. We in Niger State are indeed shocked by his woeful conduct. Let me therefore apologise to the senate president for the embarrassing conduct of Chache,” Aliyu said.

He further revealed that the state chapter of the PDP had started disciplinary action against the lawmaker, insisting that his despicable action must be treated to serve as deterrent to others and also to sanitise the party of people like Cheche.

Aliyu, however, pointed out that it was time politicians understood that occupying elective positions comes with basic acceptable attributes, adding that no matter how bad issues are, they should be subjected to dialogue and not fighting.

The incident reportedly happened following the crisis that emerged at the National Assembly on Thursday prior to start of House of Reps meeting aimed at discussing emergency rule extension in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has explained why itinvaded the National Assembly Complex on Thursday, 20 November, 2014.

It would be recalled that Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, on November 19, 2014, expressed his support for the controversial extension of emergency rule in the troubled north eastern part of the country.