The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned Governors Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State over worsening insecurity in their states.
The governors, along with the state Houses of Assembly, are expected to appear before the committee on Thursday, May 8. This follows a petition submitted by a civil rights organisation, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, which urged the federal legislature to take over the constitutional functions of the two states due to the breakdown of security.
In a statement issued Friday, the Head of Media of the committee, Chooks Oko, confirmed the summons. He stated: “The summons is sequel to a petition written by a civil rights organisation urging the House to take over the functions of the two Houses of Assembly.”
Committee Chairman Mike Etaba, who personally signed the summons, emphasized the need to uphold the rule of law: “Ours is to ensure that the rule of law is upheld at all times.
The parties have a wonderful opportunity to state their cases clearly so that Nigerians can know what is going on. Anarchy would never be given any space in our polity.”
This development adds to the growing concern over deadly attacks in both states, with recent reports of killings and arms recoveries by soldiers from bandit camps.
