By Godwin Igber

The  failed attempt by some members of the Benue State House of Assembly to impeach its speaker, Hon. Aondona Dajoh has led to the suspension of four members of the assembly for their involvment.

The four members suspended for  an initial period three months are the  member representing Makurdi North, Alfred Emberga, the representative of Vandeikya II, Terna Shimawua, member representing Oju II, Cyril Ikong and the Representative of Apa State Constituency, Abu Umoru.

In a motion of urgent public importance, the majority leader and member representing Mbagwa State Constituency, Saater Tiseer, informed the house that barely three days after the House passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker Aondona Dajoh and Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Makurdi North representative went behind to mobilse other members in a move to betray the resolutions of the house.
He said “Further concerned that the collective action of the three (3) Honourable Members is inimical to peaceful co-existence and should not be tolerated, resolving that the House condemn in the strongest terms the dishonourable actions of Hon. Alfred Aondoaver (Makurdi North State Constituency) and his cohorts”.

He said the collective action of the three members was against the peaceful co-existence of the 10th assembly, requesting their immediate suspension for six months to uphold the honour and integrity of the assembly.

Seconding the motion, member representing Gwer East State Constituency, Elias Audu emphasized the need for the legislative arm of government to be independent from external influence, describing it as a beacon of democracy.

Also speaking in support of the motion, member representing Katsina-Ala West State Constituency, Bemdoo Ipusu, said the members nursing the ambition to take over the leadership of the assembly was detrimental to the progress and development of Benue State.

Speaker Aondona Dajoh ruled the suspension of the four members for three months, and dissolved their house standing committees while appointing Elias Audu as the new spokesman for the house, Douglas Akya as the new deputy chief whip and Kennedy Angbo as the new deputy majority leader.

Speaking with journalists shortly after plenary, the new spokesperson and member representing Gwer East, Elias Audu, said the suspended members convened a secret meeting without approval from the leadership of the house, noting that as a house their collective legislative proceedings were carried out without recourse to the representatives of the people .

According to him, the affected members have refused to make their intentions known to the house, describing their actions as against the standing rules.

Attempts by this newspaper to reach the perceived leader of the group, Alfred Emberga to speak on his suspension were unsuccessful as he did not answer his phone nor replied message sent to his number