Gov. Yari is not from Zamfara – Senator

The representative of Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Kabiru Marafa, on Thursday alleged that that the incumbent Governor of the state,  Abdulaziz Yari, is not an indigene of the state.

Marafa, who made the allegation through a Point of Order on Senate floor, said Yari has no right to stop anybody’s confirmation because the Senate is not his rubber stamp.

According to him, Yari is not from Zamfara State because his parents are not from there.

The Senate had rejected the Zamfara State nominee for consideration as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ahmad Bello Mahmud, on the ground that the nominee is not an indigene of the state.

The rejection of the Independent Nwas based on the petition written by Yari.

After the protest on the issue by Senator Marafa, the Senate directed the committee to do the needful.

However, at the plenary session, Marafa, who was infuriated about the development, said senators are not Governor Yari’s boys.

Marafa said: “Mr. President, in your wisdom, when I came with a motion for a passionate appeal to my colleagues to do justice for an innocent Nigerian who was nominated to represent Zamfara State in INEC as a Resident Rlectoral Commissioner, Mr. President you directed the matter back to the committee for further legislative action.

“I took that wise counsel from you that the committee will do the needful even when I know that there is nothing they can add to what they have done because their report was quite explicit and extensive.

“Mr. President, Order 1 (27) says: ‘In considering the appointment of a nominee, the committee shall not call to witness any person as witness other than the nominee himself. However a there may be memorandum submitted to committee, if any such memorandum should contain the names of the writer, a verifiable address, a clear and dated signature and it shall be accompanied by an affidavit.’

“It is very clear that the only opposition to this nominee is coming from the Governor of Zamfara State who wrote to the President (Muhammadu Buhari) that the nominee is not from Zamfara State, but from Sokoto State.

“My distinguished colleague from Zamfara North stood on the floor to say the nominee is from Kebbi State.

“The committee did a very good job when they said the nominee was born in Gusau, went to school in Anka, he served as the Commissioner of Justice in Zamfara for four years.

“The governor wrote a petition.

“He has a right to write a petition, but he cannot violate our order.

“His petition is not accompanied with an affidavit, therefore his petition is null and void.

“I want to state very clearly: The governor has no right.

“This is Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are not his boys.

“I am not his boy and this Senate cannot be his rubber stamp.

“We are not to hold somebody’s future because of the interest of one particular one who is equally guilty.”

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in response, said: “Honestly, I’m sympathise with you, but as you know, the parliament is a place of procedures.

“No matter how good the course may be, we must continue to respect procedures because that is the only way the institution will survive.”