Taraba Deputy Speaker escapes assassination as Assembly appoints new Speaker

The politicking of who emerges the new Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly has come to an end, as the former Deputy Majority Leader, Josiah Kente, was on Monday elected Speaker, Premium Times reported on Monday.
Mr. Kente replaces Haruna Tsokwa, who died on November 4 after a brief illness, the online publication, located at www.premiumtimesng.com reported.
Monday’s election comes after an assassination attempt on the Deputy Speaker, Adamu Maikarfi, on Sunday, barely six days after the death of Mr. Tsokwa.
During Monday’s sitting, amid tight security, the lawmakers resolved to retain the position of Speaker in Taraba South Senatorial Zone and, therefore, reached a consensus on the choice of Mr. Kente.
According to reports, four masked gunmen trailed the deputy speaker to the residence of his relation, Yusuf Sansani, at the foot of Mount Jalingo.
Not finding Mr. Maikarfi, the gunmen allegedly attacked Mr. Sansani’s wife, Sakinatu, who was the only one in the house.
Narrating her ordeal, the victim, Sakinatu Salihu, explained that she was resting after performing afternoon prayer when the four gunmen arrived.
She said that one of the gunmen immediately covered her mouth with his hand and two others held her hands and pushed her into the sitting room without saying a word.
According to her, one of the gunmen brought out a heavy pistol and brandished it in her face, threatening to kill her if she refused to abide by their instructions.
She said the gunmen then asked her to give them the file on a meeting held in the house and attended by Mr. Maikarfi the previous night.
However, she told the men that the Deputy Speaker was a relation who visited them to greet the family.
The attackers, thereafter, ransacked the house in search of Mr. Maikarfi, but to no avail.
Confirming the incident, Mr. Maikarfi said the matter had since been reported to the police.
“I will not be intimidated or threatened by any cabal that wants to plunge our dear state into anarchy. We stand by truth,” he said.
After appointing Mr. Kente, the Taraba lawmakers also announced the names of nominees for the post of commissioners, sent to them by the Acting Governor, Garba Umar.
The screening of the nominees will commence on Tuesday.