House Speaker impeached for skin bleaching

FORMER governor of old Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi’s political stronghold in Kano suffered a setback yesterday after his close associate and speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi Gwarmai was impeached.

Alhaji Gwarmai’s impeachment followed a motion sponsored by the majority leader of the House, Alhaji Bello Ado Yandadi, which received a unanimous support. He was accused of bleaching his skin. He was replaced by his deputy, Alhaji Yau Abdulkahi Yanshana. This is the second time Alhaji Gwarmai would be sacked by the 40-member legislature.

The former speaker, in the heat of the assembly’s face-off with Governor Rabiu Kwakwanso last year was impeached by 27-members of the Assembly believed to be working in tandem with the governor.

He was later reinstated after intense political footwork by the Abubakar Rimi camp. Speaking to newsmen on the latest decision of the House, the majority leader, Engr. Hamisu Ibrahim claimed that the impeached speaker was ousted "because of the manner he (Gwarmai) conducted the affairs of the House."

"The former speaker was dictatorial in the conduct of the business of the House. For instance, just yesterday, (Tuesday), he informed the House that he had created three committees namely, parliamentary relations, internal affairs, labour and productivity without the approval of the entire house," he said.

"Constitutionally," Engr. Ibrahim argued "before any committee is created, the house selection committee should first discuss on it and present its report to the floor of the house for deliberations before any decision is taken."

Engr. Ibrahim also faulted some personal decisions taken by the former speaker which he claimed were inimical to the status of his person, "most especially a representative of Kano." We have severally asked him to desist from such acts but he ignored our advice." The minority leader also accused the impeached speaker of perpetual late-coming." At the time the former speaker was impeached, he was attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Sanusi Chiroma at the Government House.