MEMBERS of the Taraba State House of Assembly have begun a move to impeach the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, over alleged gross misconduct.

The allegations against Danladi were yesterday deliberated upon on the floor of the House. The notice, which was signed by 19 out of the 23 members, accused the deputy governor of using his position to corner projects meant for the people as his personal projects.

Parts of the notice read: “That by virtue of your being the deputy governor of Taraba State, you had easy access to the office of the Federal Government/World Bank’s Millennium Development Goals projects in the state and other state agencies. And in that capacity, therefore, you used your office and influence and caused to be diverted MDGs facilities and street-light projects to Yaggai Academy, a private school owned and operated by Yaggai Academy Limited, with you as the altar ego of the company and thereby denying the under-privileged members of the state access to and use of such facilities, and doing so contravenes the oath of office you sworn to.”

The notice, which was raised on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker, Abel Peter Diah and laid on the table by the Majority Leader, Charles Maijankai, which was seconded by the member representing Yorro Constituency, Danladi Gwampo, further accused the deputy governor of negligence of duty.

It added: “That you, Danladi, have demonstrated a clear lack of capacity and or a refusal to properly discharge the functions of your office and so doing, you have created disaffection, disharmony, favouritism and undue interference in the running of the government.”

The House also accused the deputy governor of sowing the seeds of discord among members of his local council in Karim-Lamido, an action that has hindered the growth of the area.

“Instead of working in harmony with your stakeholders in your local council and the state, you have resorted to acts of incitement of the populace against the stakeholders with all the attendant negative consequences,” the notice alleged.

The lawmakers have given Danladi 14 days to respond to the various allegations. The Speaker, Haruna Istifanus, directed the Clerk of the House to, as a matter of urgency, communicate the governor and serve the deputy governor the allegation notification.

Briefing newsmen, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Daniel Ishaya Gani, said the allegations against the deputy governor are “all impeachable offences.”

Stating that the move was neither politically nor religiously motivated, the action, Gani said, became necessary following complaints from Karim-Lamido Local Council and the state at large on the alleged dictatorial acts of Danladi.

–Guardian