The Nasarawa State Advocates for Peace and Patriotism Group has challenged the State Transparency, Accountability, and Good Governance Group (NS-TA&G), to prove their allegation of favoritism in the discharge of official responsibilities by the State Accountant General Mr. Ahmed Musa Mohammed.
The State Co’ordinator of the Group Abimiku Dangana Solomon, stated this while responding to a recent statement by Mr Lazarus Salaki, co’ordinator of the State NS-TA&G2 group at a press conference held in lafia, the state capital.
Mr. Abimiku Dangana said that, the recent supreme court judgement didn’t restrict public office holders and civil servants from participate in politics and belong to political parties.
The Group also explained that, the case of INEC vs Ahmed Musa where Justice Ayoola and Justice Mohammad Uwais emphasized that the civil service rules cannot supersede constitutional provisions.
“We challenge the NS-TA&G2 to provide evidence of alleged special favoritism or compromised in the discharge of official responsibilities by the State Accountant General.
“As Nigerian Mr. Ahmed Musa Mohammed has the right to participate in active politics and not to be distracted by those spreading disharmony while calling on the public to continue supporting him…he added”
Mr. Abimiku Dangana, said the group NS -TA&G2 failed to cite constitutional provisions barring public office holders from participating in partisan politics, such as Accountant General of nasarawa Ahmed Musa Mohammed.
The Group said that, there is nothing reasonable or justifiable in a democratic setting in the interest of defense, public order, public morality or public health in prohibiting a member of the public service or civil service to be registered as a member of a political party.
It would be re-called that a concerned group under Mr. Lazarus Salaki had called for the resignation of Mr. Musa Ahmed Mohammed, the Accountant General of Nasarawa State, citing alleged involvement in partisan politics while holding a sensitive office.
The group also cited a directive issued on April 16, 2024, by the former Secretary to the State Government, Mohammed Uban-doma Aliyu instructing all political appointees with electoral ambitions to resign or suspend political activities until the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC lifts the ban.
Mr. Lazarus Salaki alleged that despite this directive, some appointees continued to campaign and hold political meetings while still serving in office.
COV/Aliyu Muraki/Lafia.
