A Commissioner representing Nasarawa State in the Federal Character Commission, Mohammadu Gwaska, has told the Senate that the bid by President Goodluck Jonathan to remove him from office is because of his insistence on adherence to the tenets of the Constitution.
Jonathan is seeking the Senate’s approval to remove Gwaska for alleged misconduct and dereliction of duty.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Federal Character on Thursday, Gwaska said he was appointed as Acting Chairman of the commission after the Chairman, Prof. Shuaibu Oba, resigned to contest election in Kwara State in the last governorship elections.
According to him, having failed to actualise his political ambition, Oba returned to the commission through a letter from the Presidency, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, which required that such appointment be confirmed by the Senate.
Gwaska said the allegations against him were not true as they were founded on politics and irregularities.
He denied that he was in possession of “strategic” files and official vehicles of the commission as alleged in the President’s letter to the Senate, saying he had returned the files and the vehicles that were with him while he was Acting Chairman.
He also denied that he was queried or brought before any panel of enquiry for any misconduct, saying he performed creditably during the period he presided over the affairs of the commission.
Gwaska said, “I am defending the Constitution. I don’t believe that his (Oba) reinstatement was right. It is unconstitutional.
“It is because of that they are trying to remove me. I am defending the Constitution. That is why Nigerians are interested in my case.”
Oba, who also appeared before the committee, confirmed that he resigned from the commission to contest election, but when it was clear he could not make it, he wrote to the President for reinstatement.
According to him, the President acceded to his request and brought him back, arguing that he was reinstated and not reappointed and so did not need to return to the Senate for confirmation.
The committee was mandated to interrogate Gwaska after some members of the Senate doubted that the President might have followed due process in his conclusion to remove the commissioner.
The committee is expected to file a report to the Senate at plenary before a final decision will be taken.
PUNCHNG
