By Godwin Ojoshimite

Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has sacrificed two officials of his government to stave off a threat of impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

The House had demanded the sacking of the special adviser on inter-party relation Hajara Danyaro and the general manager of Nasarawa Transport Company, Philip Iyakwari, in August but the governor had ignored the request.

However, on Sunday, the secretary to the state government, Zanaib Abdulmumuni, issued a statement which she also announced on Nasarawa Broadcasting Service, NBS, that the two officials had resigned

“The governor has received and accepted the resignation of his special adviser on inter-party relation, Hajiya Hajara Danyaro and the general manager of Nasarawa Transport Company, Philip Iyakwari,” the statement said.

A source close to the government but who does not want to be named told our reporter last night in Lafia that Almakura had no choice but to ask the two officials to resign as it was one of the conditions given by members of the House to stop a planned impeachment process against him.

The source said that 23 out of 24 members of the House had, as at Sunday afternoon, agreed to support the governor’s impeachment.

Almakura is billed to appear before the House Monday to answer questions on sundry issues and today’s announcement of the sacking of the two officials is meant to douse the flame of impeachment threats.

The House had earlier passed a resolution that the governor should sack Iyakwari for inefficiency and Danyaro for being rude to the Assembly.

The special adviser to the governor incurred the wrath of members of the House when she said on the state broadcasting station that the lawmakers were paid N300 million as leave grant and when the House demanded for apology she refused to give any.

When the governor was summoned on August 27 to explain why he did not carry out the resolution asking him to sack the officials, he reasoned that he was not bound to do so.

“When the House pass a resolution it would want such resolutions respected. But, from my understanding with due respect, it is at the discretion of the governor “.

But the governor has since changed tunes as he has finally succumbed to pressure by asking the two aides to resign.

Almakura’s position has been peculiar since he became governor in 2011 as the 24 – member House is made up of 19 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members with the governor’s All Peoples Congress having only four members.