Kaduna: Citing Abuse of Immunity, Senate condemns the destruction of Hunkuyi's House


….I Have Forgiven el-Rufai- Hunkuyi

Senate yesterday said some Chief Executives of States are abusing the immunity of office, condemning in strong terms the demolition of the house of the Senator representing Kaduna North, Suleiman Hunkuyi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Upper Chamber was reacting to house destruction of its member, allegedly pulled down under the directives of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai.
But the Kaduna state Government has said it acted in accordance to the law because Senator Hunkuyi does not have a proper and approved certification to operate the demolished structure on commercial basis.
The motion on the matter was moved by Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central). Sani alleged that the governor used armed military personnel and policemen to carry out the destruction and urged the Senate to investigate it.
According to Sani, “How can a governor, a democratically elected governor, demolish a house without notice simply for the fact that we have set up an office different from the one he had personalized himself as a so-called party man. It is of concern to us that these actions by the governor had been done in the name of mr president whom he believes he is his son that he so much loves.
“I will use this opportunity to call on the federal government, the president himself to reign on the governor of Kaduna state that we in our state we cannot accept such a man who continuously behave with all the qualities of a Hitler, of Mubuto seseseko and Nebuchadnezzar,” Sani stated.
Fielding questions from National Assembly correspondents, yesterday, Senator Hunkuyi categorically accused the governor of demolishing his structure but stated that he has forgiven him.
Hunkuyi noted that he decided to extend an olive branch on the matter because the demolition should serve as legacy of growth of democracy and also a rallying point to those who have been shortchanged in the affairs of Kaduna state.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu noted that the action is actually condemnable, stating that if for any kind of grievance, it should have been settled in the law court and not using force or the weight of office.
“If we have any kind of grievance, that grievance should be settled in the law court and not using force or the weight of our office. I believe this is one of the reason why Nigerians opposed to issue of immunity especially for chief executives. This is something we need to watch, as we head toward 2019, we must appeal to politicians not to over heat the system and then imperil our democracy. There is a limit to the patience of our people.
“This should be the last of this kind of incidence in any part of Nigeria, if people have grievances, they have the court to settle it, and our courts can be trusted to ensure that justice is delivered to whoever justice is due. I do hope that if it is true, that the governor will make effort to go and rebuild the house or pay him adequate compensation. We condemn the act,” he stated.

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