9th October, 2013
The Speaker of the House of Assembly in the Nigerian central state of Plateau, Mr John Dabwan, has resigned.
He was immediately replaced by Titus Alams (PDP-Bokkos).
Prior to his resignation on Wednesday, Dabwan (PDP-Mangu) had been given one-week ultimatum to either resign or be impeached.
Details as to why Dabwan had to go were scanty but the former Speaker, who presided over Wednesday’s proceedings, said, in a letter he read to the lawmakers, that he was resigning “for peace to reign’’.
“I have a communication from myself to the House. I am resigning as presiding officer and Speaker of this House.
“I know this will come as a surprise to Plateau people, but the Holy Book states that there is time for everything,’’ he stated.
Dabwan noted that he had done his best for Plateau and promised to work with his colleagues as one family.
“I want to say that I did not betray the confidence reposed in me by my colleagues in the last two years; I also want to state that I will cooperate with my successor in efforts toward a better and more prosperous Plateau,” he said.
The former Speaker said that he had to step down to avoid creating more tension in Plateau, noting that the state had gone through a lot of crises over the years.
“We cannot afford to create more crises and that is why I have resigned,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker, Johnbull Shekarau, who presided over proceedings after Dabwan stepped down, said that it was a “very sad moment” for the House.
He then called for fresh nominations and Alams was nominated and sworn in, as no one opposed him.