Kwara Assembly: Why Saba Gideon Was Suspended For 3 Months…The Political Intrigues

Kwara State House of Assembly has suspended Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, who represents Edu State Constituency, for three months.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that this was sequel to the motion moved without notice by the leader of the House, Hon. Abdulkadir Magaji, who cited Order 4, Rule 14 of the House’s privileges rules and Section 14(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2017.

Members who made floor speeches on the issue include Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salaudeen (Omupo state constituency), Hon. Musa Kareem (Patigi state constituency), Hon. Owolabi Rasaq (Shaare Oke Ode State constituency), Hon. Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba (Kaiama/Kemanji//Wajibe constituency) and Hon. Oniboki Yunusa (Afon state constituency). 

The suspended lawmaker was accused of secretly recording discussions made during a closed‑door meeting held in the Speaker’s office which he allegedly made available to a non-member, who is a prominent businessman and a politician.

Such an action was considered as a serious breach of trust and a violation of the chamber’s rules of procedure and ethics code.

In its resolution, the House of Assembly said the unauthorized recording ‘is capable of bringing the legislative institution to disrepute’ and that Gideon’s actions amounted to contempt and a breach of privilege.

While noting that Gideon’s suspension takes immediate effect, he is also expected to send a letter of apology to the House of Assembly before the end of the 3-month suspension.

Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon is a political associate of Alhaji Yahaya Seriki and he has been busy canvassing for him ahead of the 2027 Kwara State APC guber primary.

Alhaji Yahaya Serriki, who is stupendously rich, is a major stakeholder in the mining industry and he is an APC guber aspirant.

Speaker Yakubu Danladi is one of the leading APC guber aspirants and as expected, there has been a surge of support for his candidacy from fellow lawmakers with solitary exception of three people; Hon Razaq Owolabi, Hon Abdulahi Danbaba and Saba Gideon.

In March this year, Speaker Danladi took a step that many considered as going on the offensive against two among the state lawmakers who had dared him and openly endorsed the candidacies of his main ‘rivals’.

The Speaker carried out a minor reshuffle of the ‘Standing Committees’ and although it affected more than two people, many were quick to leap to conclusions that Hon Razaq Owolabi and Hon Yisa Gideon were ‘punished’ because they had endorsed Senator Saliu Mustapha and Alhaji Yahaya Seriki’s candidacies respectively.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Hon Yisa Gideon was accused of secretly recording discussions that centered on banditry and illegal mining being deeply linked which he allegedly sent to Alhaji Yahaya Seriki.

While his company is not involved in illegal mining, a possible motion to stop mining activities in the state will affect Alhaji Yahaya Seriki’s business, and having felt that there may be political motivations for the possible resolutions and underhand plans to cripple his business, he considered it important to take a preemptive action.

He was said to have telephoned the Speaker and the telephone conversation naturally shocked Rt. Hon Danladi who subsequently launched an investigation into the matter.

A female lawmaker from Kwara Central, who had her name mentioned in connection with the issue, was absolved from blame while Hon Gideon was however found culpable-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you