/ 22 June 2001

BLEACHED, BOSSY KANO SPEAKER OUSTED

LAWMAKERS on Wednesday voted to oust the speaker of the state parliament in Kano, Nigeria, for an alleged “dictatorial” manner, poor time-keeping, and lightening his skin. The Kano State house of assembly unanimously voted to impeach Ibrahim Abdullahi Gwarmai after weeks of complaints over his attitude and behaviour, said an aggrieved lawmaker, Hamisu Ibrahim. Gwarmai, the speaker, was dictatorial. He used to take decisions unilaterally without the consent of the house… and is fond of coming late to work,” the lawmaker said. “What is more, he bleaches his skin,” he went on. “We have severally asked him to stop bleaching but he refused,” Ibrahim said. “Bleaching is bad for a man of his calibre. We felt embarrassed that our leader is more or less feminine because of his bleaching,” Ibrahim added. – AFP