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2011: Groups Accuse Sylva of Insincerity
By Olusola Fabiyi, and Olamilkan Lartey
A group, Concerned Peoples Democratic Party of Bayelsa State, has accused the state governor, Mr. Timipire Sylva of insincerity in his handling of the party in the state.
The spokesperson for the group, Chief Furoebi Akene, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, said the governor had refused to accommodate all the factions of the party in the state, despite entreaties by the PDP National Working Committee which called for a fresh congress in the state.
It, therefore, said the presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan could be jeopardised if the party allowed the state government to use an illegal executive to conduct the congress.
The group alleged that the votes from the congress would then become a nullity since the executive was not recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said the electoral body had in a letter dated June 23, 2010 and signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Kaugama, listed Bayelsa as one of the states, where its congresses were annulled.
He said, "You will agree with us that in times like this when political activities have reached a fever pitch, there is need for all and sundry to apply justice and fair play.
"As loyal party members, we are worried that the present state of affairs in the party in Bayelsa State is extremely precarious: INEC has repeatedly warned that PDP candidates that will emerge from states (Bayelsa inclusive) where congresses were not conducted or properly conducted in year 2008 will not be recognised.
"The consequence of this is obvious—it will spell doom for our great party in the general elections."
Apart from this, the group also alleged that the state governor was planning to pick delegates for the primaries, in spite of the avowed commitment of the national secretariat to a fair contest.
"Political developments and the situation of the party executive in the state clearly indicate the ominous sign that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, governor of Bayelsa and his handpicked nominees will be automatically returned as PDP candidates without a level playing field, in clear contradiction to Mr. President the commitment to conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
"Specifically, we have been informed that the executives at the ward, local government and state levels, who will be delegates in the forthcoming primaries of the party, remain those the NWC and the INEC have long declared not duly elected.
"If an agency of government says what you want to do isn't known to law, then, it is a nullity. If you insist, it shows high handedness and disobedience to law.
"If an executive isn't known to law and every action taken by the body isn't known to law, that means our votes for the presidential primary election could be a nullity.
Responding, Sylva said on Monday that he was not surprised at the comments credited to the group.
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Nathan Egba, who spoke on Sylva's behalf, said if the politicians were sure of themselves, they should prepare to face the people.
"There is no reason to attempt to discredit a process that has not even started. If they have confidence in their capacity, they should prepare for the primaries instead of blaming their lack of popular acceptance and imminent failure on others," he said.
Meanwhile the chairman of Sylva's faction of the PDP, Chief Rufus Abadi, resigned from the party on Monday.
Source: Punch, 21st September 2010.
Work on N10bn Rivers-Bayelsa Road Shocks Reps
By Olamilekan Lartey, Yenagoa
The South-South sub-committee of the House of Representatives Committee on Works has condemned the shoddy work on the N10bn Yenagoa-Okarki- Kolo road in Rivers and Bayelsa states.
The lawmakers, who hailed from the areas where the road is located, have also threatened to invite the Minister of Works and the engineers at the Federal Ministry of Works to appear before the House for their alleged connivance with the construction firm handling the project. They alleged that there were deliberate plan to frustrate the road project, considered to be the oldest, yet-to-be completed project, in the country.
Our correspondent gathered that work on the road began in 1973.
Led by Mr. Clever Ikisikpo, the members were shocked that a road that was still under construction already had several failed sections.
Ikisikpo said the House of Representatives had received petitions from members of the public in Bayelsa and Rivers states about the substandard work on the road project.
The lawmaker said the on-the-spot inspection of the road by his committee had confirmed the allegations that were made in the petitions to the Lower House.
"For a road like this, the company did not do any excavation to remove the top soil before piling; the company does not allow competent engineers who will not cut corners to work on the project. What we have seen shows that the company is doing a substandard work. It's because of things like these that people around here are not happy. This is an oil producing state, the people ought not to suffer. We will go back and write our report," Ikisikpo said.
Despite the down pour, the lawmakers inspected the whole stretch of the 30 kilometre road and the last bridge that was still in its early stage of construction.
"We have waited 30 years for this road, but already we are seeing signs of failure. I've told my people, they should stop the firm from working if they don't see changes," he added.
Source: Punch, 13th September 2010.
Sylva Warns Absentee Royal Fathers
By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—Traditional rulers in Bayelsa State, who are in the habit of administering their domains from exile have been urged to retrace their steps, as the state government will no longer condone royal fathers who abdicate their responsibilities.
Governor Timipre Sylva, who handed down the warning while receiving the report on the Twon Brass disturbances, said his administration would not hesitate to look into any community where a few individuals arrogate power to themselves and misuse it for parochial reasons.
The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ola Doifie, noted that one of the problems in Bayelsa today, was the attitude of traditional rulers, who have chosen to live outside their domains and delegate responsibilities to people not recognised by the traditional institution.
Judging from the report of the committee, the Governor noted that Twon Brass was a clear example of traditional authority being misused and the people subjugated.
Sylva, who described the situation as an attempt to distort an age-old tradition, observed that
such a situation was capable of causing confusion among the people.
He warned that henceforth, traditional rulers should inform their local government area chairmen before travelling out of their domains, stressing that there is an extant regulation requiring them to do so.
Sylva said the state government would set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which will take an in-depth look at the problem and give legal backing to the solutions proffered.
He commended the committee for thoroughly and painstakingly looking at the crisis in Twon Brass and promised to implement its recommendations.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, King Joshua Igbagara lauded the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve, pointing out that the committee got the views of all stakeholders in the kingdom before arriving at their recommendations.
Source: Vanguard, 8th September 2010.
Jonathan's Presidential Bid: No Double Speak – Gov Sylva
OSA OKHOMINA, YENAGOA
The Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva yesterday dismissed the claims by some politicians that he and some other state governors were involved in perceived double speak and plot to frustrate the presidential bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He insisted that all his actions and commitment are geared towards the realisation of a South-South presidency come 2011.
The governor, who was reacting to the claims made in some national tabloids with the headline "My Frustration With PDP Governors – Jonathan", said the claim that he was involved in the double speak and plot to thwart the Jonathan's presidency in 2011 is untrue as he has done nothing else in the last few months but propagate the need for the election of Jonathan for a full tenure in 2011.
Governor Sylva, who spoke through a statement signed by his commissioner for information, orientation and strategy, Hon. Nathan Egba said available records showed that he had been in the fore front of the advocacy of the realisation of the presidential bid of Jonathan.
He noted that occasions such as the 6th session of the State Executive Council Meeting on May 19, the launch of the Poetry collection of the chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Sam Omatseye, 71st birthday anniversary lecture of Senator Jubril Aminu and many others had provided opportunities for him to ask all progressives and Bayelsa people to stand firm behind the president for the remaining one year and continuation after the 2011 polls.
He stated that in one of the fora, Governor Sylva told the likes of Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the need to concede the presidency to the South-South and the President, Dr. Jonathan. "All these is in addition to other less visible public event where the governor has continued to spread the gospel of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, just as he did at the South-South Political summit in Port Harcourt last month," he added.
Governor Sylva said though he was not disturbed by the claims of those involved in the campaign of calumny, he said that "The reports are the handiwork of some politicians who feel threatened by the cosy relationship, steeped in mutual trust and love that exist between the president and myself. No amount of such claims that lack credibility will deter me and the people of the state to sustain the total support for President Goodluck Jonathan."
Source: Leadership, 31st August 2010.
Panic in Bayelsa
...As militants plot fresh attacks
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
There is panic in government circles in Bayelsa State over plans by aggrieved former militant leaders to cause instability in the state.
The ex-militant are said to be angry with Governor Timipre Sylva for allegedly abandoning them after surrendering their arms last October in a federal government amnesty/disarmament exercise.
According to sources, the ex-militant leaders are alleging discrimination by Sylva towards some of them after they embraced amnesty.
They are also aggrieved that the governor courted a few of their former colleagues namely Victor-Ben Ebikabowei, Joshua Maciver, Africa Ukparasia and Eris Paul aka Ogunboss, whom he allegedly accommodated at the VIP lodge of the Government House in Yenagoa while he ignored them.
Sunday Sun checks indicated that with the power tussle between Bayelsa politicians based in Abuja and Sylva about to reach the climax, speculations have been rife that some of the aggrieved ex-militant leaders have been contacted by unnamed politicians to instigate crisis in the state.
The plot was said to have been programmed for the bye-election into the Yenagoa constituency 11 seat of the Bayelsa House of Assembly before it was postponed. To nip the plot in the bud, chairman of the Niger Delta Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephthan, held a meeting with about 19 ex-militant leaders and appealed to them not to succumb to pressure from politicians to provoke another round of crisis in the state.
Sources at the meeting said ex-militant leaders in attendance include Lagos Jackson (popularly known as Commander Lagos), Pastor Reuben (known as Commander Pastor), Commander Osei Clever, Abraham Igobire (aka Commander Lammy) and others.
The meeting was said to have discussed the recent alleged plot to cause crisis in Bayelsa by politicians using some of the ex-militant leaders. Jephthan reportedly seized the opportunity of the meeting to paint a different picture of Sylva to the ex-militant leaders, explaining that through the efforts of the governor in initiating the amnesty package, which was accepted by the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, Nigeria and other countries have benefited from the increase in the production oil and gas.
While disclosing activities to celebrate Bayelsa Peace Day, slated for August 22, which was declared by Sylva to remember the disarmament of ex-militants in the state, Jephthan urged the former insurgents to appreciate the governor's determination to secure peace in the state and the Niger Delta region, which he reasoned has contributed greatly in resolving Nigeria's energy problem.
He assured that during the first year celebration of the Bayelsa peace day, all ex-militant leaders would be duly recognised as partners in enthroning peace in the Niger Delta. Reviewing the peaceful atmosphere in the region for the past one year, Jephthan insisted that Sylva should be accorded his due respect as the saviour of the Nigerian nation.
"In the process of visiting some of these boys in a bid to resolve the Niger Delta conflict, the governor was made to sit on the floor and gun shots were pumped into the air as a form of salute. But he could have been shot. The governor has expended money to bring about amnesty and he has not laid claim to the programme," Jephthan said, adding that that it was unfortunate executors of the programme have not appreciated Sylva's efforts in the amnesty exercise.
The ex-militant leaders, who took turns to speak, said they were aggrieved over being abandoned by Sylva, noting however that the meeting with Jephthan has reassured them of the good intentions of Sylva. Pastor Reuben, who later summarised the remarks of those present, explained that the utterances of some ex-militant leaders in the state and the rising pressure of politics has continued to promote division in their ranks. He however promised that they would join hands with the government to promote peace in the state.
Source: Sun, 22nd August 2010
Peace Committee Meets With ex-militant Leaders In Bayelsa
Written by Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa
The chairman of the Bayelsa State Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, Chief James Jephathah, has met with nineteen ex-militant leaders and asked them not to succumb to pressure from politicians to provoke conflict in the state.
The meeting attended by ex-militant leaders including Lagos Jackson popularly known as Commander Lagos, Pastor Reuben popularly known as Commander Pastor, Commander Osei Clever, Abraham Igobire popularly known as Commander Lammy and others, deliberated on the recent plot by some politicians to use ex-militants to disrupt the peace of the state.
The chairman, while speaking on the planned activities marking the August 22, annual day of the disarmament of Militant camps in the state tagged "Bayelsa Peace Day," said through the contribution of the state governor, the nation and the countries of the world have benefited from the rising level of oil and gas production, and the energy problem of the country have been resolved.
Chief Jephathah noted that as the state marked the anniversary on August 22,all the ex-militants will be recognised and accorded their respect as partners in the peaceful journey in the Niger Delta.
He disclosed that, "In the process of visiting some of these boys in a bid to resolve the Niger Delta conflict,the governor was made to sit on the floor and gunshots were fired into the air as a form of salute. The governor has expended money to bring about amnesty and he has not laid claim to the program."
He lamented that it is rather unfortunate that those involved in the amnesty programme have not appreciate the Bayelsa State governor.
Chief Jephathah, however, commended the ex-militants for their peaceful conduct during the past one year of the amnesty programme, and urged them to continue to support Governor Timipre Sylva and the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
On the rising cases of rival cult clashes and killings in some parts of the state capital, he said though these cult groups are not recognised by the state and federal government in the peace process, the Peace Committee will meet with them, and call them to other.
Source: Leadership, 21st August 2010
Bayelsa And The Controversy Over Sylva's Tenure
FROM WILLIE ETIM, YENAGOA
THE victory at the general election from where Chief Timipre Sylva emerged as governor was annulled by an Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on April 14, 2008, one year after the election.
The governorship candidate of the Action Congress (AC), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, had challenged an earlier ruling by the Election Petition Tribunal in Yenagoa, claiming that there was no election in the state and as such, Sylva could not lay claims to the governorship of the state.
When the court sacked Sylva, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu, who is now hid Deputy, was sworn in as Acting Governor of the state.
A rerun election was conducted on May 21, 2008, votes were counted and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) had again announced Sylva as winner.
On May 29, 2008, the governor took a fresh oath of office and since then, it seemed a settled issue in political circles that the governors' tenure will elapse in 2012.
But recent events in the country have stirred renewed interest and discussions on the actual exit date of governor, as the subject has returned to the front burner.
The height of them all was the ruling a fortnight ago by a Federal High Court in Jos, the Plateau State capital, that the tenure of Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State will end by 2011, following the outcome of a suit challenging the tenure of the governor after he was declared winner at a similar rerun election, though in some local governments areas of the state.
The circumstance of the court ruling had triggered fresh controversy over the termination date of the Sylva's tenure in Bayelsa. The argument has continue to heighten, as the leadership of the AC, now CAN, and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) have indicated interest to approach the court for proper interpretation of the law concerning the terminal date of the present administration in Bayelsa.
State NBA Chairman, Mr. Stanley Damabide, in an interview in Yenagoa, said though the judgment delivered in Jos was only binding on the two parties involved in the Ekiti suit, but the jurisprudence behind the judgment affects Bayelsa, as there is a slight difference between the Ekiti and Bayelsa situations.
"We have to go to court to get the correct interpretation. The NBA will next week take a position on the proposed court action," he said.
The Acting Chairman of ACN in Bayelsa, Mr. Ebikibina Miriki, told The Guardian that the 1999 Constitution, embolden by the recent amendment to it and the High Court ruling in Jos over Oni's tenure, had instructively and correctively addressed the issues of tenure, as it concerns the governor of Bayelsa.
He said: "Section 180 (2a) of the 1999 Constitution states that the governor shall vacate office at the expiration of four years, commencing from the date when he took the oath of office."
According to him, the 2010 amendment of the constitution further clarifies the position that a person whose election was annulled and also wins a consequent rerun does not serve more than the constitutionally prescribed term of office.
Miriki added that the constitutionally prescribed term of office for a governor is four years and since Sylva was first sworn in on May 29, 2007, his swearing in again in May 2008 was only a confirmation of the 2007 oath of office he earlier took.
He insisted that Sylva's tenure effectively ends in 2011 and that the overwhelming majority of Bayelsans will not want to see him extend his tenure to 2012.
The Bayelsa State government, through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Nathan Egba, had dismissed the claims that the tenure of the governor will terminate in 2011, insisting that the Federal High Court ruling in Jos does not affect the conduct of the 2012 election in Bayelsa.
Egba noted that the Justice Ambrose Allagoa judgment delivered last week on the termination of the tenure of Oni was based on the cancellation of only 63 units in 10 councils, unlike in Bayelsa, where the entire 2007 election was cancelled and conducted afresh in 2008.
According to him, based on the ruling in Jos, there have been enquiries on how it has affected Bayelsa, but he said such fears are misplaced. The commissioner assured the people of the state and other interested Nigerians that the first tenure of the governor ends in May 29, 2012.
"The next governorship election in the state is expected to hold in 2012. This is because, unlike the Ekiti situation, where only 63 units in 10 councils were cancelled and re-contested for, the entire Bayelsa governorship election was cancelled and the court ordered that a fresh election be conducted on the ground that there was no election in Bayelsa in 2007," he stated.
Egba went further: "May we refer those in doubt to Justice Allagoa's ruling, where he specifically referred to Section 2(a) of the 1999 Constitution when he held that since it was not a whole election that was cancelled, Oni had to go back to the electorate to seek re-election in 2011."
He called on the people of the state to be calm and should continue to give the governor and his deputy their support, so that they can deliver the dividends of democracy.
While the dust over the possible outcome of the Jos ruling and how it will affect Bayelsa was yet to settle, the tension raised by an earlier pronouncement by INEC proclaiming the PDP congresses conducted in about five states, including Bayelsa, as illegal, has added to the controversy.
The general feeling of politicians in Bayelsa and PDP members opposed to Sylva is that every election that originated from that controversial party congress should be cancelled, as the authenticity of the leadership of the State Executive Committee (SEC) was in question.
But the leadership of the party, as presently constituted, in a reaction referred the National Working Committee of the party and INEC to a High Court ruling in Yenagoa, which accorded recognition to the legality and tenure of the Chief Rufus Abadi-led executive in the state.
They argued that INEC and the party's national leadership's position on the congress and caretaker committee is illegal and a violation of the court order granted last year.
PDP's NWC had last week indicated interest to reconsider the appointment of a caretaker committee to administer the affairs of the party in seven states due to INEC's position on their congresses.
According to reports, the party's National Secretary, Mr. Abdullahi Kaugama, in a letter to National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, said the congresses in Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Plateau and Kogi states were not acceptable because they failed to meet the requirement of the party's constitution and guidelines for congress.
The decision to cancel the party congress in Bayelsa, according to reports, was based on an earlier petition that there were no ward and council congresses preceding the state congress.
But the Abadi-led leadership early this week sent a protest letter to the national secretariat of the party and INEC on the existence of a Yenagoa High Court order, delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, restraining the party and others from removing the Abadi-led executive before the completion of their four-year tenure in office.
In a High Court Order on a suit number YHC/156/2009, filed by two members of the party- Innocent Demian and Michael Emiemoumor- they prayed the court to determine the tenure of the executive members of the party in the state and the legality of the dissolution of the executives.
Justice Adumein, in his ruling on April 20, last year held that after a careful study of the party's constitution tendered as exhibit on the tenure of the executive of the party elected on February 28, 2008, declared that members of the state party executive council are entitled to remain in office for a full term of four years until and unless they resigned or lawfully removed from office.
The ruling said: "An order of perpetual injunction is hereby granted, restraining the defendant, whether by themselves or through their agent, privies, representative or any other person, however, described, from taking any action or steps aimed at removing the plaintiff or any member of the state executive council of PDP from office until the effluxion of time, as guaranteed by the constitution of PDP."
In spite of the ruling and following the INEC position on the alleged illegality of the State Executive Committee of the party in the state, the Agbedi-led leadership recently made effort to open a new state secretariat in the Opolo area of the state capital, but this effort resisted by some persons suspected to be loyalists of the governor.
Agbedi had described the INEC's declaration as a vindication of his executive's committee position.
Following the INEC pronouncement, the Agbedi-led executive that was nullified by the Sylva administration in the state wanted to set claim to what they feel was their rightful position, by commencing the process to open what they called the 'authentic state secretariat of PDP in Bayelsa.'
They had last month mounted the signpost and 14 out of the 20 flags of the party and two national flags near a building located in the premises of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PFCN) in Opolo area, which they wanted to use as office.
Soon after the group completed mounting the remaining six flags of the party early on Monday, suspected loyalists of Abadi, numbering over 26, stormed the new party secretariat in a commando style and uprooted the signpost and flags.
Only recently, Sylva was rumoured to be considering defecting to ACN, but some of his loyalists had dismissed the speculation as mere blackmail.
One of them, Mr. Sony Atteh told The Guardian that the rumour would die naturally, as it was generated.
He said the governor, with his political clout, couldn't sacrifice his hard-earned goodwill in the state and in the country to a less-advantaged party.
The PDP, he added, cannot afford to gamble with the chances of losing Bayelsa, being the home state of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Source: The Guardian, 14th August 2010.
Bayelsa Govt expresses concern over violent attacks
YENAGOA—BAYELSA State government, yesterday, faulted the call by Action Congress, AC, for the declaration of a state of emergency following orgy of violence being unleashed by gunmen against the homes of political office holders in the state.
The government which described the call as wicked and ill-timed, insisted that the security agencies were on top of the situation.
Meanwhile, the association of ex-militant leaders and police authorities led by the Commissioner of Police, Onuoha Udeka, have reiterated their readiness to fish out those the attacks.
They pleaded with the state House of Assembly to take a cue from the Rivers State House of Assembly and pass into law the anti-cultism bill to curb the upsurge in gang related violence in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Hon. Nathan Egba and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Chief Richard Perekeme Kpodoh, in separate statements said though the series of attacks had been discovered to be part of a plot to discredit the administration of Chief Timipre Sylva, the call for a state of emergency was a diversion.
They accused the Action Congress of executing a pre-conceived agenda in the state.
Egba said in the statement: "It is good to make it clear that the call for a state of emergency is ill_timed, wicked, unnecessary and very unpatriotic of the Chairman of the Action Congress, AC. Government believes that the situation in the state at the moment does not warrant any declaration of state of emergency as the security agencies are taking control of the situation."
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Chief Richard Perekeme Kpodoh, condemned the attacks and violent cult clashes, describing those behind it as enemies of the state.
Kpodoh stated: "The attacks, as studied and analysed, are distractions to the development agenda of the present administration. It is a calculated attempt to undermine the good intentions of government to give it a bad name."
The call by opposition parties for a state of emergency is a show seeking political relevance. Rather than working with the present administration for the provision of sustained democratic dividend, the opposition has embarked on orchestrated campaign of calumny against the state government.
"These attacks are not politically motivated as being misconstrued but they are aimed at discrediting the government's achievements in such areas as youth empowerment, infrastructural development and investment promotion in the state. I must appeal to indigenes of the state not to be distracted by the evil plots but should remain focused in their unflinching support for the administration to better the lot of the people."
Police blame killings on gang related activities
Meanwhile the state police boss, Elder Onuoha Udeka, has attributed recent killings in the state to gang_related activities and called on members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to take a cue from Rivers State and pass an anti_cultism law to stem the tide of youth violence in the state.
Udeka said: "These people involved in the attacks are armed robbers who operate in the creeks. Let me assure you that we are on their trail."
Source: Vanguard, 5th August 2010.
Attacks on political office holders, plot to discredit Sylva –Bayelsa govt
From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has raised the alarm that the spate of violent attacks in Yenagoa and some parts of the state was aimed at discrediting the administration of Governor Timipre Sylva.
The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr. Nathan Egba, in his reaction to the attacks on houses of political office holders in the state, said those behind the attacks want to portray Sylva as being ineffective in handling the security of the oil-rich state.
Egba, in a statement personally signed by him, noted that aside the attempt to sabotage the administration of Sylva, the masterminds also want to frustrate the planned visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state.
He, however, warned that the state government would not fold its arms and allow some elements to destroy the atmosphere of peace Sylva had laboured to bring about.
The statement reads in part: "The Bayelsa State Government has noted with dismay recent violent attacks in parts of the state.
"Perpetrators, of these despicable acts, are being coordinated by some people, who do not wish the government of Chief Timipre Sylva well. "From the analysis of the various attacks, it has become clear that those behind them are desperately looking for any possible means to sabotage the government of Chief Timipre Sylva. "The whole idea, it seems, is to make the governor appear ineffective even in the area of security, where he has hitherto been acclaimed to have performed exceptionally well.
"The attacks on the country homes of prominent indigenes of the state including that of the governor's uncle at Okpoama, the Speaker at Okunbiri and that of the former deputy governor as well as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Waterways, King A. J. Turner, was an attempt to attract negative media attention to the state.
"It is particularly worrisome that all these violent attacks are occurring at a time, the state is preparing to welcome our most illustrious son, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the state for the first time, since he became president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"Bayelsa State Government, under Chief Timipre Sylva, will not fold its arms and watch the hard earned peace being destroyed by some people for reasons known only to them. In a related statement on the call for declaration of a state of emergency by the Action Congress (AC) Egba stated that the call was 'ill-timed, wicked, unnecessary and very unpatriotic of the Acting AC Chairman'.
According to him, the security situation in the state does not warrant a call for a state of emergency as security agents were on top of the situation. He maintains that the Sylva's administration "welcomes constructive criticisms and positive ideas on how to move the state forward at all times."
Source: Daily Sun, 5th August 2010.
Violent Killings, Attacks: Soldiers Take Over Bayelsa
Written by Osa Okhomina,Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State government yesterday showed signs of desperation over the rising incidence of cult killings and armed attacks on homes of political officeholders, including former deputy governor Peremobowei Ebebi, with the drafting of soldiers attached to the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operation Restore Hope, to join the Nigerian police to beef up security in the state.
Armed men had, in the last few days, attacked the homes of the senior special assistant to the governor on conflict resolution, Mike Wenifowei, the home of impeached deputy governor Peremobowei Ebebi, state chairman of the Sanitation Authority Chief Reginald Dede, and the country home of the governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Cult-related attacks have led to the death of at least seven persons, including a middle-aged man at the junction of the popular Ingbi Road in Yenagoa, the state capital.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY observed that the JTF had deployed men in full battle dress to strategic locations in the state capital to mount road blocks in a stop-and-search operation . JTF armoured personnel carriers and armed soldiers searched all categories of cars on the major streets of the state capital apart from the regular police checkpoints in different parts of the state. The coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, said the JTF was assisting the police in ensuring safety of life and property in the state.
The headquarters of the JTF is located in Yenagoa. In the last week, there have been seven deaths that followed a similar pattern of gang-related killings and Mafia-style hits.
Source: Leadership, 1st August 2010.
Strange gunmen kill seven in Bayelsa
By OLAMILEKAN LARTEY
At least seven people have been feared killed in drive-by shootings that have jolted Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, SUNDAY PUNCH has gathered.
Earlier report indicated that several people had sustained gunshot wounds in an orgy of killings that started last Tuesday before the Friday mayhem that led to the death of some people in different parts of the state capital.
To forestall the development, the military Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta joined the police to beef up security in the state as the spate of gangster-related killings escalated.
By early Saturday morning, the JTF had deployed men in full battle fatigue in strategic locations of the state capital to mount road blocks in "a stop and search operation."
JTF armoured personnel carriers with armed soldiers searched all vehicles on the major streets of the state capital, apart from the regular police checkpoints in different parts of the metropolis.
The Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre, Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, said the JTF was assisting the police to ensure safety of lives and properties in the state.
The headquarters of the JTF is located in Yenagoa.
Last week, there had been records of seven deaths that followed a similar pattern of gang-related killings and Mafia style hits.
Last Tuesday evening, gunmen opened fire on the home of an aide to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Mike Wenibowei.
Although Wenibowei escaped death by the whiskers, his bodyguard was killed by gunmen who emerged from a parked car in front of his home.
Three people were killed the following day on the popular Samphino Road in the state capital, while another person was shot on the popular INEC Road the following night.
The semi-high brow Imgbi Road was the centre of a vicious armed attack that left one person dead and another injured on Friday night.
The sporadic shooting, which occurred around 7pm, sent the Imgbi Road area into confusion.
Already, there were fears in the state, but the JTF said there was no cause for alarm over the deployment of troops in the streets.
Antigha assured members of the public that they were safe.
"What we are doing is to augment what other security agencies are doing in the state. There have been shootings in the state in the past few days, that is why you see these men checking and searching cars," he said.
The police were yet to make a statement on the spate of killings in the state in the last one week.
Source: Punch, 1st August 2010.
Bayelsa: Ebebi Suffers Another Bomb Attack
Written by Osa Okhomina,Yenagoa
The country home of the impeached Bayelsa State deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, at the Aleibiri community of Ekeremor local government council of the state was yesterday attacked by some armed men with dynamites and sophisticated rifles with a security guard sustaining grievous gun shot wounds in the area.
The latest attack, which is the third in the series of explosive attacks on the properties owned by the depressed deputy governor was perpetuated by some unknown armed youths with over four speed boats.
Leadership WEEKEND gathered that the armed youths arrived the country home of the former deputy governor at 12.30am and threw the explosives into the compound, causing the bulding to explode while indigenes of the community scampered for safety.
The state police command led by Commissioner Elder Onuoha Udoka was said to have dispatched a detachment of anti-bomb experts to the scene to ascertain the extent of damage.
Contacted on the development, the spokesman of the state police command, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Eguavoen Edokpae, said though the anti-bomb squad dispatched to the area had departed, the police could confirm that an attack was carried out on the home of the deputy governor.
Earlier in May, another bomb was detonated along the street at INEC road where the hotel owned by the former deputy governor was located and another discovered, few days later in a car parked in the Hotel Latile premises.
Source: Leadership, 24th July 2010.
Confusion as Bayelsa Gets Two Deputy Governors
By Olamilekan Lartey, Yenagoa
There was confusion in Bayelsa State on Thursday on who the authentic deputy governor of the state was.
This followed the swearing in of a former Speaker Wirinipre Seibarugu as governor Timipre Sylva's deputy and the ruling by a Court of Appeal that Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi should be reinstated as deputy governor, for now.
Announcements on the state-owned Radio Bayelsa had informed the public that Seibarugu's inauguration would take place at 2pm.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Dofie Ola, said Sylva, would preside over the ceremony.
He added that five new commissioners, who were also to be inaugurated, were entitled to only one guest each.
Ola advised "all guests to be seated by 1.30pm" in a hall in the Gloryland Castle, Government House, Yenagoa.
But as the news of the Appeal court ruling reached Yenagoa, the ceremony was hurriedly shifted to 12 noon with the state's Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, administering the oath of office on the former speaker in the near empty hall.
Sylva, in a brief remark, said he had handed over the ministries of Agriculture, Local Government and Sports to Seibarugu.
He added that it was very clear what the roles of a deputy governor should be.
"In the last two years, this has not been so," the governor said.
Counter radio announcements, which informed the public that the former speaker was sworn in at 9am, deepened the confusion among residents of the state.
Seibarugu and 17 other members of the state Assembly had on June 24 impeached Ebebi.
The impeachment brought to a climax, the political crisis that had plagued the state since the Assembly issued an impeachment notice to Ebebi on June 8.
At a sitting that lasted only 45 minutes, the lawmakers received and adopted the report of the seven-member investigative panel that probed the 10 allegations of gross misconduct against Ebebi.
The panel, headed by Mr. Donald Denwigwe (SAN), had submitted its report to the Assembly in the evening of June 23, after sitting and taking witnesses for two days.
But Ebebi went to the Yenagoa High Court to challenge the impeachment and the constitutionality of the panel.
Justice Doris Adokeme, however, dismissed the suit in which Ebebi had sought to stop the investigative panel.
Counsel to Ebebi, Mr. Kemeasuode Wodu, told newsmen after the court's ruling that he would appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
While ruling on the appeal on Thursday, Justice Suleiman Galadima, ordered that Ebebi should remain the state's deputy of governor pending the hearing of the substantive suit on October 13, 2010.
He, therefore, directed lawyers to the appellant and respondents to advise their clients to abide by the rules and respect the directives of the court.
The judge gave the appellant 14 days to file his briefs while the respondents were also granted leave to file any further documents they deemed fit.
He said, "Respondents are granted leave to file any further document they deem fit and the appellant is given 14 days to file his briefs. The case is now adjourned till October 13, 2010 for hearing of substantive appeal.
"All of you (lawyers) should advise your clients to abide by the rules and respect the directives of the court."
Earlier, counsel to the appellant, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had moved a motion for the impeachment of Ebebi to be set aside and all his rights as a deputy governor be returned to him.
Izinyon also applied for an accelerated hearing of the appeal and an interlocutory injunction restraining the state government from swearing in a new deputy governor pending the determination of the case.
However, lawyers to both parties differed on the directive that the status quo be maintained until judgement was delivered on the case.
Lawyer to the state Assembly, Mr. Sebastine Hon (SAN), had told journalists that information reaching him from Bayelsa was that a new deputy governor had already been sworn in.
But Izinyon maintained that Ebebi remained the deputy governor of Bayelsa State until the court ruled otherwise.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Nestor Binabo, has emerged as the new speaker of the Assembly.
His elevation followed the inauguration of Seibarugu as the state's deputy governor.
The Assembly also elected Mr. Fini Angaye as the deputy speaker.
In his remarks, Binabo promised to consult other members of the Assembly on issues concerning them.
Source: Punch, 9th July 2010.
Bayelsa Swears in New D-Gov
By Samuel Oyadongha & George Onah
YENAGOA—BAYELSA State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, yesterday, administered the oath of
office on the state's new Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu, even as most of the invited guests could not witness the ceremony following a sudden change in the scheduled time.
Until his elevation as the Deputy Governor, Seibarugu was Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
He replaced the former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, who was removed from office by the state House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct on June 24.
The swearing in of the Deputy Governor was earlier scheduled for 2.00 p.m at the Gloryland Castle inside the Government House with invited guests directed to take their seats at 1.30pm.
But most of the guests who thronged the venue to witness the inauguration, were disappointed as the event was held at about noon.
Though no reason was given for the shift in time which denied most of the invited guests the opportunity to witness the swearing in ceremony, Vanguard investigation revealed that it might not be unconnected with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, that the status quo be maintained in the state pending the determination of the suit before it.
Governor Timipre Sylva in his charge, handed over the supervision of three key ministries in the state to the new deputy. These are ministries of agriculture, sports and local government.
The governor who said the role of the deputy governor was purely to assist in the running of the state noted that the three sectors were the main focus of the present administration.
Responding, the new Deputy Governor, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, promised to work harmoniously with the governor in piloting affairs of the state adding that they would all work to avoid recurring political crisis in the state.
Appeal Court orders status quo
Meantime, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, yesterday, ordered all parties involved in the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ebebi to "maintain the status-quo-ante bellum" until the determination of the appeal brought to the court by Ebebi.
Ebebi had approached the court with two motions through his counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN, with an appeal for interlocutory injunction requesting the court to set aside his purported or planned impeachment as well as for a speedy hearing of the matter.
Ruling on the two motions, Justice Suleiman Galadima, assisted by two justices, told counsel to Bayelsa House of Assembly, Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, and Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, for Attorney-General and Chief Judge of the state that "all the parties must maintain the status quo ante bellum till the determination of the case."
Galadima then adjourned further hearing to 13 October, 2010, stating that the sanctity of the temple of justice must be maintained and the court must be seen to have demonstrated that it could and has done justice.
Sanctity of temple of justice
However, Hon, told the press after the ruling that his clients "are not opposed to the motion of appeal brought by counsel to Ebebi" but that he had been reliably informed that a new deputy governor was being sworn in before the pronouncement of the judges.
But counsel to Ebebi said the pronouncement of the court meant that all the parties should revert to the position which they were until the matter had been resolved and that "the swearing-in of a new deputy governor for Bayelsa State would be seen as disobeying a court order".
He explained that the event in Bauchi State where a new deputy governor was sworn in "even when a motion challenging the action was still in court may come to play in this matter if anything to the contrary of the court order is carried out".
Izinyon alluded to the fact that Bayelsa State may later have two deputy governors if the matter was resolved in favour of Ebebi.
Source: Vanguard, 8th July 2010.
Pressure on Sylva to Name Bayelsa Dep Gov
By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa —Almost 10 days after the impeachment of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Peremobowei Ebebi, the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva had been operating without a deputy.
Though sources close to the governor had said a replacement for Ebebi was waiting in the wings but several days after the latter's removal from office by the State House of Assembly, the governor seems to be at a loss following alleged intense lobbying and pressure from some prominent Bayelsans.
But the governor who had ignored all selection processes initiated by notable Bayelsa politicians because he wanted a deputy with near total loyalty is beginning to have a rethink and now leaning towards the Presidency as he too is nursing a comeback ambition as governor of Bayelsa State.
Although several names had been thrown up as Ebebi's possible replacement in the build up to his impeachment but sources told Vanguard that the governor is keeping the choice to his chest.
It was, however, gathered that Governor Timipre Sylva would this week send a name to the State House of Assembly for ratification with a view to putting to rest days of speculations on who becomes his deputy.
Top on the list of names mentioned as possible replacement for Ebebi was Sylbriks Obriki, a Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan who incidentally is from Ekeremor local government area like the ousted deputy.
But informed sources told Vanguard that President Goodluck Jonathan was not inclined to releasing him to serve in the state giving the controversy it would generate in the state of a possible connivance in the plot to boot the former deputy governor out of office.
Obriki's choice, it was learnt was to placate the president and he his believed to open "doors" at the Presidency.
Apart from being a frontrunner in the President's activities, he is said to have built a likeable reputation around himself among his people of Bayelsa State.
Also, the name of Bekeakpo Etifa is being mentioned as a possible replacement for Ebebi.
Though a political neophyte, he is believed to have the ears of the governor having worked closely with Sylva during his stint as Special Adviser to the then Petroleum Minister, King Edmund Daukoru.
Source: Vanguard, 5th July 2010.
2011: Bayelsa Council Chiefs Flag off Campaign for Jonathan
From Segun James in Yenagoa
Local government chairmen in Bayelsa State weekend joined the campaign to draft President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2011 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a mammoth rally in Yenagoa, the state capital.
At the rally, the chairmen faulted the call by some Northern politicians to stick to the zoning formula adopted by the party for elective positions, saying such formula has never shaped the country and will never lead to the socio-economic and political development of the country.
According to them, although many politicians desire the zoning to be used to guide political participation and ensure orderly ascension of office by each geo-graphical zones and constituencies, the loss of value shown to the zoning policy since 1999 by members of the ruling party has removed any importance attached to any zoning arrangement.
Leader and Chairman of the Sagbama Local Government area, Prince Peres Peretu, said the insistence of some Northern elders on the issue of zoning arrangement is faulted by their participation in the presidential primaries of the PDP that was purportedly zoned to the South and led to the emergence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
"I am a politician of 23 years experience and the issue of zoning has always been a good arrangement but never respected by politicians. It will be very wrong for anybody to say zoning shaped the country. In Obasanjo's time, many Northern aspirants vied for the same Presidency without due regard to the agreement that it was zoned to the South. We gave lip service to zoning. There can never be true zoning in Nigeria and that has been the disposition of politicians, " he said.
He noted that the Northern Elders should allow those interested in vying for the position of Presidency to run irrespective of their belief on zoning."We are ready to support him (Jonathan) because he has shown that he can lead the nation with few the decisions he has taken in the last few months," he stated.
Source: This Day, 5th July 2010.
Bayelsa Deputy Gov Removed
•Jonathan's SA, Obriki, may emerge new deputy
From Segun James in Yenagoa
The end of the road of sort finally came for the embattled Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, as he was impeached yesterday by the state House of Assembly.
He was removed by 18 of the 24 members of the House including the Speaker.
The political situation in the state following Ebebi's impeachment is moving at a supersonic speed as Governor Timipre Sylva is expected to forward the name of his new deputy to the state House of Assembly for screening.
The nominee may likely be the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Mr. Sylbriks Obriki.
Ebebi's impeachment came barely 24 hours after the panel set up to look into the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him wound up its sitting in Yenagoa.
He was found guilty in respect of nine out of the 10-point allegation against him.
Ebebi's removal, the fourth impeachment in the 11 years of democracy in the state, was sequel to the adoption of the report of the seven-man panel headed by Mr. Donald Dewingwe (SAN). The panel set up by the State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, to investigate the various allegations against Ebebi.
The deliberation of the House members on the panel report caught many political observers unawares as it took less than an hour to sack Ebebi.
The Speaker, Werinipre Seibarogu, at about 10.31 am announced that he had with him the report of the probe panel on the investigation into the allegation of gross misconduct against Ebebi for consideration and adoption.
The House member representing Yenagoa Constituency, Hon. Frank Otele, moved for the adoption of the report to form part of the House document. The motion was seconded by Hon. Alfred Egba (Yenagoa).
Having gone through the report, the motion for Ebebi's impeachment was moved by Hon. Jonathan Obuebite (Nembe 1) who said it was no longer news that 17 out of 24-member assembly had signed an impeachment notice against the embattled deputy governor.
Obuebite said the deputy-governor was found guilty of all the allegations except one.
The one that could not be proven is the allegation that Ebebi, in violation of his oath of office, sponsored acts of terrorism with a view to making the state ungovernable by recruiting gun men who acquired and stored large quantities of explosives, together with arms and ammunition in Latik Hotel, owned by him
To this end, in compliance with Section 188(1-9), Obuebite, therefore, moved the motion for the impeachment of the deputy-governor.
The motion was supported by Hon. Fini Angaye and unanimously adopted by over two-third majority members of the House in attendance.
Some of the allegations against Ebebi as contained in the notice of impeachment forwarded to him were: that he "wilfully deserted his official duties by refusing to attend without reasonable cause, the weekly Executive Council meetings of Bayelsa State since January 2010.
"That he wilfully failed and or refused to attend state functions without lawful excuses since February 2010; that he abandoned his office and official residence since February 2010 without official leave and has deliberately neglected and refused to perform the functions for which he was elected; and that in February 2009, he applied for and received the sum of twenty nine thousand, six hundred and sixty thousand, nine hundred and nine naira for medical treatment in Germany but he fraudulently converted the said sum as he neither travelled to Germany or refund the said money to the state treasury."
Speaking to newsmen after the impeachment, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Kombowe Benson, argued that the processes adopted by the House in the removal of the deputy-governor can't be faulted "because all processes were complied with and effected by two-third majority of the House."All effort to get Ebebi's reaction proved abortive last night as his mobile line was not answered while his Counsel, Wodu Kemesuode, claimed he was in Abuja for another case at the Supreme Court.
There has been no love lost between Sylva and Ebebi for some time now, resulting in the deputy-governor saying he could no longer work with his principal.
The state House of Assembly began the impeachment move against Ebebi on June 1, 2010.
Following the request of the House to the chief judge of the state to set up a panel to look into the allegations, Ebebi went to court to stop the panel from sitting on Tuesday June 15, but his effort came a little bit late as he was still in court when he was impeached yesterday.
Ebebi started his political career in 1999 when he was elected into the state House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He rose to be a two-time Speaker of the House during the administration of former governor D.S.P Alameiseigha, following the impeachment of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Boye Debekeme as Speakers.
He became the deputy-governor to Jonathan as governor after the impeachment of Alamiey-eseigha, a position he also retained with Sylva becoming governor in 2007.
THISDAY learnt that Sylva has already approached President Jonathan to release Obriki to him for appointment as deputy-governor.
The choice of Obriki, who is also from Ekeremor Local Government area as Ebebi, it was gathered, caught a number of Sylva loyalists who had been angling for the position by surprise.
Sources at the Creek Haven Government House, believe the choice of Obriki is Sylva's way of placating the President to get his nod for his re-election as governor.
Obriki is at present in Yenagoa, the state capital and he is expected to be screened on Monday by the house of assembly while preparations for his expected inauguration scheduled for Tuesday has begun in earnest.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress (AC) in the state has said it is pathetic and sad that while other states are commissioning state of the art projects, "the Sylva-led administration is exercising undue strength and committing public funds on purely political matter at the expense of developmental projects."
The statement was signed by the state chairman of the party, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina.
Source: This Day, 26th June 2010.
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