Tuesday, 11 October 2011
FRANCIS AGBO (Abuja) and OSA OKHOMINA (Yenagoa) chronicle the electoral deficits of Governor Timipre Sylva ahead of the 2012 governorship polls in Bayelsa State.
In Bayelsa State, the fear of Famou Tengbei used to be the beginning of wisdom until recently when it was disbanded by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringin. Translated in Ijaw,
Famou Tengbei means sweep and throw away. The dreaded outfit was reportedly used by the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva to cage his opponents thereby creating uncertainty in the oil rich state. To compound the governor’s plight, Silva’s New Phase, a political group working for his return to the Creek Haven in 2012 is shaky. The group is arguably the most loathed group of politicians in Bayelsa State. Why? The governor is so unpopular in the state because majority of the people believe he has in the past four years impoverished the people. ‘‘The governor has put the state on motion with out movement. Chief DSP Alamiesiegha and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan tried to develop the state when they were governors, but all the Silva administration did was to plunder our resources,’’ Chief Power Soha, told LEADERSHIP.
The hatred is even worse among politicians based in Abuja. Loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience are no exceptions. They had remained silent on the re-election of Sylva as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2012 polls. That has now changed as they have turned 360 degree, working assiduously to truncate the return bid of the governor. Sylva’s critics insist that the current governor has not delivered on his promise to the electorate. They also accused him of disloyalty and disrespect to the office of the President. LEADERSHIP learnt that Sylva’s “unpardonable sins” was that he allegedly deceived Jonathan into believing that he had struck a deal with foreign investors to build a $7billion Hyundai shipyard in Bayelsa State. The excited president announced it to the whole world only to later realise that he was been fooled by Silva. But a source said Sylva came up with the ploy to create an impression before the president that he was working and deserving of a re-election in April 2011. But the election was postponed by the verdict of the Court of Appeal. Sylva was also said to have boasted in a telephone chat with a former Health Commissioner in the state, Dr. Azibabu Eruani that the president was too weak to stop his re-election in 2011. A Source claimed that the chat developed into hot argument between Sylva and his sacked commissioner who recorded the conversation unknown to the governor. Eruani allegedly played back the tape to the hearing of the President’s wife and the National Security Adviser, General Owei Azazi.
And the final straw that broke the camel’s back was Sylva’s alleged request that Jonathan should help influence the impending Supreme Court judgement in favour of the governors. The verdict is to be delivered soon on the tenure of Sylva and other governors whose states didn’t hold elections in April. The thinking of Sylva and colleagues is that the apex court should uphold the ruling of the appellate court so that there would remain in office to superintend the polls. This originally would spell doom for their opponents both at the primaries and general elections. Jonathan was so embarrassed by Sylva’s request and vowed to avoid him like a plaque.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have been reacting to the Hyndai Shipyard scandal. The Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) described the Hyundai Heavy Industry Shipyard sham as a national embarrassment which has lowered the estimation of Bayelsa State in the eyes of the international community. The CLO Secretary in the state, Comrade Morris Alagoa called for proper investigation on the role played by Sylva in the failed deal.
Alagoa said the failed deal confirms the incapability of Sylva to deliver on his promise of investment in the state.
Alagoa said though the President accepted to receive Sylva and his entourage in the interest of the nation, the involvement of the Bayelsa governor confirms his fear that there was more to the issue than meets the eyes.
“Somehow, I had some reservations but still gave the governor a benefit of doubt. But with the controversy triggered by the visit to Jonathan, it has confirmed my fears that we should not always take the governor’s pronouncement seriously. He told us in the state, two years ago, that the federal government has given the state license to import bulk cement. He said he would build a cement factory and that it will bring down cost of cement in the state, but we are yet to see that happen.
Labour Party (LP) chairman in the state, Bobo Atari-Adou and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Youth Leader, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina called for investigation to expose the role of the governor and the consultant in the controversy.. Ebikibina queried why the President was easily deceived into believing such claims when he has the structure to thoroughly probe the South Koreans and the deal. He said the failed deal was an indication that the ruling PDP was incapable of attracting foreign investors to the state and the country.
The presidency has denied complicity in the failed deal and the visit to Aso Rock. This position was communicated by Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Reuben Abati in a chat with state house correspondents.
Signs that the Bayelsa governor is under intense pressure showed at the Independence Day celebration in the state. Sylva’s speech at the event was laden with anger against the critics of his administration.
Sylva complained that his critics had seen nothing good in his administration and wondered why his government had been thoroughly disparaged for underperformance and insisted that the state had done better than others created alongside it.
He said: “Show me a state created same time with Bayelsa State that is doing better than our state”, he said acknowledging that the state was faced with many challenges. He named some of the challenges facing the state as poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. He however assured ‘‘we are determined to fight them”.
He said developing the state was not the sole responsibility of PDP and his government but collective efforts of people from the state. The governor, who was obviously angry, said democracy had offered ample opportunity for rancour-free development.
He said most of the projects he embarked upon will soon be commissioned adding that he had deepened democracy in the state; provided human capital development, security and stable electricity to the masses. He identified jetties, 500 low-cost housing for civil servants, health centers, permanent head quarters for the Ijaw National Council as projects he had executed in the state.
Although Sylva’s supporters have increased the tempo of campaigns in different parts of the State to convince doubting supporters of the ticket of the Party, both the governor and his opponents are anxiously waiting for Supreme Court verdict on the tenure of Silva and other three governors of Cross River, Sokoto and Adamawa States and Kogi State governorship candidate.
Political observers in the state have started drawing various permutations from pending scenarios on the possible removal of the governor if the Supreme Court judgment is delivered against the governors. If the verdict favours Silva, the governor’s camp claimed the primary would be a roller coaster for the incumbent. If the reverse is the case, Silva would leave his exalted office for the speaker Nestor Binabo to superintend the entire state and the PDP primary to elect the party’s standard bearer for the position of governor.
And with the disbandment of the dreaded Security outfit, Famou Tangbei by the IGP, analysts believe that Silva may have been imprisoned because the outfit was allegedly used by government to hack down the opposition.
This may further brighten the chances of Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, House of Representatives Committee on Special duties at the polls. Dickson who represents Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the green chamber has been endorsed by the popular Green Movement, a virile political group in Bayelsa State to run for governor on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was also at the vanguard of Jonathan’s presidency! Before, the Green Movement endorsed Dickson, the lawmaker had been endorsed by over 80 elders of Bayelsa West Senatorial District in Yenogoa and Sagbama town respectively. The endorsement which took place separately in yenagoa, and Sagbama respectively was at the instance of elders of Ekeremor and Sagbama Federal Constituency which also doubles as Bayelsa West.
Chairman of Ekeremor Elders, Chief Asiyai Etifa chaired the Ekeremor elders meeting while his Sagbama counterpart, Hon Fineman Wilson superintended the Sagbama parley.
The elders said they were supporting Dickson because of his integrity, consistency of character, experience and track record of service to the people as a lawmaker, having represented them at the National Assembly creditably. They said Dickson has the capacity to develop the state, restore peace in the land and unite the people of the state. While praising Dickson for sponsoring various bills in the house, the elders said the lawmaker equally distinquished himself when he served as Justice Commissioner of Bayelsa State. They said they were throwing their weight behind the lawmaker because of all the people that have indicated interest in the coveted seat, Dickson’s candidature represents credible alternative to the status-quo. They also believe with Dickson in the Creek Haven, he would harness the human and material resources of the state and improve the lots of the ordinary Ijaw man. The elders urged Sylva not to seek re-election in 2012 because according to them, Sylva has plunged the state into spiral of violence. The elders also accused the current governor of failing to deliver on his promise to the people. While calling on Sylva and all PDP heavy weights in the state to support Dickson, the elders urged the PDP to adopt Dickson as a consensus candidate.
When contacted, Dickson thanked the elders for reposing confidence in him even as he said he would consult with all stakeholders in the state before responding to the clarion call. At press time, Dickson’s posters announcing his ambition to be governors are all over the state.
It will be recalled that Sylva has been having a running battle with the masses and some elites who have relentlessly accused him of under-developing the state and plunging it into crisis with his notorious security outfit, Famou Tangbei used to allegedly harass opposition in the state. Famou Tangbei in Ijaw means ‘‘sweep and throw away.’’ Now that the PDP has openly said there was no automatic ticket for incumbent governors, Silva’s ordeal may have redoubled!
If Silva loses the PDP ticket, he would go down in history as the first governor since 1999 to have lost his party’s ticket for a second term.
In Bayelsa State, the fear of Famou Tengbei used to be the beginning of wisdom until recently when it was disbanded by the Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringin. Translated in Ijaw,
Famou Tengbei means sweep and throw away. The dreaded outfit was reportedly used by the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva to cage his opponents thereby creating uncertainty in the oil rich state. To compound the governor’s plight, Silva’s New Phase, a political group working for his return to the Creek Haven in 2012 is shaky. The group is arguably the most loathed group of politicians in Bayelsa State. Why? The governor is so unpopular in the state because majority of the people believe he has in the past four years impoverished the people. ‘‘The governor has put the state on motion with out movement. Chief DSP Alamiesiegha and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan tried to develop the state when they were governors, but all the Silva administration did was to plunder our resources,’’ Chief Power Soha, told LEADERSHIP.
The hatred is even worse among politicians based in Abuja. Loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience are no exceptions. They had remained silent on the re-election of Sylva as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2012 polls. That has now changed as they have turned 360 degree, working assiduously to truncate the return bid of the governor. Sylva’s critics insist that the current governor has not delivered on his promise to the electorate. They also accused him of disloyalty and disrespect to the office of the President. LEADERSHIP learnt that Sylva’s “unpardonable sins” was that he allegedly deceived Jonathan into believing that he had struck a deal with foreign investors to build a $7billion Hyundai shipyard in Bayelsa State. The excited president announced it to the whole world only to later realise that he was been fooled by Silva. But a source said Sylva came up with the ploy to create an impression before the president that he was working and deserving of a re-election in April 2011. But the election was postponed by the verdict of the Court of Appeal. Sylva was also said to have boasted in a telephone chat with a former Health Commissioner in the state, Dr. Azibabu Eruani that the president was too weak to stop his re-election in 2011. A Source claimed that the chat developed into hot argument between Sylva and his sacked commissioner who recorded the conversation unknown to the governor. Eruani allegedly played back the tape to the hearing of the President’s wife and the National Security Adviser, General Owei Azazi.
And the final straw that broke the camel’s back was Sylva’s alleged request that Jonathan should help influence the impending Supreme Court judgement in favour of the governors. The verdict is to be delivered soon on the tenure of Sylva and other governors whose states didn’t hold elections in April. The thinking of Sylva and colleagues is that the apex court should uphold the ruling of the appellate court so that there would remain in office to superintend the polls. This originally would spell doom for their opponents both at the primaries and general elections. Jonathan was so embarrassed by Sylva’s request and vowed to avoid him like a plaque.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have been reacting to the Hyndai Shipyard scandal. The Civil Liberty Organization (CLO) described the Hyundai Heavy Industry Shipyard sham as a national embarrassment which has lowered the estimation of Bayelsa State in the eyes of the international community. The CLO Secretary in the state, Comrade Morris Alagoa called for proper investigation on the role played by Sylva in the failed deal.
Alagoa said the failed deal confirms the incapability of Sylva to deliver on his promise of investment in the state.
Alagoa said though the President accepted to receive Sylva and his entourage in the interest of the nation, the involvement of the Bayelsa governor confirms his fear that there was more to the issue than meets the eyes.
“Somehow, I had some reservations but still gave the governor a benefit of doubt. But with the controversy triggered by the visit to Jonathan, it has confirmed my fears that we should not always take the governor’s pronouncement seriously. He told us in the state, two years ago, that the federal government has given the state license to import bulk cement. He said he would build a cement factory and that it will bring down cost of cement in the state, but we are yet to see that happen.
Labour Party (LP) chairman in the state, Bobo Atari-Adou and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Youth Leader, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina called for investigation to expose the role of the governor and the consultant in the controversy.. Ebikibina queried why the President was easily deceived into believing such claims when he has the structure to thoroughly probe the South Koreans and the deal. He said the failed deal was an indication that the ruling PDP was incapable of attracting foreign investors to the state and the country.
The presidency has denied complicity in the failed deal and the visit to Aso Rock. This position was communicated by Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Reuben Abati in a chat with state house correspondents.
Signs that the Bayelsa governor is under intense pressure showed at the Independence Day celebration in the state. Sylva’s speech at the event was laden with anger against the critics of his administration.
Sylva complained that his critics had seen nothing good in his administration and wondered why his government had been thoroughly disparaged for underperformance and insisted that the state had done better than others created alongside it.
He said: “Show me a state created same time with Bayelsa State that is doing better than our state”, he said acknowledging that the state was faced with many challenges. He named some of the challenges facing the state as poverty, unemployment and illiteracy. He however assured ‘‘we are determined to fight them”.
He said developing the state was not the sole responsibility of PDP and his government but collective efforts of people from the state. The governor, who was obviously angry, said democracy had offered ample opportunity for rancour-free development.
He said most of the projects he embarked upon will soon be commissioned adding that he had deepened democracy in the state; provided human capital development, security and stable electricity to the masses. He identified jetties, 500 low-cost housing for civil servants, health centers, permanent head quarters for the Ijaw National Council as projects he had executed in the state.
Although Sylva’s supporters have increased the tempo of campaigns in different parts of the State to convince doubting supporters of the ticket of the Party, both the governor and his opponents are anxiously waiting for Supreme Court verdict on the tenure of Silva and other three governors of Cross River, Sokoto and Adamawa States and Kogi State governorship candidate.
Political observers in the state have started drawing various permutations from pending scenarios on the possible removal of the governor if the Supreme Court judgment is delivered against the governors. If the verdict favours Silva, the governor’s camp claimed the primary would be a roller coaster for the incumbent. If the reverse is the case, Silva would leave his exalted office for the speaker Nestor Binabo to superintend the entire state and the PDP primary to elect the party’s standard bearer for the position of governor.
And with the disbandment of the dreaded Security outfit, Famou Tangbei by the IGP, analysts believe that Silva may have been imprisoned because the outfit was allegedly used by government to hack down the opposition.
This may further brighten the chances of Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, House of Representatives Committee on Special duties at the polls. Dickson who represents Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the green chamber has been endorsed by the popular Green Movement, a virile political group in Bayelsa State to run for governor on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The group was also at the vanguard of Jonathan’s presidency! Before, the Green Movement endorsed Dickson, the lawmaker had been endorsed by over 80 elders of Bayelsa West Senatorial District in Yenogoa and Sagbama town respectively. The endorsement which took place separately in yenagoa, and Sagbama respectively was at the instance of elders of Ekeremor and Sagbama Federal Constituency which also doubles as Bayelsa West.
Chairman of Ekeremor Elders, Chief Asiyai Etifa chaired the Ekeremor elders meeting while his Sagbama counterpart, Hon Fineman Wilson superintended the Sagbama parley.
The elders said they were supporting Dickson because of his integrity, consistency of character, experience and track record of service to the people as a lawmaker, having represented them at the National Assembly creditably. They said Dickson has the capacity to develop the state, restore peace in the land and unite the people of the state. While praising Dickson for sponsoring various bills in the house, the elders said the lawmaker equally distinquished himself when he served as Justice Commissioner of Bayelsa State. They said they were throwing their weight behind the lawmaker because of all the people that have indicated interest in the coveted seat, Dickson’s candidature represents credible alternative to the status-quo. They also believe with Dickson in the Creek Haven, he would harness the human and material resources of the state and improve the lots of the ordinary Ijaw man. The elders urged Sylva not to seek re-election in 2012 because according to them, Sylva has plunged the state into spiral of violence. The elders also accused the current governor of failing to deliver on his promise to the people. While calling on Sylva and all PDP heavy weights in the state to support Dickson, the elders urged the PDP to adopt Dickson as a consensus candidate.
When contacted, Dickson thanked the elders for reposing confidence in him even as he said he would consult with all stakeholders in the state before responding to the clarion call. At press time, Dickson’s posters announcing his ambition to be governors are all over the state.
It will be recalled that Sylva has been having a running battle with the masses and some elites who have relentlessly accused him of under-developing the state and plunging it into crisis with his notorious security outfit, Famou Tangbei used to allegedly harass opposition in the state. Famou Tangbei in Ijaw means ‘‘sweep and throw away.’’ Now that the PDP has openly said there was no automatic ticket for incumbent governors, Silva’s ordeal may have redoubled!
If Silva loses the PDP ticket, he would go down in history as the first governor since 1999 to have lost his party’s ticket for a second term.
Yenagoa-No fewer than 100 Councillors from Bayelsa State, traveling to Abuja for a seminar were, Sunday, reportedly arrested by security operatives.
The Councillors who were traveling in a convoy, were intercepted by a joint team of the Army, Police and State Security Services, SSS, close to Gwagwalada at about 2pm and detained until Monday morning.
It was gathered that the councillors were labelled former militants from Bayelsa State on a mission to breach the peace in Abuja.
The embattled Councillors were reportedly sent back to Yenagoa with military escort.
An SSS official, who spoke anonymously, said information reaching security operatives was that the councillors were former militants who were going to Abuja to disturb the peace.
Chairman of the Councilors Forum, Mr. Godswill Agaga, dismissed the claims, saying they were on their way to a three-day conference organized by NALCON, at the Millennium Hotel, Abuja, when security operatives swooped on them and detained them in the forest on the Lokoja-Abuja Road.
He said the Councillors, including some nursing mothers, had their vehicle keys seized by the security operatives who accused them of coming to Abuja to protest on behalf of Governor Timipre Sylva over the governorship ticket for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.
The Councillors who were traveling in a convoy, were intercepted by a joint team of the Army, Police and State Security Services, SSS, close to Gwagwalada at about 2pm and detained until Monday morning.
It was gathered that the councillors were labelled former militants from Bayelsa State on a mission to breach the peace in Abuja.
The embattled Councillors were reportedly sent back to Yenagoa with military escort.
An SSS official, who spoke anonymously, said information reaching security operatives was that the councillors were former militants who were going to Abuja to disturb the peace.
Chairman of the Councilors Forum, Mr. Godswill Agaga, dismissed the claims, saying they were on their way to a three-day conference organized by NALCON, at the Millennium Hotel, Abuja, when security operatives swooped on them and detained them in the forest on the Lokoja-Abuja Road.
He said the Councillors, including some nursing mothers, had their vehicle keys seized by the security operatives who accused them of coming to Abuja to protest on behalf of Governor Timipre Sylva over the governorship ticket for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.
THE battle for the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State in the 2012 governorship election took a bend, on Monday, following the adoption of a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Seriake Dickson, by a group loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Green Movement.
The movement, in a statement on Monday, said its decision was reached after a meeting attended by members of the group at the weekend.
The Green Movement had produced President Goodluck Jonathan as its gubernatorial candidate in 2006, before he emerged the running mate to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
In the statement endorsed by its principal officers, including Dr Tarila Tebepah, chairman; Bishop B.W. Deyi-Eremienyo, secretary and His Royal Highness A.J Turner, the treasurer, said it adopted Honourable Dickson because of his track record of loyalty and performance.
The movement stated in adopting Dickson, it was withdrawing support from Governor Timipre Sylva, the incumbent Bayelsa State governor, over alleged non-performance.
“The Green Movement, which emerged in Bayelsa in 2004, has become virtually the mainstream grouping within the Bayelsa PDP and was the vehicle for Sylva’s election in 2007 after Dr Goodluck Jonathan, its initial candidate for governor, stepped up as presidential running mate, but its members decided at a meeting that Sylva did not merit their continued support,” the statement read.
According to a communique issued by the movement after its meeting in Abuja, the decision to present Honourable Dickson for the governorship election in Bayelsa was based on “his track record of loyalty, consistency, capacity to execute the transformation agenda and to promote peace, harmony and development in the state.
“Dickson, a former attorney-general of Bayelsa State, is a second-term member of the House of Representatives, where he represents the Sagbama constituency. He has chaired the House Committee on Justice and now leads the Special Duties committee. All lovers of Bayelsa State should support this lofty project.”
The movement, in a statement on Monday, said its decision was reached after a meeting attended by members of the group at the weekend.
The Green Movement had produced President Goodluck Jonathan as its gubernatorial candidate in 2006, before he emerged the running mate to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
In the statement endorsed by its principal officers, including Dr Tarila Tebepah, chairman; Bishop B.W. Deyi-Eremienyo, secretary and His Royal Highness A.J Turner, the treasurer, said it adopted Honourable Dickson because of his track record of loyalty and performance.
The movement stated in adopting Dickson, it was withdrawing support from Governor Timipre Sylva, the incumbent Bayelsa State governor, over alleged non-performance.
“The Green Movement, which emerged in Bayelsa in 2004, has become virtually the mainstream grouping within the Bayelsa PDP and was the vehicle for Sylva’s election in 2007 after Dr Goodluck Jonathan, its initial candidate for governor, stepped up as presidential running mate, but its members decided at a meeting that Sylva did not merit their continued support,” the statement read.
According to a communique issued by the movement after its meeting in Abuja, the decision to present Honourable Dickson for the governorship election in Bayelsa was based on “his track record of loyalty, consistency, capacity to execute the transformation agenda and to promote peace, harmony and development in the state.
“Dickson, a former attorney-general of Bayelsa State, is a second-term member of the House of Representatives, where he represents the Sagbama constituency. He has chaired the House Committee on Justice and now leads the Special Duties committee. All lovers of Bayelsa State should support this lofty project.”
Friday, 6 May 2011
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly presided over by the speaker; Hon. Nestor Binabo last week passed a resolution by a two third majority to remove the chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government council, Chief Ibikitin Diongoli from Office.
Hon. Ebamoghan Emperor, representing Sagbama constituency 3 who moved the motion against the embattled chairman said the House invoked the relevant sections of the Local Government law of 2006 to remove Diongoli.
The Lawmaker made it clear that the embattled council chairman stays outside the council headquarters and engaged in borrowing money from the banks without due authorization.
Already, the former vice chairman of the local government council chief Ebierein Itubo has been sworn-in as the new chairman of Kolga by Governor Timipre Sylva at the executive chambers.
But there are reports that the lawmakers passed the resolution to sack the embattled council chairman following his alleged roles during the recent National and State Assembly elections which the PDP considered embarrassing.
Ebikitin Diongoli was said to have worked against the interest of the ruling People’s Democratic Party which brought him to power considering the fact that the party lost Kolga constituency I to the Opposition party.
During the PDP primaries in January, the embattled chairman led indigenes of the local government area to protest the outcome of the National and State House of Assembly primaries which produced Warman Ogoriba and Hon.Fini Angaye.
Hon. Warman Ogoriba is the current member of the House of Representatives for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency who has secured a fresh mandate while Angaye is the deputy speaker the state legislature who has also secured a fresh mandate.
Hon. Ebamoghan Emperor, representing Sagbama constituency 3 who moved the motion against the embattled chairman said the House invoked the relevant sections of the Local Government law of 2006 to remove Diongoli.
The Lawmaker made it clear that the embattled council chairman stays outside the council headquarters and engaged in borrowing money from the banks without due authorization.
Already, the former vice chairman of the local government council chief Ebierein Itubo has been sworn-in as the new chairman of Kolga by Governor Timipre Sylva at the executive chambers.
But there are reports that the lawmakers passed the resolution to sack the embattled council chairman following his alleged roles during the recent National and State Assembly elections which the PDP considered embarrassing.
Ebikitin Diongoli was said to have worked against the interest of the ruling People’s Democratic Party which brought him to power considering the fact that the party lost Kolga constituency I to the Opposition party.
During the PDP primaries in January, the embattled chairman led indigenes of the local government area to protest the outcome of the National and State House of Assembly primaries which produced Warman Ogoriba and Hon.Fini Angaye.
Hon. Warman Ogoriba is the current member of the House of Representatives for Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency who has secured a fresh mandate while Angaye is the deputy speaker the state legislature who has also secured a fresh mandate.
Friday, 29 April 2011
The Bayelsa chapters of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Labour Party(LP) have demanded for the cancellation of Tuesday’s rescheduled Bayelsa Central Senatorial District election over allegations of wide-spread irregularities and intimidation by security agents.
In two separate protest letters which were submitted to the state INEC REC, Engr. Edwin Nwatarali Wednesday in Yenagoa and copies made available to the newsmen, the two parties alleged that election results from the various polling units were not counter signed by its polling agents and coordinators.
The ANPP Protest letter, which was signed by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Ayebide Fatiede and National Vice-Chairman, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa, the ANPP also alleged that security agents chased away polling agents from voting centres in Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Ward 6, when electoral materials arrived.
The letter reads in part: “Our investigation revealed that PDP masterminded and manipulated the elections and there were no free, fair and credible elections, hence our Agents refused to counter-sign the election as a protest and demand for cancellation of the entire elections”.
The Party faulted the alleged movement of result sheets from Southern Ijaw LGA to the INEC headquarters, arguing that going by INEC regulations, the results ought to be taken the LGA collation centre at the Yenagoa Council Hall for onward announcement.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council were taken to INEC headquarters, hidden there all this while instead of the collation centre contrary to INEC guidelines, and only later came out with a cooked version of all the results and taken to the collation centre”, the party posited.
The ANPP added that “in view of the obvious circumstances, we demand that the results of the senatorial elections of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District concluded on the 26th of April 2011 be cancelled and a rerun election ordered without delay for the sake of justice and fairness”.
our correspondent however reports that INEC in the state had gone ahead to announce the result, where incumbent Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP was return as winner, polling a total of 106,279 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Gospel Kpokpowei of the Labour Party.
The result which was announced at about 5.20pm by the INEC Returning Officer for the Bayelsa Central District, Dr. Bina Odogu, saw Chief Rufus Abadi of the ACN trailing third with 5,116, while Chief Pere Ajuwa of the ANPP came a distance fourth with 3,516 votes.
But INEC declaration of the result was greeted by protests by both the ANPP and the LP, as both parties objected to the autenticity of the of the results announced by the electoral commission. Collation Agents of the two parties at the collation centre refused to sign the final result before it was announced by the INEC Returning Officer.
Chief Paul Frank-Oputu and Chief Stanley Suobo, Collation Agents for the ANPP and Labour Parties respectively told newsmen that they cannot signed the results because INEC had erred by going ahead to announce the result without recourse to the petitions to the commission from the parties.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council area were cooked up before being presented to us here. Why should results be taken to INEC office before coming to the original collation centres? We are not ignorant of the laid down rules. We are rejecting this result, because our petition is on their table”, Suobo said.
While Frank-Oputu described the result announced by INEC as “a fraudulent result”, as according to him, “what INEC is presenting to us is not a reflection of the peoples’ vote. This is not a true reflection of the actual votes at the various polling units. We will continue to reject it till our petition is treated and justice prevailed”.
In his response, National Vice-chairman of the ANPP, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa noted that “By going ahead to announce the result of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, INEC had gone contrary to its electoral guidelines”.
“We submitted a petition to the commission at about 1.pm, and now they are going ahead to announce the result of an election that a petition has been deposed already. This is wrong; we will pursue this injustice to the end”.
“It is very wrong because the INEC guidelines stated that when a petition is received, the commission should not announce the result, pending investigations into the allegations contained in the petition. This is our argument”, Opuakpa stated.
When contacted, the Bayelsa INEC Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Priscilla Imoudu-Sule, confirmed that the commission had received the result of the elections into the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, after it had been announced by the Returning Officer.
On the petitions of the two opposition parties, the ANPP and the LP, Imoudu –Sule stated that for any petition submitted to INEC in relation to an election, the commission would investigate the allegations contained and review the entire election process.
She however declined to comment on the argument of the opposition parties that INEC erred by going ahead to announce the result, without recourse to the petitions on its table.
In two separate protest letters which were submitted to the state INEC REC, Engr. Edwin Nwatarali Wednesday in Yenagoa and copies made available to the newsmen, the two parties alleged that election results from the various polling units were not counter signed by its polling agents and coordinators.
The ANPP Protest letter, which was signed by the party’s state chairman, Mr. Ayebide Fatiede and National Vice-Chairman, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa, the ANPP also alleged that security agents chased away polling agents from voting centres in Igbomotoru, Southern Ijaw Ward 6, when electoral materials arrived.
The letter reads in part: “Our investigation revealed that PDP masterminded and manipulated the elections and there were no free, fair and credible elections, hence our Agents refused to counter-sign the election as a protest and demand for cancellation of the entire elections”.
The Party faulted the alleged movement of result sheets from Southern Ijaw LGA to the INEC headquarters, arguing that going by INEC regulations, the results ought to be taken the LGA collation centre at the Yenagoa Council Hall for onward announcement.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council were taken to INEC headquarters, hidden there all this while instead of the collation centre contrary to INEC guidelines, and only later came out with a cooked version of all the results and taken to the collation centre”, the party posited.
The ANPP added that “in view of the obvious circumstances, we demand that the results of the senatorial elections of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District concluded on the 26th of April 2011 be cancelled and a rerun election ordered without delay for the sake of justice and fairness”.
our correspondent however reports that INEC in the state had gone ahead to announce the result, where incumbent Emmanuel Paulker of the PDP was return as winner, polling a total of 106,279 votes to beat his closest rival, Chief Gospel Kpokpowei of the Labour Party.
The result which was announced at about 5.20pm by the INEC Returning Officer for the Bayelsa Central District, Dr. Bina Odogu, saw Chief Rufus Abadi of the ACN trailing third with 5,116, while Chief Pere Ajuwa of the ANPP came a distance fourth with 3,516 votes.
But INEC declaration of the result was greeted by protests by both the ANPP and the LP, as both parties objected to the autenticity of the of the results announced by the electoral commission. Collation Agents of the two parties at the collation centre refused to sign the final result before it was announced by the INEC Returning Officer.
Chief Paul Frank-Oputu and Chief Stanley Suobo, Collation Agents for the ANPP and Labour Parties respectively told newsmen that they cannot signed the results because INEC had erred by going ahead to announce the result without recourse to the petitions to the commission from the parties.
“Results from Southern Ijaw council area were cooked up before being presented to us here. Why should results be taken to INEC office before coming to the original collation centres? We are not ignorant of the laid down rules. We are rejecting this result, because our petition is on their table”, Suobo said.
While Frank-Oputu described the result announced by INEC as “a fraudulent result”, as according to him, “what INEC is presenting to us is not a reflection of the peoples’ vote. This is not a true reflection of the actual votes at the various polling units. We will continue to reject it till our petition is treated and justice prevailed”.
In his response, National Vice-chairman of the ANPP, South South, Chief Livinus Opuakpa noted that “By going ahead to announce the result of the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, INEC had gone contrary to its electoral guidelines”.
“We submitted a petition to the commission at about 1.pm, and now they are going ahead to announce the result of an election that a petition has been deposed already. This is wrong; we will pursue this injustice to the end”.
“It is very wrong because the INEC guidelines stated that when a petition is received, the commission should not announce the result, pending investigations into the allegations contained in the petition. This is our argument”, Opuakpa stated.
When contacted, the Bayelsa INEC Public Affairs Officer, Mrs. Priscilla Imoudu-Sule, confirmed that the commission had received the result of the elections into the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, after it had been announced by the Returning Officer.
On the petitions of the two opposition parties, the ANPP and the LP, Imoudu –Sule stated that for any petition submitted to INEC in relation to an election, the commission would investigate the allegations contained and review the entire election process.
She however declined to comment on the argument of the opposition parties that INEC erred by going ahead to announce the result, without recourse to the petitions on its table.
An aide to the Bayelsa state House of Assembly speaker, Mr. Goodluck Obodo Osita, was yesterday arrested for allegedly possessing electoral materials during the exercise in the state, just as Twenty four others were arrested by the state police command including six mobile police.
Obodo who was apprehended by other opposition party supporters in the area, confessed been sent by the speaker of the Bayelsa state house of Assembly, Hon. Nestor Binabo representing Sagbama constituency 2.
The speaker was also accused of intimidating the whole community with over five hundred armed youths at all polling unit with the connivance of security agents and induced youth corpers.
The victim who was detained by the men of the state security service (SSS) with ballot box, corpers uniform, bank cheque and other electoral materials disclosed that he was working under the instructions of the speaker to carry out electoral fraud, adding that the corpers whose uniform and identity was with him had absconded.
The Bayelsa state Commissioner of police, Mr. Adeshina Shinaba confirmed the arrest and stated that those arrested will be prosecuted for their involvement in the electoral fraud.
One of the incidents that happened at the metropolis, Opolo area, unit 04, Epie 2 ward 5, the unit of a sitting senator representing the central district in the state, Senator Emmanuel Pauker, showed the kind of politics in the state by the ruling party that constitutes more fraud than a revolution in the state.
Pauker was allegedly accused of inducing the corpers at the unit and others at the Biogolo unit 16 and 17 under the same ward, the security agent in charge, inspector W.A Ukwenya and electorate in the area, meanwhile his supporters almost clamp down on BOF’s correspondent who was a camera at the scene.
The Twenty four House of Assembly constituency elections and the re-scheduled Bayelsa central senatorial district elections in the state yesterday was reportedly marred with irregularities, just as youths and other aggrieved parties faithful in the state condemned the just concluded exercise.
A group of aggrieved youth numbering over two hundred carrying placards protesting in the state from their constituency in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local government area of the state with the Labour Party T-shirt trouped the state INEC office in Yenagoa.
The aggrieved group was led by the candidate vying to represent Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 1 under the Labour Party, Hon. Tonye Isenah Emmanuel, stated that despite the glamour by Nigerians to witness a credible election in the country some disgruntled elements in the ruling party of state has resolved to be involved in malpractice.
Isenah mentioned that the returning officer of the ward was attacked by members of the People’s Democratic party supporters when they perceived that they had almost lost the constituency seat to his favour, adding that higher stalwarts of the party are putting pressure on INEC to disapprove his victory and announce the result inconclusive.
According to the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour party in the state, Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe, who expressed dissatisfaction over mass irregularities in the electoral process of the state, when he casted his vote at about 12.38pm at unit 14 of the Kolokuma/Opokuma ward 7, maintained that Bayelsans should note that those primitive times of electoral fraud, stuffing and hijacking of ballot boxes are outdated.
He admonished Bayelsans to join the rest of the world to do the right thing, adding that times when electoral ballot papers are hijacked and materials destroyed by desperate politicians are past rather electorate should be allowed to vote in their leaders sincerely and transparently.
On the issue of re-schedule senatorial election, he stated that “ the fundamental issue was that there was fraud, people were alleged to have carried ballot box to their home to stuff in thumb print ballot papers, that’s aberration and it shouldn’t happened, its an enactment of negative issue and we ensure that INEC is up to the task to maintain a hitch free process.
The facts that most local communities are not easily accessed does not give any body the privilege to seize the franchise of the people to his own domain and if they try it again we will announce it, we still that commissioners in that area are still carrying out the same act which shows no respect for Mr. President’s one man one vote mantra.
Obodo who was apprehended by other opposition party supporters in the area, confessed been sent by the speaker of the Bayelsa state house of Assembly, Hon. Nestor Binabo representing Sagbama constituency 2.
The speaker was also accused of intimidating the whole community with over five hundred armed youths at all polling unit with the connivance of security agents and induced youth corpers.
The victim who was detained by the men of the state security service (SSS) with ballot box, corpers uniform, bank cheque and other electoral materials disclosed that he was working under the instructions of the speaker to carry out electoral fraud, adding that the corpers whose uniform and identity was with him had absconded.
The Bayelsa state Commissioner of police, Mr. Adeshina Shinaba confirmed the arrest and stated that those arrested will be prosecuted for their involvement in the electoral fraud.
One of the incidents that happened at the metropolis, Opolo area, unit 04, Epie 2 ward 5, the unit of a sitting senator representing the central district in the state, Senator Emmanuel Pauker, showed the kind of politics in the state by the ruling party that constitutes more fraud than a revolution in the state.
Pauker was allegedly accused of inducing the corpers at the unit and others at the Biogolo unit 16 and 17 under the same ward, the security agent in charge, inspector W.A Ukwenya and electorate in the area, meanwhile his supporters almost clamp down on BOF’s correspondent who was a camera at the scene.
The Twenty four House of Assembly constituency elections and the re-scheduled Bayelsa central senatorial district elections in the state yesterday was reportedly marred with irregularities, just as youths and other aggrieved parties faithful in the state condemned the just concluded exercise.
A group of aggrieved youth numbering over two hundred carrying placards protesting in the state from their constituency in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local government area of the state with the Labour Party T-shirt trouped the state INEC office in Yenagoa.
The aggrieved group was led by the candidate vying to represent Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 1 under the Labour Party, Hon. Tonye Isenah Emmanuel, stated that despite the glamour by Nigerians to witness a credible election in the country some disgruntled elements in the ruling party of state has resolved to be involved in malpractice.
Isenah mentioned that the returning officer of the ward was attacked by members of the People’s Democratic party supporters when they perceived that they had almost lost the constituency seat to his favour, adding that higher stalwarts of the party are putting pressure on INEC to disapprove his victory and announce the result inconclusive.
According to the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour party in the state, Mr. Ndutimi Alaibe, who expressed dissatisfaction over mass irregularities in the electoral process of the state, when he casted his vote at about 12.38pm at unit 14 of the Kolokuma/Opokuma ward 7, maintained that Bayelsans should note that those primitive times of electoral fraud, stuffing and hijacking of ballot boxes are outdated.
He admonished Bayelsans to join the rest of the world to do the right thing, adding that times when electoral ballot papers are hijacked and materials destroyed by desperate politicians are past rather electorate should be allowed to vote in their leaders sincerely and transparently.
On the issue of re-schedule senatorial election, he stated that “ the fundamental issue was that there was fraud, people were alleged to have carried ballot box to their home to stuff in thumb print ballot papers, that’s aberration and it shouldn’t happened, its an enactment of negative issue and we ensure that INEC is up to the task to maintain a hitch free process.
The facts that most local communities are not easily accessed does not give any body the privilege to seize the franchise of the people to his own domain and if they try it again we will announce it, we still that commissioners in that area are still carrying out the same act which shows no respect for Mr. President’s one man one vote mantra.
Friday, 15 April 2011
While the verdict in most parts of the country has been good, the situation calls for concern considering the violence resulting in loss of human lives, snatching of ballot boxes, intimidation of opponents and use of money to induce voters as well as the use of security agencies such as the army, police and others to perpetrate one of the worst cases of election malpractice in the National Assembly elections.
Statistics show that out of 117 cases of ballot-snatching nationwide, Bayelsa has 23, the highest number of cases, four deaths including the three that died on April 2 and four persons injured. A number of election-triggered arrests in President Jonathan’s home state made nonsense of the adage that “charity begins at home.” There have been several 2011protests already and fears of bomb attack on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) secretariat in the state.
In several polling units, there were no result sheets. In some communities, there were no election materials at all. Sometimes, it was in entire wards. In some polling units, voters with genuine voters’ cards could not find their names on voters’ lists. That was the sordid story in Bayelsa State. Certainly, INEC can only be commended elsewhere, not in Bayelsa State.
As a result, INEC, whose officials were also alleged to have been part of the “show of shame” has been in a quandary to announce the results even as protests have greeted the outcome with opposition political parties including the Labour Party (LP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Change Advocate Party (CAP) and All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) calling for outright cancellation of the elections, rejection of the declared results and transfer of Edwin Nwatarali, the resident electoral commissioner (REC).
The Labour Party in particular, named top Bayelsa government officials who were involved in alleged rigging of the elections as well as former militant leaders and the role of the Joint Task Force (JTF), police and INEC officials in denying the electorate their right to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Adou Badou, LP state chairman, named Gideon Ekeuwei, secretary to the State Government; Kesiye Frank-Oputu, commissioner for Special Duties (Central); Stephen Diver, special adviser to the Governor on Inter-party Matters; Maxwell Oko, commissioner for Energy; Samuel Ogbuku, chief of Staff, Government House; Sonny Igoli, special adviser to the Governor on Youth Matters; and Richard Kpodoh special adviser to the Governor on Security; as top government officials allegedly involved in election malpractice.
Others named by Badou include Heineken Lokpobiri, incumbent senator, representing Bayelsa West; Nathaniel Sylva, chairman of Brass Local Government Area; the PDP candidate in Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency, Foingha Jephthah; and former militant leaders, Africa, Joshua and Ogunboss.
Bayelsa State Information, Orientation and Strategy Commissioner, Nathan Egba, has debunked the allegation that state government officials were involved in cases of electoral malpractice.
A statement signed by the governorship candidate of the party, Imoro Kubor, condemned the conduct of the elections and rejection of any results from the affected areas, saying they are “totally unacceptable.”
Late on Monday, INEC issued a press statement signed by the public relations officer, Priscilla Imoudu-Sule, saying results declared in “Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, were declared in error as the results are still being reviewed due to widespread irregularities reported” during the elections. The commission also stated that the election in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency was inconclusive due to irregularities as the election did not hold in four wards and irregularities in other wards.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) too has not rested on its oars as its candidates have been addressing series of press conferences urging INEC to uphold the results that have so far been announced even in areas where the worst cases of malpractice took place such as Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas.
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
The Labour Party in Bayelsa state has expressed total loss of confidence in the ability of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Nwatalari Nwane and the Administrative secretary of INEC to conduct an acceptable election in 2011.
Addressing a news conference in Yenagoa last Sunday, the chairman of Labour party in the state, Mr. Atari Bobo-Adou made it clear that the party is rejecting the results so far declared and called for the immediate removal of the REC.
Bobo–Adou said the party has put the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission. Professor Attahiru Jega on notice that in six local government area electoral materials were allegedly hijacked and votes allotted to political parties.
He remarked that the opposition party is eagerly waiting for professor Jega to uphold his promise of prosecuting a serving senator who allegedly diverted electoral materials to his private residence with the aide of security agents and INEC officials.
The Party Chief described the outcome of the National Assembly elections as an unfortunate development for democracy in the country considering the fact that some persons in high places made desperate efforts to subvert the will of the people.
Bobo-Adou expressed reservations that PDP stalwarts in southern Ijaw Local government area allegedly highjacked materials meant for Olubobiri, Ezefu Peremabiri, Koluama and Azuzuama and prevented the electorates from voting.
The Chairman noted with dismay that in Amassoma, Otuan and Amatolo communities of Igboin clan, officials of INEC connived with a special adviser to Governor Timipre Sylva in conveying electoral materials without result sheets.
While Nembe Local Government area,, he noted that electoral materials meant for seven wards in the Bassambiri axis were said to have been hijacked by PDP loyalists using the security operatives as cover.
Monday, 11 April 2011
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate for Bayelsa west, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor, has been arrested by men of the security service of the state for allegedly manipulating the National Assembly election in that district.
Ekeremor Local Government Area which was a war zone earlier in the botched election leaving about two persons dead and a state security service officer with gun wounds while Sagbama a free zone for electoral fraud and intimidations.
Reportedly, he was arrested at the Eanest Sesei Ikoli press centre secretariat, when he allegedly led a house of representative candidate for Southern-Ijaw , elders and other party supporters to brief the press over the just concluded NASS election.
Journalist were surprise over his arrest because he had earlier denied that there weren’t any attempt for his arrest, adding that elections in that district were free and fair in all wards except the two wards were the Labour Party senatorial candidate disenfranchise the people of that constituency from exhibiting their human right.
Lokpobiri challenged the Independence National Electoral Commissions position over the withdrawal of the previous declaration of the Bayelsa west senatorial district result, maintaining that INEC does not have the legal authority to go back and review the result that has already been declared.
The senator whose argument was based on the press released issued and signed by the public affairs officer, Mrs. Priscilia Imoudu Sule, that the previous announced result in favour of the PDP senatorial candidate was declared in error as the election results are still being reviewed due to widespread irregularities reported during the April 9th 2011 elections, stated that if INEC wants to do things fairly to affirm that they conducted a free and fair elections in the state to mark an history breaking record they shouldn’t interfere with the results.
He also accused the retired National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, of working with opposition parties in the state against the president of the country to purport security reports and instigate violence in Bayelsa. He also threatened INEC not to incite the public and the ruling people’s party in the state and country
Ekeremor Local Government Area which was a war zone earlier in the botched election leaving about two persons dead and a state security service officer with gun wounds while Sagbama a free zone for electoral fraud and intimidations.
Reportedly, he was arrested at the Eanest Sesei Ikoli press centre secretariat, when he allegedly led a house of representative candidate for Southern-Ijaw , elders and other party supporters to brief the press over the just concluded NASS election.
Journalist were surprise over his arrest because he had earlier denied that there weren’t any attempt for his arrest, adding that elections in that district were free and fair in all wards except the two wards were the Labour Party senatorial candidate disenfranchise the people of that constituency from exhibiting their human right.
Lokpobiri challenged the Independence National Electoral Commissions position over the withdrawal of the previous declaration of the Bayelsa west senatorial district result, maintaining that INEC does not have the legal authority to go back and review the result that has already been declared.
The senator whose argument was based on the press released issued and signed by the public affairs officer, Mrs. Priscilia Imoudu Sule, that the previous announced result in favour of the PDP senatorial candidate was declared in error as the election results are still being reviewed due to widespread irregularities reported during the April 9th 2011 elections, stated that if INEC wants to do things fairly to affirm that they conducted a free and fair elections in the state to mark an history breaking record they shouldn’t interfere with the results.
He also accused the retired National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, of working with opposition parties in the state against the president of the country to purport security reports and instigate violence in Bayelsa. He also threatened INEC not to incite the public and the ruling people’s party in the state and country
Hijack of election materials, pockets of violence and disenfranchisement of voters was recorded at the conduct of the National Assembly election in most parts of Bayelsa state.
Accreditation in many parts of the state stated earlier as the Independence National Electoral Commission ensured that materials were distributed because of the river terrain of the state still other parts never got materials till the end of the exercise.
In Sagbama ward eleven, no senate materials were made available while where over seven hundred materials were needed only a hundred ballot papers was provided and also in a nearby unit in ward six no single material was available.
Ekeremor Local Government Area which earlier in the botched election had about three persons killed was another zone where supporters of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded blames over hijacked of election materials by unknown desperate politicians.
Information reaching us has it that a serving senator of the state under the platform of the PDP representing Ekeremor/ Sagbama, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri perpetrated the unfortunate situation of commandeering corps members and elections materials to his house for manupilations.
In Brass, the case was not different, one person was confirmed dead from a stray bullet, an alleged attempt by a top politician to overrun the INEC office by supporters of some political parties but was repelled by men of the Joint Task Force, and a polling officer in the area stated that election materials were hijacked by unknown persons.
In Southern- Ijaw Local Government Area, Ex-militants were said to have hijacked election materials, especially result sheets from Olugbobiri and Oporoma where all manipulation was done without any eligible voters.
In Amasoma, result sheets were hijacked by unknown persons with the connivance of INEC officials in the area which was later revealed when the officials were arrested through the instruction of the former governor of the state.
Meanwhile the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, earlier vowed that the elections would be smooth and the votes of every Nigerian must count, declaring that attempts by desperate politicians in the country to derail the 2011 elections would fail.
Jonathan who spoke in company of his wife, Dame Patience and mother completed the accreditation process under few minutes at the Otazi play ground, polling unit 13 and came back to vote at 12.10pm, stated that the explosion in Suleja, Niger state was the handiwork of those who do not want the 2011 elections to succeed.
He maintained that the occurrence of explosion in Suleja after the one that was detonated during the PDP rally was an indication that a cell of anti-social elements are in the area, adding that the federal government would comb the area and fish them out.
According to the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate of the state, Ndutimi Alaibe, stated that its quiet sad in this time and age when a reasonable voters accreditation exercise was conducted still people still believe in the past election process of rigging.
Alaibe who stated this at Igbainwari town square, polling unit 14, Opokuma North after he exercised his voter’s right, maintained that it is a sad situation where people make their homes as polling unit and disenfranchise the people’s right of chosen their leaders.
He also promised that those who perpetrated those acts will be pursued to the point where they will be apprehended. “We won’t condole that act, whether they are security agents, INEC officials or government officials they must be prosecuted.
Accreditation in many parts of the state stated earlier as the Independence National Electoral Commission ensured that materials were distributed because of the river terrain of the state still other parts never got materials till the end of the exercise.
In Sagbama ward eleven, no senate materials were made available while where over seven hundred materials were needed only a hundred ballot papers was provided and also in a nearby unit in ward six no single material was available.
Ekeremor Local Government Area which earlier in the botched election had about three persons killed was another zone where supporters of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded blames over hijacked of election materials by unknown desperate politicians.
Information reaching us has it that a serving senator of the state under the platform of the PDP representing Ekeremor/ Sagbama, Hon. Heineken Lokpobiri perpetrated the unfortunate situation of commandeering corps members and elections materials to his house for manupilations.
In Brass, the case was not different, one person was confirmed dead from a stray bullet, an alleged attempt by a top politician to overrun the INEC office by supporters of some political parties but was repelled by men of the Joint Task Force, and a polling officer in the area stated that election materials were hijacked by unknown persons.
In Southern- Ijaw Local Government Area, Ex-militants were said to have hijacked election materials, especially result sheets from Olugbobiri and Oporoma where all manipulation was done without any eligible voters.
In Amasoma, result sheets were hijacked by unknown persons with the connivance of INEC officials in the area which was later revealed when the officials were arrested through the instruction of the former governor of the state.
Meanwhile the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, earlier vowed that the elections would be smooth and the votes of every Nigerian must count, declaring that attempts by desperate politicians in the country to derail the 2011 elections would fail.
Jonathan who spoke in company of his wife, Dame Patience and mother completed the accreditation process under few minutes at the Otazi play ground, polling unit 13 and came back to vote at 12.10pm, stated that the explosion in Suleja, Niger state was the handiwork of those who do not want the 2011 elections to succeed.
He maintained that the occurrence of explosion in Suleja after the one that was detonated during the PDP rally was an indication that a cell of anti-social elements are in the area, adding that the federal government would comb the area and fish them out.
According to the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate of the state, Ndutimi Alaibe, stated that its quiet sad in this time and age when a reasonable voters accreditation exercise was conducted still people still believe in the past election process of rigging.
Alaibe who stated this at Igbainwari town square, polling unit 14, Opokuma North after he exercised his voter’s right, maintained that it is a sad situation where people make their homes as polling unit and disenfranchise the people’s right of chosen their leaders.
He also promised that those who perpetrated those acts will be pursued to the point where they will be apprehended. “We won’t condole that act, whether they are security agents, INEC officials or government officials they must be prosecuted.
According to a statement by Mrs. Pricilla Imoudu Sule, INEC’s image maker, incumbent House of Representative member for the constituency Hon. Warman Ogriba recorded 19,340 votes to beat Labour Party candidate with 17,682 votes while ACN pulled 383.
There are fears that the delay in releasing the results of the National Assembly polls may not be unconnected with moves by the ruling party to manipulate the electoral process in favour of t their candidates.
Twenty-four hours after the election reports have it that the Labour Party was leading in most of the Local Government areas of the state in what could be described as a move to unseat the People’s Democratic Party.
In Town-Brass, a loyalist of Hon. Nelson Belief the incumbent House of Representatives member for Nembe-Brass Federal constituency was killed when supporters of Labour Party and the PDP clashed in the premises of INEC in the area Nelson belief is seeking re-election.
There are reports that there were no election materials or presence of official s of the Independent National Electoral Commission in most of the polling units to enable the electorate exercise their franchise.
In Otuake, the country home of President Goodluck Jonathan, accreditation and voting went on smoothly while the president voted in the community exactly 12:30pm to signal the commencement of the exercise .
However, crisis erupted in the neighnoruing Otuasege community in Ogbia local government when supporters of the main opposition party (LABOUR Party) clashed with supporters of the ruling party where a youth was macheted.
The Council of Domestic Observers led by Mr. Amangala Josiah has thanked the people of the state for show-casing what it takes to produce a president of the country considering the conduct National Assembly polls.
He described the elections as peaceful, credible and acceptable emphasizing that Bayelsa has never witnessed such an electoral process.
Friday, 1 April 2011
As part of effort towards nation building women have been urged to play optimal role to take leading in bringing about change in the society.
The representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) MDCEO, Mrs. Emenike Iheoma gave the advice on the occasion of leadership training/fund raising programme organized by Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria at the Earnest Seisei Ikoli Press Centre, Azikoro road, Yenagoa the state capital.
Mrs. Iheoma stated that the integration of women in development is no longer merry-go slogan as concrete step is to be ensured that gender mainstreaming and girl-child education is taken seriously.
Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker, Dr. Kamio Bruce with the theme: “Arise Bayelsa: Leading for Change” stated that new Nigeria of the people’s dream will emerge when leaders understand that government do not belong to them will now have to care for the people, stressing that a leader who is leading and people do not follow is only but strolling.
Dr. Bruce stated that when change is ignored, the only thing one welcomes is chains, saying that a leader should be able to effect a change to the people where the mentality will determine the manifestation.
The guest speaker stated that people need mental orientation where men and women who are changed upstairs can take the leadership role to ensure effecting a change.
Speaking to journalists after the occasion, the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria, Queen Preye Court noted that women are not carried along as nobody to sponsor them especially the group she is heading but on empowerment of women, they have tried their best supporting the women in their little way; thus nee sponsors to assist the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria.
Queen Court stated to mobilize women to vote for the person of their choice in April’s poll, stressing that in the oil communities of Niger Delta and in the states level, women should be carried along and sensitized to have understanding of what people are doing.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, the Managing Director of Pahek Security Services Limited, Mr. Otunba Patrick H. Keku, represented by Elder Gesiye Ekade stated that women are special right from creation, saying that it is his first time identifying with the group and as an INC elder will communicate the executives that such a group exists so as to be partnering.
The representative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) MDCEO, Mrs. Emenike Iheoma gave the advice on the occasion of leadership training/fund raising programme organized by Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria at the Earnest Seisei Ikoli Press Centre, Azikoro road, Yenagoa the state capital.
Mrs. Iheoma stated that the integration of women in development is no longer merry-go slogan as concrete step is to be ensured that gender mainstreaming and girl-child education is taken seriously.
Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker, Dr. Kamio Bruce with the theme: “Arise Bayelsa: Leading for Change” stated that new Nigeria of the people’s dream will emerge when leaders understand that government do not belong to them will now have to care for the people, stressing that a leader who is leading and people do not follow is only but strolling.
Dr. Bruce stated that when change is ignored, the only thing one welcomes is chains, saying that a leader should be able to effect a change to the people where the mentality will determine the manifestation.
The guest speaker stated that people need mental orientation where men and women who are changed upstairs can take the leadership role to ensure effecting a change.
Speaking to journalists after the occasion, the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria, Queen Preye Court noted that women are not carried along as nobody to sponsor them especially the group she is heading but on empowerment of women, they have tried their best supporting the women in their little way; thus nee sponsors to assist the Izon National Female Congress of Nigeria.
Queen Court stated to mobilize women to vote for the person of their choice in April’s poll, stressing that in the oil communities of Niger Delta and in the states level, women should be carried along and sensitized to have understanding of what people are doing.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, the Managing Director of Pahek Security Services Limited, Mr. Otunba Patrick H. Keku, represented by Elder Gesiye Ekade stated that women are special right from creation, saying that it is his first time identifying with the group and as an INC elder will communicate the executives that such a group exists so as to be partnering.
The Leadership of the Labour Party yesterday expressed worry over the rising cases of violent attacks and intimidation of members of the opposition parties in the state by the ruling party,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),alleging that the Governor Sylva led administration has stock-piled arms for the polls.
According to the Party, though the opposition are holding unto the campaign by President Goodluck Jonathan for a free and fair polls in the state, the ruling administration have hired the services of some ex-militant leaders and the state security outfit known as Famou Tamgbe to use the illegal arms stored to intimidate and oppress voters in the state.
But the Publicity Secetary of the PDP in Bayelsa State,Ene Ketebu said though the allegations presented by the Labour Party was false and unfounded,the ruling Party does not need arms to win the general elections in the state.
In the Statement issued yesterday by the Labour Party and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Priye Julius ,the Party said the illegal acts and campaign of oppression by the ruling Party under the leadership of Governor Timipre Sylva allegedly commenced acts of intimidation at the declaration of electoral processes by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to the Labour Party,”As you all know,the state is a flash point in the coming elections.From the first day INEC blew the whistle for political campaigns,the ruling party in the state has exhibited undemocratic norms by using violence to intimidate opposing political parties.The purpose is to subvert the will of the people during the elections.”
The Labour Party noted with concern the present administration in the state has stock-piled arms,”the aim of stock-pilling arms and ammunition is to rig the elections.Instead of Voters card,the government intends to use guns to kill and maim law-abiding Bayelsans who want to come out en-masse to cast their votes peacefully for the party of choice.”
“With only two days to the National Assembly elections,ex-militants, who voluntarily took part in the Federal Government Amnesty programme are reported to have been recruited by the PDP led Government to take part in their plot to rig by giving them guns again.It is known that the PDP government is working in concert with an illegal police outfit known as Famou Tamgbe.”
The Labour Party listed the areas identified as being used for arms and ammunition stock-piling in the state.The areas listed include Southern Ijaw,Ekeremor,Brass,Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area.
They stated that “We call on the Inspector-General of Police,the Chief of Army Staff,the Director-Gneral of Police and the SSS to be on red alert to avert the impeding bloodshed of innocent people of the state and the plan of the Timipre administration to rig the elections.”
Contacted on the claims of the Labour Party,the Publicity Secetary of the PDP,Ene Ketebu said instead of the opposition parties to focus on campaigns,they are busy accusing PDP of plotting to rig, ”We have campaigned vigorously in the state by moving from one local council to another. The Labour Party is accusing us because they know that they will fail during the polls.We don’t need to rig elections because we have worked hard.”
According to the Party, though the opposition are holding unto the campaign by President Goodluck Jonathan for a free and fair polls in the state, the ruling administration have hired the services of some ex-militant leaders and the state security outfit known as Famou Tamgbe to use the illegal arms stored to intimidate and oppress voters in the state.
But the Publicity Secetary of the PDP in Bayelsa State,Ene Ketebu said though the allegations presented by the Labour Party was false and unfounded,the ruling Party does not need arms to win the general elections in the state.
In the Statement issued yesterday by the Labour Party and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Priye Julius ,the Party said the illegal acts and campaign of oppression by the ruling Party under the leadership of Governor Timipre Sylva allegedly commenced acts of intimidation at the declaration of electoral processes by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to the Labour Party,”As you all know,the state is a flash point in the coming elections.From the first day INEC blew the whistle for political campaigns,the ruling party in the state has exhibited undemocratic norms by using violence to intimidate opposing political parties.The purpose is to subvert the will of the people during the elections.”
The Labour Party noted with concern the present administration in the state has stock-piled arms,”the aim of stock-pilling arms and ammunition is to rig the elections.Instead of Voters card,the government intends to use guns to kill and maim law-abiding Bayelsans who want to come out en-masse to cast their votes peacefully for the party of choice.”
“With only two days to the National Assembly elections,ex-militants, who voluntarily took part in the Federal Government Amnesty programme are reported to have been recruited by the PDP led Government to take part in their plot to rig by giving them guns again.It is known that the PDP government is working in concert with an illegal police outfit known as Famou Tamgbe.”
The Labour Party listed the areas identified as being used for arms and ammunition stock-piling in the state.The areas listed include Southern Ijaw,Ekeremor,Brass,Yenagoa and Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area.
They stated that “We call on the Inspector-General of Police,the Chief of Army Staff,the Director-Gneral of Police and the SSS to be on red alert to avert the impeding bloodshed of innocent people of the state and the plan of the Timipre administration to rig the elections.”
Contacted on the claims of the Labour Party,the Publicity Secetary of the PDP,Ene Ketebu said instead of the opposition parties to focus on campaigns,they are busy accusing PDP of plotting to rig, ”We have campaigned vigorously in the state by moving from one local council to another. The Labour Party is accusing us because they know that they will fail during the polls.We don’t need to rig elections because we have worked hard.”
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Police in Bayelsa State on Wednesday in Yenagoa received arms and ammunition from 32 ex-militant leaders who said they were forced to submit the arms when they saw the genuineness of the on-going amnesty deal.
The arms included 428 guns of various calibers including AK 47, FMC and locally made pistols, two improvised explosive devices, axes, locally made rocket launcher, cartridges, cutlasses, submachine gun pellets, army uniforms and gun belts.
Aliyu Musa, the state police commissioner told newsmen said that although the period of submission of arms was over, he agreed to receive the arms as it was “not good to shun them and drive them away because amnesty is over.”
Musa explained that the arms and ammunition could be used to perpetrate violence particularly during the forthcoming elections and destroy the prevailing peaceful atmosphere stressing that prevention is better than cure.
He said the submission of arms was as a result of his appeal in a meeting with ex-militant leaders in the state not to allow themselves to be used as thugs during the elections to which they agreed that they would not be involved in electoral violence and thuggery.
Speaking on the elections, the police commissioner said 3,391 police officers wearing tags would be dispatched to various polling units for the elections but he has asked other military and paramilitary to assist the police in various ways.
He said the Navy would assist the police with gunboats as they are short in boats and gunboats while the Joint Task Force is expected to help out in areas where the police strength is stretched too thin.
Pointing out that the police is neutral in the coming elections, Musa said to avoid misunderstanding that could trail the use of its anti crime outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei the command would use conventional police patrol vehicles during the elections.
His statement is coming against a backdrop of complaints by opposition parties that Operation Famou Tangbei was a tool of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to harass and intimidate candidates of other parties.
According to the police commissioner, he would ordered the dispersion of the outfit but for the successes it has recorded since its inception in reducing crime in the state capital to its barest minimum.
Musa therefore used the occasion to further appeal to politicians and Bayelsans to embrace peace as the police would remain neutral in the forthcoming elections to allow for a level playing field in the interest of Bayelsans and Nigerians in general.
The arms included 428 guns of various calibers including AK 47, FMC and locally made pistols, two improvised explosive devices, axes, locally made rocket launcher, cartridges, cutlasses, submachine gun pellets, army uniforms and gun belts.
Aliyu Musa, the state police commissioner told newsmen said that although the period of submission of arms was over, he agreed to receive the arms as it was “not good to shun them and drive them away because amnesty is over.”
Musa explained that the arms and ammunition could be used to perpetrate violence particularly during the forthcoming elections and destroy the prevailing peaceful atmosphere stressing that prevention is better than cure.
He said the submission of arms was as a result of his appeal in a meeting with ex-militant leaders in the state not to allow themselves to be used as thugs during the elections to which they agreed that they would not be involved in electoral violence and thuggery.
Speaking on the elections, the police commissioner said 3,391 police officers wearing tags would be dispatched to various polling units for the elections but he has asked other military and paramilitary to assist the police in various ways.
He said the Navy would assist the police with gunboats as they are short in boats and gunboats while the Joint Task Force is expected to help out in areas where the police strength is stretched too thin.
Pointing out that the police is neutral in the coming elections, Musa said to avoid misunderstanding that could trail the use of its anti crime outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei the command would use conventional police patrol vehicles during the elections.
His statement is coming against a backdrop of complaints by opposition parties that Operation Famou Tangbei was a tool of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to harass and intimidate candidates of other parties.
According to the police commissioner, he would ordered the dispersion of the outfit but for the successes it has recorded since its inception in reducing crime in the state capital to its barest minimum.
Musa therefore used the occasion to further appeal to politicians and Bayelsans to embrace peace as the police would remain neutral in the forthcoming elections to allow for a level playing field in the interest of Bayelsans and Nigerians in general.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Fear has gripped Governor Timipre Sylva following reports that some influential members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who are aggrieved over the outcome of the party primaries at various levels may work against the success of the party in next month’s general elections.
While some of the party chiefs who are aggrieved resolved to remain in the party and work against the political fortunes of the party others have decamped to Labour Party, ACN, and CPC to actualize their ambitions for elective office.
Labour Party host Chief Timi Alaibe, former presidential aide on Niger Delta, Peremobowei Ebebi, immediate past Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and Hon. Nelson Belief incumbent member of National Assembly while ACN host Chief Rufus Abadi former chairman of the party.
It is obvious that the battle line has been drawn for the soul of Bayelsa West Senatorial zone between Senator Heineken Lokpobiri who is seeking re-election on PDP platform and Ebebi who is making spirited attempts to unseat Lokpobiri on Labour Party platform.
Even members of the state House of Assembly who have secured the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the April elections are making desperate efforts to ensure that they outwit their opponents or lobby them step down.
Determined to ensure that the ruling party approach the elections as a united family, Governor Sylva on Tuesday approved the constitution of a reconciliation committee headed by Senator John .K. Brambafa who has been criticizing his policies.
The ten member committee has chief Frank Okurakpo, Chief Alex Ekiotene, Mr. Blesson Akpoloma, Chief Victor Awoala, Professor Ayebaemi Spiff, Mrs. Emaculate Amaseimogha and Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo Perm Sec; General Services to serve as secretary.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the Governor on media, Mr. Preye Wariowei on behalf of the secretary to the state government named Douye Naingba, Dr. Bolere Ketebu and Mr. Ayebaesin Dienagha as members of the committee.
While some of the party chiefs who are aggrieved resolved to remain in the party and work against the political fortunes of the party others have decamped to Labour Party, ACN, and CPC to actualize their ambitions for elective office.
Labour Party host Chief Timi Alaibe, former presidential aide on Niger Delta, Peremobowei Ebebi, immediate past Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and Hon. Nelson Belief incumbent member of National Assembly while ACN host Chief Rufus Abadi former chairman of the party.
It is obvious that the battle line has been drawn for the soul of Bayelsa West Senatorial zone between Senator Heineken Lokpobiri who is seeking re-election on PDP platform and Ebebi who is making spirited attempts to unseat Lokpobiri on Labour Party platform.
Even members of the state House of Assembly who have secured the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the April elections are making desperate efforts to ensure that they outwit their opponents or lobby them step down.
Determined to ensure that the ruling party approach the elections as a united family, Governor Sylva on Tuesday approved the constitution of a reconciliation committee headed by Senator John .K. Brambafa who has been criticizing his policies.
The ten member committee has chief Frank Okurakpo, Chief Alex Ekiotene, Mr. Blesson Akpoloma, Chief Victor Awoala, Professor Ayebaemi Spiff, Mrs. Emaculate Amaseimogha and Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo Perm Sec; General Services to serve as secretary.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the Governor on media, Mr. Preye Wariowei on behalf of the secretary to the state government named Douye Naingba, Dr. Bolere Ketebu and Mr. Ayebaesin Dienagha as members of the committee.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, slammed a six-fresh-count charge on three officials of the Bayelsa State government, while it withdrew earlier charges against the fourth accused.
The anti-graft commission had earlier dragged the Accountant-General of state, Francis Okokoro; Director of Treasury, Abbot Clinton; Director of Finance, Ikobho Howells and Dr. Charles Opuala before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged mismanagement of N2 billion.
When the matter came up on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, applied that the name of Okokoro be struck out and be discharged from the trial in line with the fresh amended charges.
The trial judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, therefore, struck out Okokoro’s name from the charge and ordered that the remaining three accused persons should take a fresh plea.
Upon reading the further amended six-count charges to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts and were consequently admitted to bail on the same terms and condition as the earlier ones, following the requests of their counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), and Sunday Ameh (SAN).
Meanwhile, Keyamo continued with his prosecution witness 1, Mr. Adebayo Adeniyi, a police officer attached to the EFCC, who narrated the steps he took in the course of investigating the alleged N2 billion fraud.
After Adeniyi had concluded his evidence-in-chief, defence counsel, Uche (SAN), applied for adjournment till March 18 to cross-examine him, and the request was granted by the court.
The court, therefore, adjourned the matter till March 18 for cross examination.
The anti-graft commission had earlier dragged the Accountant-General of state, Francis Okokoro; Director of Treasury, Abbot Clinton; Director of Finance, Ikobho Howells and Dr. Charles Opuala before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over alleged mismanagement of N2 billion.
When the matter came up on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Festus Keyamo, applied that the name of Okokoro be struck out and be discharged from the trial in line with the fresh amended charges.
The trial judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, therefore, struck out Okokoro’s name from the charge and ordered that the remaining three accused persons should take a fresh plea.
Upon reading the further amended six-count charges to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts and were consequently admitted to bail on the same terms and condition as the earlier ones, following the requests of their counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), and Sunday Ameh (SAN).
Meanwhile, Keyamo continued with his prosecution witness 1, Mr. Adebayo Adeniyi, a police officer attached to the EFCC, who narrated the steps he took in the course of investigating the alleged N2 billion fraud.
After Adeniyi had concluded his evidence-in-chief, defence counsel, Uche (SAN), applied for adjournment till March 18 to cross-examine him, and the request was granted by the court.
The court, therefore, adjourned the matter till March 18 for cross examination.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Labour Party governorship campaign office in Ogbia, Bayelsa State, was yesterday bombed. Though no one was hurt, the explosion is the fifth in the state in one year.
Senator Rufus Inatimi Spiff, campaign manager of LP guber candidate in the state, Mr Timi Alaibi, has accused the Bayelsa government of carrying out the act to intimidate the opposition.
“This is a shameful act. It is a disgrace to the state government that they had to go after the opposition on a mere flag-off of campaign in a local government area, but they cannot intimidate us,” Spiff told Daily Trust on phone yesterday.
But the Bayelsa State commissioner for Information and communications, Nathan Egba refuted the allegations, saying the LP stage-managed the explosion to embarrass President Jonathan and Governor Sylva.
Daily Trust reports that there has been re-occurring violence in Bayelsa, all of which are believed to be politically motivated, with Governor Timipre Sylva of the PDP and Timi Alaibe of LP trading accusations.
Senator Rufus Inatimi Spiff, campaign manager of LP guber candidate in the state, Mr Timi Alaibi, has accused the Bayelsa government of carrying out the act to intimidate the opposition.
“This is a shameful act. It is a disgrace to the state government that they had to go after the opposition on a mere flag-off of campaign in a local government area, but they cannot intimidate us,” Spiff told Daily Trust on phone yesterday.
But the Bayelsa State commissioner for Information and communications, Nathan Egba refuted the allegations, saying the LP stage-managed the explosion to embarrass President Jonathan and Governor Sylva.
Daily Trust reports that there has been re-occurring violence in Bayelsa, all of which are believed to be politically motivated, with Governor Timipre Sylva of the PDP and Timi Alaibe of LP trading accusations.
THE Bayelsa State House of Assembly has headed for the Supreme Court to challenge last Wednesday’s ruling by the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, that the impeached Deputy Governor of the state, Peremobowei Ebebi, be reinstated.
Through its counsel, Sebastian Hon (SAN), the House has also filed another motion in the same Court of Appeal, seeking an order for a stay of execution of the earlier order on Ebebi’s reinstatement as deputy governor.
Similarly, the State Executive Council (SEC) at its meeting has declared its total support for the incumbent Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarogu, and rejected any legal attempt to reinstate Ebebi.
The SEC, at the meeting which lasted for several hours and chaired by Governor Timipre Sylva, deliberated on Wednesday’s ruling of the Appeal Court and affirmed that though the House had embarked on the legal journey to protect its right as a legislative body, it would only recognise Seibarogu as deputy governor.
While confirming the development to newsmen in Yenagoa, the state capital, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Nathan Egba, said the action of the Assembly was separate from the decision of the SEC.
Egba quoted the governor as saying that “just as it is impossible to force a servant on an unwilling master, so also it will be difficult to force a deputy governor not willing to work in harmony with his master on him”.
The commissioner noted that all members of the executive council were in attendance, except for the absence of the Commissioner for Works, Emmanuel Frank-Opigo, and his counterpart in the Sports Ministry, Opukiri Jones-Ere, who were said to have travelled to the United States on official assignment.
Seibarugu was also conspicuously absent at the executive council meeting.
Egba said: “The State Executive Council today passed a vote of explicit confidence on the Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu and declared that the only deputy governor they know is Seibarugu.”
Though Ebebi’s whereabouts are yet unknown, he is said to be planning for a grand entry to the state from Abuja, while his residence in Yenagoa is hosting his many supporters, who have continued to pay solidarity visits to him.
The state government’s action is coming at a time the leadership of the Conference of the Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), led by Comrade Sunday Frank-Oputu, and the Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Area (Ebebi’s home council), Eddi Julius, have been appealing to the people to be calm and refrain from fomenting trouble over the Appeal Court ruling.
Julius, last Thursday, advised residents of the council to endeavour to read court judgments before making hasty conclusions that could unnecessarily heat up the polity.
Through its counsel, Sebastian Hon (SAN), the House has also filed another motion in the same Court of Appeal, seeking an order for a stay of execution of the earlier order on Ebebi’s reinstatement as deputy governor.
Similarly, the State Executive Council (SEC) at its meeting has declared its total support for the incumbent Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarogu, and rejected any legal attempt to reinstate Ebebi.
The SEC, at the meeting which lasted for several hours and chaired by Governor Timipre Sylva, deliberated on Wednesday’s ruling of the Appeal Court and affirmed that though the House had embarked on the legal journey to protect its right as a legislative body, it would only recognise Seibarogu as deputy governor.
While confirming the development to newsmen in Yenagoa, the state capital, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Nathan Egba, said the action of the Assembly was separate from the decision of the SEC.
Egba quoted the governor as saying that “just as it is impossible to force a servant on an unwilling master, so also it will be difficult to force a deputy governor not willing to work in harmony with his master on him”.
The commissioner noted that all members of the executive council were in attendance, except for the absence of the Commissioner for Works, Emmanuel Frank-Opigo, and his counterpart in the Sports Ministry, Opukiri Jones-Ere, who were said to have travelled to the United States on official assignment.
Seibarugu was also conspicuously absent at the executive council meeting.
Egba said: “The State Executive Council today passed a vote of explicit confidence on the Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu and declared that the only deputy governor they know is Seibarugu.”
Though Ebebi’s whereabouts are yet unknown, he is said to be planning for a grand entry to the state from Abuja, while his residence in Yenagoa is hosting his many supporters, who have continued to pay solidarity visits to him.
The state government’s action is coming at a time the leadership of the Conference of the Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), led by Comrade Sunday Frank-Oputu, and the Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Area (Ebebi’s home council), Eddi Julius, have been appealing to the people to be calm and refrain from fomenting trouble over the Appeal Court ruling.
Julius, last Thursday, advised residents of the council to endeavour to read court judgments before making hasty conclusions that could unnecessarily heat up the polity.
Monday, 21 February 2011
One of the most prominent political support groups in Bayelsa state known as TIMI ALAIBE SUPPORT GROUP 2011 have been tirelessly pushing it campaign for the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate Mr. Timi Alaibe.
In an interview with BOF in yenagoa last week, the group publicity secretary Mr. Nasin Ebifegha said the group was born out of passion because of the poor and tyranny system of governance in Bayelsa State, where hunger and starvation has become other of the day.
Nasin stated that the group decided to embark on the call for Timi Alaibe to come and rescue Bayelsans from the shakos of poverty through various media.
He stated that even before Timi Alaibe Picked the Labour Party ticket he told UKPAKA REPORTERS an online news paper in a telephone interview that PDP will loose in Bayelsa State in the 2011 general elections if they fail to give Timi Alaibe the governorship ticket. Today Labour Party (LP) is the talk of the town in Bayelsa state.
The group General coordinator Mr. Souyo Kelvin Appah also confirmed to BOF that the group has all it takes to enthrone Alaibe to become the next governor in the state with it supporters comprising of both non-indigene and indigenes in every nook and crannies of the state.
There is no doubt that Bayelsa state is set to witness a new lease of life.
In an interview with BOF in yenagoa last week, the group publicity secretary Mr. Nasin Ebifegha said the group was born out of passion because of the poor and tyranny system of governance in Bayelsa State, where hunger and starvation has become other of the day.
Nasin stated that the group decided to embark on the call for Timi Alaibe to come and rescue Bayelsans from the shakos of poverty through various media.
He stated that even before Timi Alaibe Picked the Labour Party ticket he told UKPAKA REPORTERS an online news paper in a telephone interview that PDP will loose in Bayelsa State in the 2011 general elections if they fail to give Timi Alaibe the governorship ticket. Today Labour Party (LP) is the talk of the town in Bayelsa state.
The group General coordinator Mr. Souyo Kelvin Appah also confirmed to BOF that the group has all it takes to enthrone Alaibe to become the next governor in the state with it supporters comprising of both non-indigene and indigenes in every nook and crannies of the state.
There is no doubt that Bayelsa state is set to witness a new lease of life.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
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Following two separate applications filed by a legal team, one appealing the Wednesday February 16 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt to the Supreme court and the other for a stay of execution of the judgment, the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Werinipre Seibarugu, last weekend monitored the display of the voter register in Agudama his country home in his capacity as Deputy Governor.
Speaking with a team of journalists at his county home, Seibarugu explained that the filing of the two applications empowers him to continue to perform his duties as the Deputy Governor of the state, stressing that he has been properly briefed by his lawyers.
Seibarugu said he is a law –abiding citizen of the country and that was why after the judgment was delivered by the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, he waited for his lawyers to brief him and take necessary steps before continuing with his official duties as Deputy Governor.
He commended the state Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, and executive council for passing a vote of confidence on him in his absence during the weekly (SEC) meeting saying that the confidence vote was a demonstration of the unity and progress of purpose among council members.
The Deputy Governor described the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the only party with a manifesto that is masses-oriented and implored the electorates to cast their votes for the PDP at all levels in the forthcoming general elections.
He specifically called on the people of the state to disregard the emergence of other political parties in the state, adding that they will naturally die after their woeful defeats at the April poll.
On the display of the voter’s register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Deputy Governor commanded the electoral body for the prompt display of the register.
Rt. Hon. Seibarugu called on Bayelsans to join hands with the government to assist INEC to realize its objective of one man one vote.
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
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A Port- Harcourt appeal court has order the reinstatement of the former deputy Governor of Bayelsa state, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, who was impeached by the Bayelsa state house of Assembly on the 24th of June, 2010 on a ten count charge.
This is coming barely eight month after a Yenagoa High court presided over by Justice Doris Adokeme had stroked out the suit instituted by the Bayelsa state former Deputy Governor .
BOF gathered that the suit filed by Barrister Wodu Kemasuode was due to the dissatisfaction of the high court’s ruling that didn’t favour their client.
In his reaction, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who earlier at the wake of the controversial impeachment condemned strongly the processes of the arrange impeachment carried out by the Justice Dora Adokeme led panel in the state has also lauded the appeal court for its ruling.
The party through its National youth leader, comrade Miriki Ebikina in a statement said, the kangaroo and unconstitutional impeachment of the former deputy Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi has been vindicated by the court ruling, adding that the lacked transparency, due process and the rule of law.
The ACN chieftain averred that the action was borne out of desperate deceit, greed for power and playing politics with the development of the people, indicting the state government of insulting the sensibility of the people and using state funds to pursue personal agenda.
The National Youth Leader of ACN, enjoined Bayelsans for turning out en mass in participating in the just concluded INEC voter's registration. He also implored them to do same in the forth coming general elections by casting their votes for the candidate of their choice and ensure the results are counted at the polling station.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Host communities to the multi billion naira SPDC E.A oil field have threatened to shut down operations at the facilities in protest over what they described as the alleged refusal of the oil giant to comply with the provisions of the local content and community employment opportunities as contained in Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) entered into with them.
Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, yesterday, defended its operations at the multi-billion naira E.A oil field, saying it had not violated the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, entered into with its host communities in Bayelsa State.
Reacting to the threat by the host communities under the aegis of Association of Basan West, Iduwini, Kou and Mein Cluster Development Boards and Foundations to shut operations at the facilities over its alleged refusal to comply with the provisions of the local content and community employment opportunities as contained in its GMoU with the former, Shell said between 2007 and 2010, it had spent some N3.4 billion on projects in the 12 EA host communities.
Shell spokesman, Mr. Precious Okolobo, in a statement in Yenagoa, said contrary to the host communities’ claim that the company failed to comply with the provisions of the local content and community employment opportunities, it trained 12 scaffolders and painters currently working on the Sea Eagle (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessels) in addition to the 12 community focal representatives engaged by it.
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Governor Timipre Sylva says the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as president has made up for the injustice meted out to the people of the Niger Delta region expressing optimism that he will take Nigeria to the next level of development.
Speaking while making a donation of one billion (N1bn) during the fund raising ceremony for the building of the Federal University, Otuoke in Ogbia LGA, he urged other communities to emulate the example of Otuoke people towards accelerating development.
Sylva identified establishment of an academic institution as the best way to develop a community and commended Otuoke community for initiating a five billion naira appeal fund for the construction of the University temporary site.
President Goodluck Jonathan in his speech expressed joy that in his lifetime a University which is expected to take –off by September this year is to be built in his community to enhance educational standard.
Dr. Jonathan who explained that the funds being raised was for the take-off of the University solicited the assistance of corporate bodies and individuals to undertake projects within the University community.
He also underscored the importance of education and acknowledged that the establishment of an educational facility in rural areas would stimulate the socio economic development in such areas.
Also speaking, vice president Namadi Sambo made it clear that education was the best avenue to address the problems of the people emphasizing that the administration was making efforts to ensure that education is accessible.
He enumerated the president’s developmental strides which include injecting additional two hundred and fifty mega watts to the national grid, provision of power plants, and construction of the East-West road as well as a railway line.
The chairman of the occasion, Chief Albert Horsefall who was the chairman of defunct OMPADEC said the federal university, Otuoke Is economically viable to the development of the country and urged community leaders to partner with the federal government to actualize such dreams.
Mr. Daziba Obah, chairman of the Launching Committee said the aim of the event is to support the smooth take off of the university, which will ensure accelerated development for the people and enhance educational standard.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Six persons have been arrested in Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa for diverting direct data capture (DDC) machines meant for some registration units in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told newsmen on Wednesday.
The resident Electoral Commissioner, Edwin Nwatarala who briefed newsmen on the development said the six persons including two youth corps members were arrested Tuesday following a tip off as they were carrying out voters’ registration in authorized areas.
Last week, INEC had disclosed that two DDC machines meant for registration units 24 and 33 in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state had been stolen and warned that the data collected could not be programmed into the INEC data base.
The suspects are Ige Emmanuel Muyiwa, a youth corps member with registration number, BY/10A/0349, Kenneth Bonny, Ayaware Gesi, Igwe Nnamdi who hails from Imo state also a youth corps member, Cecilia Brigidi the present speaker of Southern Ijaw Local Government legislative arm and one prominent Chief in the state .
However, the REC did not disclose the name of the sixth suspect who is believed to be an influential chief with strings in high places.
Nwatarala disclosed that Ige was arrested at one Jarius Job’s compound in Kpansia axis of Yenagoa while the remaining four suspects were caught with two DDC machines at the premises of a one time member of the National Assembly, David Brigidi.
The complete DDC machine discovered at Jarius Job’s compound in Kpansia was meant for the Ingbele Compound of Enewari town, East Bomo Ward 1 in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.
According to Nwatarala, the said chief and the other suspects have been handed over to operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) for investigations.
He reiterated that the diversion of DDC machines outside the authorized places were exercises in futility as any data collected could not be programmed into the INEC data base and warned that anybody caught would be made to face the full wrath of law.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Ofoni Williams who is eyeing the Bayelsa west Federal constituency seat in a text massges told BOF that the former presidential aide on Niger Delta matters do not strike as a politician who will be influence to contest an election.
He made it clear that the former NDDC boss who dumped the ruling party in order to realize his governorship project on the platform of the Labour Party should forget the April guber race considering the fact that it will elude him.
The House of Reps hopeful was optimistic that President Goodluck Jonathan cannot afford to subject his home State to such ridiculous scenario to encourage the Labour party capture the guber race.
Ofoni Williams maintained that incumbent Governor Timipre Sylva led People’s Democratic Party will emerge victorious at the end of the April general elections to run the affairs of the state in the next four years.
On the on-going Registration exercise, the former member of the House of Assembly enjoined Bayelsans to accord the exercise priority attention so that the forth coming election can be a realistic venture for the state.
He appealed to indigenes of the state to visit their respective communities and get registered to enable them cast their votes for candidates of their choice to sustain the democratic dispensation in the interest of peace.
On his chances in the April polls, Ofoni Williams implored those who lost at the party primaries to accept the outcome considering the fact that his mission to the National Assembly is divine.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
As its principal officially emerged the flag-bearer of the Labour Party for the 2011 elections in Bayelsa State, the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organisation has boasted that the LP will win the governorship election in Bayelsa State.
It said the LP will win the election because the ruling People’s Democratic Party-led government in the state has been unleashing misery and poverty on the citizens since the past four years and they could no longer bear it.
Alaibe was returned unopposed in the party’s governorship primary election held at the LP Secretariat in Yenizue-Gene, Yenagoa.
Condemning the chocking atmosphere the Governor Timipre Sylva administration had imposed on the citizens in the state; Alaibe said “every well-meaning Bayelsan feels some shame when he or she thinks of how the state has been misgoverned.”
Bayelsa, he said, was now being suffocated with a debt burden of over N100billion, adding that he would ensure the state was rescued from the shackles of retrogression when he emerges Governor on 29 May, 2011.
The LP governorship candidate said his economic programme for the state would focus security, social harmony, education and skill acquisition as well as health care, among others for the rapid development of the state.
Already, Alaibe has constituted the structure of his campaign organisation with one-time Secretary to the State Government of old Rivers State , Senator Inatimi Rufus-Spiff as Director of Campaigns while a former Commissioner in the state, Fyneman Wilson is the Chairman, State Caucus.
Others in the team are Deputy Director of Campaigns, Talford Ongolo, Director of Mobilization, Bernard Agai, Director of Finance, Stan Abali, Director of Transportation, Okuro James, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Pogoyo Bomoyo, Director of Legal Matters, Famous Panowei and Director of Media and Publicity, Douye Diri.
Diri, who announced the constitution of the campaign structure to journalists at Opokuma in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, said that although Bayelsa had earned huge allocations from the federation account in the past few years, the present administration had squandered the revenues on frivolities in the name of governance.
Diri noted with regrets that Bayelsa was at the lowest ebb among the comity of states, submitting that the people were tired of the downward slide and were ready to make a change through the ballot box in April.
Expressing belief that the campaign structure would deliver on its mandate, Diri said Alaibe had all it takes to cause the needed change in the state.
Diri said by this development, the campaign organization would henceforth cease to operate from Opokuma and begin operations from its secretariat in the old PDP Secretariat building at Yenizue-Gene, a suburb of the state capital.
Speaking, the Director of Campaigns, Inatimi Rufus-Spiff said the state was adrift because it was governed by a purposeless administration, adding that the soul of the state was weeping for change.
“That’s why we have accepted to work with Timi Alaibe to effect a change. Go through the streets of Yenagoa, you’ll see the people crying for change. Bayelsa State has been reduced to a mere local government area. If you see what they are doing in Government House, Yenagoa, you’ll weep. We don’t deserve it, Inatimi added.
He said he was grateful to God that a rescue team was now here to pull the state out of the woods and called on the people of the state to line up behind Alaibe to transform the state.
Meanwhile, the Timi Alaibe Campaign Organization has received a letter from the state chapter of Congress for Progressive Change adopting Alaibe’s candidature for the election.
“For us, it has added more feathers to the cap of our credible candidate for the election”, said Diri who announced it to journalists in Opokuma.
Giving reasons for the move, the state Chairman of CPC, Akpos Whyte, said the party pledged unalloyed support to the LP candidate because he was credible and eminently qualified.
Akpos said the decision was arrived at after wide consultations which culminated in a meeting involving the state executive committee, local government and ward officials of the CPC.
According to him, Bayelsa was in shambles and required a man of Alaibe’s status to rescue it from the path of underdevelopment.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Ahead of the April general elections, crisis has enveloped the Bayelsa campaign secretariat of Jonathan/Sambo presidency following the emergence of the deputy governor of the state, Hon. Werinipre Seiparugu as a director of campaign in the secretariat.
Incidentally, Chief George Allen Fente, former Special adviser to the governor on political Affairs has been over-seeing the Jonathan/Sambo campaign secretariat in the past few months prior to the presidential primaries in Abuja.
There are reports that the emergence of the deputy governor at the campaign secretariat to spear-head the April general election was due to the recent incidents between the former government aide and a former commissioner in the state.
The former special adviser was said to have manhandled the former commissioner in the state as a result of the fallout of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the House of Assembly and National Assembly.
The state government considered the unfortunate incident as a serious embarrassment to the image of the administration and promptly sent the former commissioner abroad for proper medical attention to rectify the situation.
It appears the deputy governor who hails from Gbarain/Ekpetiama area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa Central zone was drafted into the campaign secretariat to avert imminent crisis that may destabilize Jonathan/Sambo ticket.
It is obvious that George Allen Fente, a veteran politician from Nembe-Bassambiri will find it difficult establishing a cordial relationship with the deputy governor to ensure a successful outing in April polls.
The Image maker of Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Mr. Preye Wariowei told BOF on Tuesday that his principal has a specific responsibility to discharge which will not contradict the duties of Allen Fente.
Incidentally, Chief George Allen Fente, former Special adviser to the governor on political Affairs has been over-seeing the Jonathan/Sambo campaign secretariat in the past few months prior to the presidential primaries in Abuja.
There are reports that the emergence of the deputy governor at the campaign secretariat to spear-head the April general election was due to the recent incidents between the former government aide and a former commissioner in the state.
The former special adviser was said to have manhandled the former commissioner in the state as a result of the fallout of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the House of Assembly and National Assembly.
The state government considered the unfortunate incident as a serious embarrassment to the image of the administration and promptly sent the former commissioner abroad for proper medical attention to rectify the situation.
It appears the deputy governor who hails from Gbarain/Ekpetiama area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa Central zone was drafted into the campaign secretariat to avert imminent crisis that may destabilize Jonathan/Sambo ticket.
It is obvious that George Allen Fente, a veteran politician from Nembe-Bassambiri will find it difficult establishing a cordial relationship with the deputy governor to ensure a successful outing in April polls.
The Image maker of Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, Mr. Preye Wariowei told BOF on Tuesday that his principal has a specific responsibility to discharge which will not contradict the duties of Allen Fente.
There are reports that the suspension and counter suspension of councilors of Sagbama Local Government legislative arm may be an orchestrated plot to sack the chairman of the council, chief Peres Peretu ahead of the April general election.
The Sagbama legislative arm recently suspended five councilors namely Victoria Clement , Napoleon Akoso, Igoniwaori Tonkumor, Ebi Tou-Aregha and lovely Aguov as a result the power play within the council.
A statement by the leader of the Grassroot legislative arm, Mr. Gesiye Abidde and the deputy clerk, Mr. Preye Okorieye says the suspension takes immediate effect, an indication that the House in divided.
Since the emergence of Peres Pertu as chairman of Sagbama council after the April 2010 local government polls in Bayelsa State, the council especially the legislative arm has been enveloped in crisis.
There are indications that the plot to oust the council chairman from office may be as a result of his closeness to Chief Timi Alaibe who recently emerged the Governorship candidate of the Labour Party to confront incumbent Governor Timipre Sylva.
In 2006, the council chairman was the state organizing secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Chief Fred Agbedi whose emergence was due to the influence of the former presidential aide on Niger Delta Affairs.
It was gathered that a former deputy chairman of the PDP in the state and former commissioner in Governor Sylva administration who hail from Sagbama town has been lobbying the council boss to support Alaibe’s gubar project.
The former deputy chairman who in 2003 led the People’s Democratic Party to destabilize Timi Alaibe’s attempt to unseat Chief Diepreye Alamieyesiegha’s administration in currently the arrow- head of Alaibe’s guber project.
The Sagbama legislative arm recently suspended five councilors namely Victoria Clement , Napoleon Akoso, Igoniwaori Tonkumor, Ebi Tou-Aregha and lovely Aguov as a result the power play within the council.
A statement by the leader of the Grassroot legislative arm, Mr. Gesiye Abidde and the deputy clerk, Mr. Preye Okorieye says the suspension takes immediate effect, an indication that the House in divided.
Since the emergence of Peres Pertu as chairman of Sagbama council after the April 2010 local government polls in Bayelsa State, the council especially the legislative arm has been enveloped in crisis.
There are indications that the plot to oust the council chairman from office may be as a result of his closeness to Chief Timi Alaibe who recently emerged the Governorship candidate of the Labour Party to confront incumbent Governor Timipre Sylva.
In 2006, the council chairman was the state organizing secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Chief Fred Agbedi whose emergence was due to the influence of the former presidential aide on Niger Delta Affairs.
It was gathered that a former deputy chairman of the PDP in the state and former commissioner in Governor Sylva administration who hail from Sagbama town has been lobbying the council boss to support Alaibe’s gubar project.
The former deputy chairman who in 2003 led the People’s Democratic Party to destabilize Timi Alaibe’s attempt to unseat Chief Diepreye Alamieyesiegha’s administration in currently the arrow- head of Alaibe’s guber project.
There are strong indications that Bayelsa leading politicians may have concluded all necessary arrangement in hiring political thugs that will help them in achieving their political ambition come April general elections.
BOF investigation weekend in Bayelsa state shows that there have been the presence of stern look young men, particularly in the capital Yenagoa, who are now in capital.
Already, thongs have started wagging that leading politicians in the state are already recruiting these political thugs and offering them as much as N 1 million per thug in other to help them in achieving their political ambition come April.
A source who simply identified himself as Ebi, informed BOF in Yenagoa, that political thugs are in high demand in Bayelsa, particularly with the amnesty progremme in place , the boys in the creeks are now in the amnesty camps.
Ebi further said that the two leading political gladiators in the state are involved in the scrabble for political thugs.
He further said that both are offering as much as N 1 million per thugs for the duration of the campaign and a decent hotel accommodation, feeding and among other things.
He disclosed that one of the governorship candidate from an opposition party have already secured the services of about 1.6,000 political thugs at N 1 million each totaling about N 1.6,billion.
The source further disclosed that the man from the opposition party is hell bent in wresting power from the from the incumbent Governor Sylva, whom many analyst regarded as not to have performed , having wasted four yours without anything to show for the huge allocations coming on only basises to the state.
Already, most of the aspirants who felt shortchanged during the just concluded PDP primaries have all deflected to Labour Party, while some of the governorship aspirants in PDP that lost to Governor Timipre Sylva in the primaries have all moved to join hands with Mr. Timi Alaibe in Labour Party and have all vowed to win in all eight local government areas.
So far, it is alleged that some of the thugs are already recruited and lodged in different hotels and that most of them are being used to register some Bayelans, by using some of the missing direct data capture machine of INEC.
Some of the prominent politicians in the state that have abandoned PDP to Labour Party includes Hon. Fred Agbadi, former PDP chairman in Bayelsa State, who also contested and lost to Sylva, Bishop Beimo Rufus-Spiff, who also contested the governorship position with Sylva, it was at his campaign rally in Opolo Yenagoa that twin bomb blast exploded, the impeached Deputy Governor, Hon Peremobowei Ebebi, who is in Labour Party is contesting against incumbent, senator Heineken Lokpobiri, are all big names in the Alaibe political camp.
Meanwhile security agents are already monitoring movements, it is also alleged that those involved in this wicked act are some of the official of the state government and top aides of a top politicians, who is contesting on the platform of another party.
efforts at speaking to Hon. Nathan Egba, the commissioner for information and Hon Douye Diri, director of publicity, Alaibe campaign organization proved abortive as all their telephone lines are unavailable as at the press time
while police public relation officer for Bayelsa state command, Mr. Eguavon Emokpae said that anybody that breaches the law, no matter how highly placed will be prosecuted, according to him police have earlier warned all politicians in the state to desist from thuggery, maintaining that his men have already been trained towards the April general elections and that they are on top of any incident during the period of the elections
BOF investigation weekend in Bayelsa state shows that there have been the presence of stern look young men, particularly in the capital Yenagoa, who are now in capital.
Already, thongs have started wagging that leading politicians in the state are already recruiting these political thugs and offering them as much as N 1 million per thug in other to help them in achieving their political ambition come April.
A source who simply identified himself as Ebi, informed BOF in Yenagoa, that political thugs are in high demand in Bayelsa, particularly with the amnesty progremme in place , the boys in the creeks are now in the amnesty camps.
Ebi further said that the two leading political gladiators in the state are involved in the scrabble for political thugs.
He further said that both are offering as much as N 1 million per thugs for the duration of the campaign and a decent hotel accommodation, feeding and among other things.
He disclosed that one of the governorship candidate from an opposition party have already secured the services of about 1.6,000 political thugs at N 1 million each totaling about N 1.6,billion.
The source further disclosed that the man from the opposition party is hell bent in wresting power from the from the incumbent Governor Sylva, whom many analyst regarded as not to have performed , having wasted four yours without anything to show for the huge allocations coming on only basises to the state.
Already, most of the aspirants who felt shortchanged during the just concluded PDP primaries have all deflected to Labour Party, while some of the governorship aspirants in PDP that lost to Governor Timipre Sylva in the primaries have all moved to join hands with Mr. Timi Alaibe in Labour Party and have all vowed to win in all eight local government areas.
So far, it is alleged that some of the thugs are already recruited and lodged in different hotels and that most of them are being used to register some Bayelans, by using some of the missing direct data capture machine of INEC.
Some of the prominent politicians in the state that have abandoned PDP to Labour Party includes Hon. Fred Agbadi, former PDP chairman in Bayelsa State, who also contested and lost to Sylva, Bishop Beimo Rufus-Spiff, who also contested the governorship position with Sylva, it was at his campaign rally in Opolo Yenagoa that twin bomb blast exploded, the impeached Deputy Governor, Hon Peremobowei Ebebi, who is in Labour Party is contesting against incumbent, senator Heineken Lokpobiri, are all big names in the Alaibe political camp.
Meanwhile security agents are already monitoring movements, it is also alleged that those involved in this wicked act are some of the official of the state government and top aides of a top politicians, who is contesting on the platform of another party.
efforts at speaking to Hon. Nathan Egba, the commissioner for information and Hon Douye Diri, director of publicity, Alaibe campaign organization proved abortive as all their telephone lines are unavailable as at the press time
while police public relation officer for Bayelsa state command, Mr. Eguavon Emokpae said that anybody that breaches the law, no matter how highly placed will be prosecuted, according to him police have earlier warned all politicians in the state to desist from thuggery, maintaining that his men have already been trained towards the April general elections and that they are on top of any incident during the period of the elections
Saturday, 15 January 2011
There are reports that six persons were killed at Opokuma, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of Bayelsa State when Chief Timi Alaibe, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party had a mini flag off in his country home.
Alaibe, former special Adviser to the presidency on Niger Delta Affairs who dumped the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last year to actualize his guber ambition had arrived his country home from Abuja when he was attacked by opposition elements.
The political machine of incumbent governor Timipre Sylva has been thrown into confusion in the past three months following reports that the Opokuma born politician had indicated interest to contest the 2011 guber race in the state.
It is obvious that the attackers of the former presidential aide had trailed his convoy from the Port Harcourt International airport to his country home where the labor Party guber hosted a mini campaign for 2011 race.
There are reports that several governorship aspirants on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) especially those from Bayelsa West senatorial zone who are desperate for power accompanied the former NDDC boss.
However, Bayelans have mixed feelings over the seriousness of the former presidential aide to the guber project considering the fact that Alaibe had in the past contested the governorship election but had to step down due to pressures from his “godfathers”
Timi Alaibe was reported to have rejected proposals for a counter attack against those perceived to the responsible for the mayhem that was designed to destabilize his political structure for the polls.
The Chairman of Labor Party in the state, Mr. Atari Bobou-Adou told BOF on telephone that he had been in hiding due to series of threats to his life and was not at Opokuma when the incident occurred.
Bobou-Adou explained that the guber hopeful had to abort a scheduled visit to the party secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital when the attackers stormed his Opokuma residence in a bid to destabilize Aliabe.
However, the state police command claims only two persons were killed during the crisis while several other persons sustained injuries thus sending conflicting signals on the incident.
Alaibe, former special Adviser to the presidency on Niger Delta Affairs who dumped the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) last year to actualize his guber ambition had arrived his country home from Abuja when he was attacked by opposition elements.
The political machine of incumbent governor Timipre Sylva has been thrown into confusion in the past three months following reports that the Opokuma born politician had indicated interest to contest the 2011 guber race in the state.
It is obvious that the attackers of the former presidential aide had trailed his convoy from the Port Harcourt International airport to his country home where the labor Party guber hosted a mini campaign for 2011 race.
There are reports that several governorship aspirants on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) especially those from Bayelsa West senatorial zone who are desperate for power accompanied the former NDDC boss.
However, Bayelans have mixed feelings over the seriousness of the former presidential aide to the guber project considering the fact that Alaibe had in the past contested the governorship election but had to step down due to pressures from his “godfathers”
Timi Alaibe was reported to have rejected proposals for a counter attack against those perceived to the responsible for the mayhem that was designed to destabilize his political structure for the polls.
The Chairman of Labor Party in the state, Mr. Atari Bobou-Adou told BOF on telephone that he had been in hiding due to series of threats to his life and was not at Opokuma when the incident occurred.
Bobou-Adou explained that the guber hopeful had to abort a scheduled visit to the party secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital when the attackers stormed his Opokuma residence in a bid to destabilize Aliabe.
However, the state police command claims only two persons were killed during the crisis while several other persons sustained injuries thus sending conflicting signals on the incident.
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