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Bayelsa: Ebebi Suffers Another Bomb Attack
Written by Osa Okhomina,Yenagoa
The country home of the impeached Bayelsa State deputy governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, at the Aleibiri community of Ekeremor local government council of the state was yesterday attacked by some armed men with dynamites and sophisticated rifles with a security guard sustaining grievous gun shot wounds in the area.
The latest attack, which is the third in the series of explosive attacks on the properties owned by the depressed deputy governor was perpetuated by some unknown armed youths with over four speed boats.
Leadership WEEKEND gathered that the armed youths arrived the country home of the former deputy governor at 12.30am and threw the explosives into the compound, causing the bulding to explode while indigenes of the community scampered for safety.
The state police command led by Commissioner Elder Onuoha Udoka was said to have dispatched a detachment of anti-bomb experts to the scene to ascertain the extent of damage.
Contacted on the development, the spokesman of the state police command, assistant superintendent of police (ASP), Eguavoen Edokpae, said though the anti-bomb squad dispatched to the area had departed, the police could confirm that an attack was carried out on the home of the deputy governor.
Earlier in May, another bomb was detonated along the street at INEC road where the hotel owned by the former deputy governor was located and another discovered, few days later in a car parked in the Hotel Latile premises.
Source: Leadership, 24th July 2010.
Confusion as Bayelsa Gets Two Deputy Governors
By Olamilekan Lartey, Yenagoa
There was confusion in Bayelsa State on Thursday on who the authentic deputy governor of the state was.
This followed the swearing in of a former Speaker Wirinipre Seibarugu as governor Timipre Sylva's deputy and the ruling by a Court of Appeal that Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi should be reinstated as deputy governor, for now.
Announcements on the state-owned Radio Bayelsa had informed the public that Seibarugu's inauguration would take place at 2pm.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Dofie Ola, said Sylva, would preside over the ceremony.
He added that five new commissioners, who were also to be inaugurated, were entitled to only one guest each.
Ola advised "all guests to be seated by 1.30pm" in a hall in the Gloryland Castle, Government House, Yenagoa.
But as the news of the Appeal court ruling reached Yenagoa, the ceremony was hurriedly shifted to 12 noon with the state's Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, administering the oath of office on the former speaker in the near empty hall.
Sylva, in a brief remark, said he had handed over the ministries of Agriculture, Local Government and Sports to Seibarugu.
He added that it was very clear what the roles of a deputy governor should be.
"In the last two years, this has not been so," the governor said.
Counter radio announcements, which informed the public that the former speaker was sworn in at 9am, deepened the confusion among residents of the state.
Seibarugu and 17 other members of the state Assembly had on June 24 impeached Ebebi.
The impeachment brought to a climax, the political crisis that had plagued the state since the Assembly issued an impeachment notice to Ebebi on June 8.
At a sitting that lasted only 45 minutes, the lawmakers received and adopted the report of the seven-member investigative panel that probed the 10 allegations of gross misconduct against Ebebi.
The panel, headed by Mr. Donald Denwigwe (SAN), had submitted its report to the Assembly in the evening of June 23, after sitting and taking witnesses for two days.
But Ebebi went to the Yenagoa High Court to challenge the impeachment and the constitutionality of the panel.
Justice Doris Adokeme, however, dismissed the suit in which Ebebi had sought to stop the investigative panel.
Counsel to Ebebi, Mr. Kemeasuode Wodu, told newsmen after the court's ruling that he would appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
While ruling on the appeal on Thursday, Justice Suleiman Galadima, ordered that Ebebi should remain the state's deputy of governor pending the hearing of the substantive suit on October 13, 2010.
He, therefore, directed lawyers to the appellant and respondents to advise their clients to abide by the rules and respect the directives of the court.
The judge gave the appellant 14 days to file his briefs while the respondents were also granted leave to file any further documents they deemed fit.
He said, "Respondents are granted leave to file any further document they deem fit and the appellant is given 14 days to file his briefs. The case is now adjourned till October 13, 2010 for hearing of substantive appeal.
"All of you (lawyers) should advise your clients to abide by the rules and respect the directives of the court."
Earlier, counsel to the appellant, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had moved a motion for the impeachment of Ebebi to be set aside and all his rights as a deputy governor be returned to him.
Izinyon also applied for an accelerated hearing of the appeal and an interlocutory injunction restraining the state government from swearing in a new deputy governor pending the determination of the case.
However, lawyers to both parties differed on the directive that the status quo be maintained until judgement was delivered on the case.
Lawyer to the state Assembly, Mr. Sebastine Hon (SAN), had told journalists that information reaching him from Bayelsa was that a new deputy governor had already been sworn in.
But Izinyon maintained that Ebebi remained the deputy governor of Bayelsa State until the court ruled otherwise.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Nestor Binabo, has emerged as the new speaker of the Assembly.
His elevation followed the inauguration of Seibarugu as the state's deputy governor.
The Assembly also elected Mr. Fini Angaye as the deputy speaker.
In his remarks, Binabo promised to consult other members of the Assembly on issues concerning them.
Source: Punch, 9th July 2010.
Bayelsa Swears in New D-Gov
By Samuel Oyadongha & George Onah
YENAGOA—BAYELSA State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, yesterday, administered the oath of
office on the state's new Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu, even as most of the invited guests could not witness the ceremony following a sudden change in the scheduled time.
Until his elevation as the Deputy Governor, Seibarugu was Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
He replaced the former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, who was removed from office by the state House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct on June 24.
The swearing in of the Deputy Governor was earlier scheduled for 2.00 p.m at the Gloryland Castle inside the Government House with invited guests directed to take their seats at 1.30pm.
But most of the guests who thronged the venue to witness the inauguration, were disappointed as the event was held at about noon.
Though no reason was given for the shift in time which denied most of the invited guests the opportunity to witness the swearing in ceremony, Vanguard investigation revealed that it might not be unconnected with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, that the status quo be maintained in the state pending the determination of the suit before it.
Governor Timipre Sylva in his charge, handed over the supervision of three key ministries in the state to the new deputy. These are ministries of agriculture, sports and local government.
The governor who said the role of the deputy governor was purely to assist in the running of the state noted that the three sectors were the main focus of the present administration.
Responding, the new Deputy Governor, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, promised to work harmoniously with the governor in piloting affairs of the state adding that they would all work to avoid recurring political crisis in the state.
Appeal Court orders status quo
Meantime, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, yesterday, ordered all parties involved in the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ebebi to "maintain the status-quo-ante bellum" until the determination of the appeal brought to the court by Ebebi.
Ebebi had approached the court with two motions through his counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN, with an appeal for interlocutory injunction requesting the court to set aside his purported or planned impeachment as well as for a speedy hearing of the matter.
Ruling on the two motions, Justice Suleiman Galadima, assisted by two justices, told counsel to Bayelsa House of Assembly, Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, and Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, for Attorney-General and Chief Judge of the state that "all the parties must maintain the status quo ante bellum till the determination of the case."
Galadima then adjourned further hearing to 13 October, 2010, stating that the sanctity of the temple of justice must be maintained and the court must be seen to have demonstrated that it could and has done justice.
Sanctity of temple of justice
However, Hon, told the press after the ruling that his clients "are not opposed to the motion of appeal brought by counsel to Ebebi" but that he had been reliably informed that a new deputy governor was being sworn in before the pronouncement of the judges.
But counsel to Ebebi said the pronouncement of the court meant that all the parties should revert to the position which they were until the matter had been resolved and that "the swearing-in of a new deputy governor for Bayelsa State would be seen as disobeying a court order".
He explained that the event in Bauchi State where a new deputy governor was sworn in "even when a motion challenging the action was still in court may come to play in this matter if anything to the contrary of the court order is carried out".
Izinyon alluded to the fact that Bayelsa State may later have two deputy governors if the matter was resolved in favour of Ebebi.
Source: Vanguard, 8th July 2010.
Pressure on Sylva to Name Bayelsa Dep Gov
By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa —Almost 10 days after the impeachment of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Peremobowei Ebebi, the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva had been operating without a deputy.
Though sources close to the governor had said a replacement for Ebebi was waiting in the wings but several days after the latter's removal from office by the State House of Assembly, the governor seems to be at a loss following alleged intense lobbying and pressure from some prominent Bayelsans.
But the governor who had ignored all selection processes initiated by notable Bayelsa politicians because he wanted a deputy with near total loyalty is beginning to have a rethink and now leaning towards the Presidency as he too is nursing a comeback ambition as governor of Bayelsa State.
Although several names had been thrown up as Ebebi's possible replacement in the build up to his impeachment but sources told Vanguard that the governor is keeping the choice to his chest.
It was, however, gathered that Governor Timipre Sylva would this week send a name to the State House of Assembly for ratification with a view to putting to rest days of speculations on who becomes his deputy.
Top on the list of names mentioned as possible replacement for Ebebi was Sylbriks Obriki, a Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan who incidentally is from Ekeremor local government area like the ousted deputy.
But informed sources told Vanguard that President Goodluck Jonathan was not inclined to releasing him to serve in the state giving the controversy it would generate in the state of a possible connivance in the plot to boot the former deputy governor out of office.
Obriki's choice, it was learnt was to placate the president and he his believed to open "doors" at the Presidency.
Apart from being a frontrunner in the President's activities, he is said to have built a likeable reputation around himself among his people of Bayelsa State.
Also, the name of Bekeakpo Etifa is being mentioned as a possible replacement for Ebebi.
Though a political neophyte, he is believed to have the ears of the governor having worked closely with Sylva during his stint as Special Adviser to the then Petroleum Minister, King Edmund Daukoru.
Source: Vanguard, 5th July 2010.
2011: Bayelsa Council Chiefs Flag off Campaign for Jonathan
From Segun James in Yenagoa
Local government chairmen in Bayelsa State weekend joined the campaign to draft President Goodluck Jonathan into the 2011 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with a mammoth rally in Yenagoa, the state capital.
At the rally, the chairmen faulted the call by some Northern politicians to stick to the zoning formula adopted by the party for elective positions, saying such formula has never shaped the country and will never lead to the socio-economic and political development of the country.
According to them, although many politicians desire the zoning to be used to guide political participation and ensure orderly ascension of office by each geo-graphical zones and constituencies, the loss of value shown to the zoning policy since 1999 by members of the ruling party has removed any importance attached to any zoning arrangement.
Leader and Chairman of the Sagbama Local Government area, Prince Peres Peretu, said the insistence of some Northern elders on the issue of zoning arrangement is faulted by their participation in the presidential primaries of the PDP that was purportedly zoned to the South and led to the emergence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
"I am a politician of 23 years experience and the issue of zoning has always been a good arrangement but never respected by politicians. It will be very wrong for anybody to say zoning shaped the country. In Obasanjo's time, many Northern aspirants vied for the same Presidency without due regard to the agreement that it was zoned to the South. We gave lip service to zoning. There can never be true zoning in Nigeria and that has been the disposition of politicians, " he said.
He noted that the Northern Elders should allow those interested in vying for the position of Presidency to run irrespective of their belief on zoning."We are ready to support him (Jonathan) because he has shown that he can lead the nation with few the decisions he has taken in the last few months," he stated.
Source: This Day, 5th July 2010.
Bayelsa Deputy Gov Removed
•Jonathan's SA, Obriki, may emerge new deputy
From Segun James in Yenagoa
The end of the road of sort finally came for the embattled Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, as he was impeached yesterday by the state House of Assembly.
He was removed by 18 of the 24 members of the House including the Speaker.
The political situation in the state following Ebebi's impeachment is moving at a supersonic speed as Governor Timipre Sylva is expected to forward the name of his new deputy to the state House of Assembly for screening.
The nominee may likely be the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Affairs, Mr. Sylbriks Obriki.
Ebebi's impeachment came barely 24 hours after the panel set up to look into the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him wound up its sitting in Yenagoa.
He was found guilty in respect of nine out of the 10-point allegation against him.
Ebebi's removal, the fourth impeachment in the 11 years of democracy in the state, was sequel to the adoption of the report of the seven-man panel headed by Mr. Donald Dewingwe (SAN). The panel set up by the State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, to investigate the various allegations against Ebebi.
The deliberation of the House members on the panel report caught many political observers unawares as it took less than an hour to sack Ebebi.
The Speaker, Werinipre Seibarogu, at about 10.31 am announced that he had with him the report of the probe panel on the investigation into the allegation of gross misconduct against Ebebi for consideration and adoption.
The House member representing Yenagoa Constituency, Hon. Frank Otele, moved for the adoption of the report to form part of the House document. The motion was seconded by Hon. Alfred Egba (Yenagoa).
Having gone through the report, the motion for Ebebi's impeachment was moved by Hon. Jonathan Obuebite (Nembe 1) who said it was no longer news that 17 out of 24-member assembly had signed an impeachment notice against the embattled deputy governor.
Obuebite said the deputy-governor was found guilty of all the allegations except one.
The one that could not be proven is the allegation that Ebebi, in violation of his oath of office, sponsored acts of terrorism with a view to making the state ungovernable by recruiting gun men who acquired and stored large quantities of explosives, together with arms and ammunition in Latik Hotel, owned by him
To this end, in compliance with Section 188(1-9), Obuebite, therefore, moved the motion for the impeachment of the deputy-governor.
The motion was supported by Hon. Fini Angaye and unanimously adopted by over two-third majority members of the House in attendance.
Some of the allegations against Ebebi as contained in the notice of impeachment forwarded to him were: that he "wilfully deserted his official duties by refusing to attend without reasonable cause, the weekly Executive Council meetings of Bayelsa State since January 2010.
"That he wilfully failed and or refused to attend state functions without lawful excuses since February 2010; that he abandoned his office and official residence since February 2010 without official leave and has deliberately neglected and refused to perform the functions for which he was elected; and that in February 2009, he applied for and received the sum of twenty nine thousand, six hundred and sixty thousand, nine hundred and nine naira for medical treatment in Germany but he fraudulently converted the said sum as he neither travelled to Germany or refund the said money to the state treasury."
Speaking to newsmen after the impeachment, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Kombowe Benson, argued that the processes adopted by the House in the removal of the deputy-governor can't be faulted "because all processes were complied with and effected by two-third majority of the House."All effort to get Ebebi's reaction proved abortive last night as his mobile line was not answered while his Counsel, Wodu Kemesuode, claimed he was in Abuja for another case at the Supreme Court.
There has been no love lost between Sylva and Ebebi for some time now, resulting in the deputy-governor saying he could no longer work with his principal.
The state House of Assembly began the impeachment move against Ebebi on June 1, 2010.
Following the request of the House to the chief judge of the state to set up a panel to look into the allegations, Ebebi went to court to stop the panel from sitting on Tuesday June 15, but his effort came a little bit late as he was still in court when he was impeached yesterday.
Ebebi started his political career in 1999 when he was elected into the state House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He rose to be a two-time Speaker of the House during the administration of former governor D.S.P Alameiseigha, following the impeachment of Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Boye Debekeme as Speakers.
He became the deputy-governor to Jonathan as governor after the impeachment of Alamiey-eseigha, a position he also retained with Sylva becoming governor in 2007.
THISDAY learnt that Sylva has already approached President Jonathan to release Obriki to him for appointment as deputy-governor.
The choice of Obriki, who is also from Ekeremor Local Government area as Ebebi, it was gathered, caught a number of Sylva loyalists who had been angling for the position by surprise.
Sources at the Creek Haven Government House, believe the choice of Obriki is Sylva's way of placating the President to get his nod for his re-election as governor.
Obriki is at present in Yenagoa, the state capital and he is expected to be screened on Monday by the house of assembly while preparations for his expected inauguration scheduled for Tuesday has begun in earnest.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress (AC) in the state has said it is pathetic and sad that while other states are commissioning state of the art projects, "the Sylva-led administration is exercising undue strength and committing public funds on purely political matter at the expense of developmental projects."
The statement was signed by the state chairman of the party, Comrade Miriki Ebikibina.
Source: This Day, 26th June 2010.
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