Sylva Accuses PDP of Judicial Fraud
By Adebiyi Adedap and Sunday Okobi
As legal tussle over the November 19 governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State shifts to the Court of Appeal, the state governor, Chief Timiprie Sylva, has accused the party of perpetrating judicial fraud.
His accusation, however, comes as a Coalition of Nigerian Human Right Groups (CONHRIG) expressed dismay over the current political situation in state, describing it as “a violation of human rights by soldiers and armed groups posted to the state by the Federal Government.”
At the resumed hearing Thursday at the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, Sylvia through his counsel Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) called attention of the court to what he described as a “fraudulent way” in which the party has invoked its jurisdiction in order to stall hearing of the substantive suit.
Fagbemi decried the fraudulent invocation of the court’s jurisdiction, pointing out that PDP created the impression that the record of proceeding at the trial court was compiled by the court registry and transmitted by the court, whereas it was all false.
“The appellants gave the impressions that the record of proceeding at the court below was compiled and transmitted by its [court’s] registry whereas by their records it was a record compiled and transmitted by the appellants themselves. And because they made it seem like it was record compiled and transmitted by the court below, we had no choice than concede. What I am saying is that they got us all here fraudulently. It is by fraud we are here without first getting a stay,” he said.
The mode of transmission of the court records was revealed when counsel to PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Abunaker Kawu Baraje, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) prayed the court to grant an application, seeking a departure from the rules, the application was to cure the defect of it compiling and transmitting the records instead of the court itself doing so.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa told Fagbemi to file necessary application for consideration over his complains, if he had an issue with the court record as compiled by the appellants.
The controversial governorship primaries shifted to the Court of Appeal as all parties agreed to face PDP’s appeal on the ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court, which ordered the party to within 72 hours show cause why the application filed by Sylva to stop the primaries should not be granted.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court who granted the order adjourned the case indefinitely so as to allow the appellate court decides on the appeals before it.
Fagbemi had told the court that the path of law was to allow the Court of Appeal to decide on the Appeal filed by the PDP especially when an application to stay of execution has been filed.
He confirmed the receipt of processes from the Court Appeal including that notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution; he urged the lower court to reserve its jurisdiction on the matter until the Court of Appeal rules on the matter.
According to him, once an Appeal has been entered in the court, the lower court suspends proceedings until the appeal is taken. PDP represented by its National Legal Adviser Olusole Oke, also told the lower court that the party did not deny been served with the process of the court, and that the party has responded promptly to the processes which states that the party should show cause why the application filed by Sylvia should not be granted.
He, however, informed the court that the PDP was never served with any court injunction. Determined to bypass the trial court, PDP filed an appeal challenging the ruling of the trial court, at the same time filed an application for stay of proceeding at the Court of Appeal Justice Bulkachuwa adjourned till December 12 for hearing as the court directs parties to file and exchange their written briefs before the adjourned date.
Meanwhile, the CONRIG said the conduct of the Federal Government in the state as it related to human right, democracy and the rule of law was shocking and embarrassing.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, CONRIG’s Assistant-General Secretary, Mr Kehinde Adegbuyi, said: “As a build-up to the gubernatorial election in the state, we are worried about the growing cases of arrests, intimidation, assault on innocent people and the blatant rape of democratic norms in the state.
“Not only are members of other political parties being arrested and locked up without charges, supporters of other political parties other than the controversial anointed PDP candidate whose emergence was believed to be at the prompting of the Federal Government are being arrested, detained and humiliated,” Adegbuyi said.
The group further submitted that “the PDP primaries in Bayelsa State is a farce,” saying it was a way to deny citizens the right participate in decision making. “We are only setting the process for friction, public mistrust, social unrests and political upheavals. It is isolationist to deny the people the right to participate in the process that leads to elections which must begin with a transparent and people-driven party primary.”
Adegbuyi alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan was believed to have “installed a puppet as the PDP candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in that state where they had many contestants for the race, thereby “foisting its candidate down the throat of Nigerians.”
The group therefore appealed to the Federal Government to withdraw soldiers from Bayelsa State and allow credible, people-driven primaries to take place in the state urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), “not to conduct the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State unless there are clear indications that the Federal Government is ready to allow a free and fair election in the state.”
Source: This Day, 2nd December 2011.
Tell me my sins, Sylva asks Baraje
.Says, I’m still in the race
From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja and Femi Folaranmi
Embattled Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva has challenged the national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, [PDP] to disclose the sins he committed which informed his exclusion from the governorship primary conducted by the party at the weekend.
Addressing journalists in Lagos at the weekend, acting national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje had declared that the Bayelsa governor was excluded from the race because of his sins which would soon be disclosed in due course.
Reacting to the report in a statement signed by his chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola, entitled, ‘Bayelsa shall witness daybreak’ the governor submitted that there was no valid reason for his exclusion . He further challenged the national leadership of the party “to come clean on these ‘sins’, perhaps, for necessary ‘atonement’.
He noted that by his declaration the national chairman ‘’has exposed the fact that there was no reason known to law and commonsense for the exclusion of the governor’’.
The statement reads:
“In response to media reports in which the Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, was quoted as alleging that the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, had been told the reasons he was excluded from the governorship primary and that such ‘sins’ would be made public in due course, the governor challenges Baraje to come clean on these ‘sins’, perhaps, for necessary ‘atonement’.
For the avoidance of doubt, Sylva says at no time did Baraje discuss the so-called sins with him. We are aware that the PDP national chairman has been giving different ‘reasons’ to different people on the illegal exclusion of the governor. But at last, Baraje has exposed the fact that there was no reason known to law and commonsense for the exclusion of the governor.
“With Baraje’s tone of voice, we fear that after having excluded Governor Sylva without any justification, there is now a desperate attempt to cook up reasons, how ever untenable and tenuous, as an afterthought.
Governor Sylva feels it is saddening that PDP is descending to this level and believes they are up to something sinister. Sylva has served the PDP and the people of Bayelsa State creditably well. So, it is for the people of Bayelsa State to reject him at the poll if they do not want him as their governor anymore.”
Source: Sun, 21st November 2011.
PDP Assembles Legal Team to Tackle Sylva
By Chuks Okocha and Davidson Iriekpen
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assembled a legal team to tackle the judicial challenge posed by Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, who dragged the party to court last week, seeking to stop the primary election it held last Saturday in Yenagoa.
At the end of the exercise, the PDP elected House of Representatives member, Hon. Henry Dickson, as its flag bearer in the February 11, 2012 governorship election in the state.
THISDAY checks revealed that PDP’s National Legal Adviser, Chief Olusola Oke, will lead Chief Olajide Ajana, A.A. Ibrahim, Mrs. J.O. Adesina, J.O. Mafo, Promise Ogbadu, Debo Ikuesan and Miss Mulikat Kilani as the party returns to court to defend its position on the Bayelsa primary election.
According to the court papers, PDP wants it determined whether, “the court has the power to grant injunction to stop the holding of a political party’s primary election having regard to the provision of section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, and to also determine whether it is just and equitable to stop the holding of the primaries”.
PDP said in its written address already filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja that courts “are bereft of jurisdiction to intervene in the matters concerning, relating or pertaining to nomination of candidate, citing the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Onuoha vs Okafor (1983) 2 Supreme Court Nigeria Law Report (NLR) page 244”.
The party, according to the court papers, also said: “Jurisdiction to do became vested and by the virtue of section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, which provides thus: ‘Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act or rules of a political party, an aspirant who complains that any of the provisions of this Act and the guidelines of a political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of a candidate of a political party for election, may apply to the Federal High Court or High Court of a state or FCT for redress.”
According to the party in the written address, “this section, however, circumstances and limits the jurisdiction conferred on the court pursuant to section 87 (9) above to the consideration of the compliant presented by the plaintiff but excludes the jurisdiction to stop the ‘holding of primaries’ or the process thereof under this Act.”
The party further submitted that: “It is therefore our respectful submission that where an aspirant questions the conduct of the primaries, section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, gives him the right, which was hitherto unavailable, (See Onuoha vs Okafor (1983) 2 SC NLR page 244) to approach the courts for redress.
“However, by the express provisions of sub-section 10 of the said section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, such redress does not include the courts stopping the holding of primaries or general election or the processes thereof under the Act pending the determination of a suit.
Undoubtedly, conduct of primary election and submission of names to INEC by the defendants is part of the election process.”
PDP also said: “Our respectful submission is that the provisions of the said section 87 (10) of the Electoral Act are clear, plain and unambiguous. It is a rule of statutory interpretation that where the words used in a statute are plain and unambiguous, the court is bound to construe them in their natural ordinary sense and give effect to the clear letters of the statute.”
The party cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in the matter involving the Attorney-General of Ondo State vs Ekiti State (quoting with approval the dictum of Lord Simmonds in Magor and St. Mellow R.D.C. vs Newport Corporation which held that, “It is certainly a cardinal principle of interpretation that where in the ordinary meaning the provisions are clear and unambiguous, effect must be given to them without resorting to any aid, internal or external. It is the duty of the court to interpret the word of the law maker as used.”
The party added in the written response that the relief sought must come after the determination of the suit, adding: “A combined reading of sections 87 (9) and (10) must lead to the conclusion that the redress available to a plaintiff under section 87 (9) must come at the final determination of his suit.”
On jurisdiction, PDP said: “Jurisdiction of course is usually a matter of statute, which confines, limits and circumscribes same: George vs SBN Plc (2009) 5 NWLR (pt 1134), p.302, 318-319; Abdul-Raheem vs Oloruntoba–Oju (2006) 15 NWLR) (pt. 1003), p. 581, 619. Thus a court cannot exercise jurisdiction in excess of that with which it has been vested, and in a manner other than that prescribed, by the relevant enabling statute.
“The courts cannot expand the jurisdiction conferred on them by statute, even though they have the jurisdiction to expound it. ITPP vs UBN Plc (2006) 12 NWLR, Pt. 995. p483, 502. In this case, the jurisdiction of this Honourable court to determine matters relating to the conduct of the primary election of a political party is created by and under section 87 (9) of the Electoral Act 2010, and the manner by which such jurisdiction may be exercise is limited by section 87 (10) thereof.
“The courts cannot therefore expand it to grant interim or interlocutory reliefs.”
PDP is therefore asking Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja to “decline jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application for interim injunction and accept this, as a good cause why the orders sought should not be granted”.
There were divergent views at the weekend on whether the court actually stopped the PDP from going ahead with the primary election or not.
Former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said an order of court is either granted or out right refused, adding that not giving a definitive or a declaratory order would always give room for gainsaying.
Olanipekun stated that for an order of court not to be misinterpreted, it must be unequivocal, definite, certain and specific.
He added that anything short of this would give room for parties in the suit and the general public to begin to interpret to their understanding.
The former NBA boss noted that though Justice Kolawole is a brilliant judge, he was not in a position to deconstruct the order.
Toeing Olanipekun’s line of argument, an Abuja-based lawyer, Ben Sweet, said for an order of court to convey the meaning of what it was meant for, it must not be ambiguous and must be specific.
Sweet advised that since the primary had been conducted, it should be allowed to stand until the plaintiff has filed an application to seek a further interpretation of the order.
While advising the court to always uphold the previsions of section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 which prevents the court from interfering in a political party’s primary, he noted that it was this provision that the PDP was tenaciously holding on to and which it premised the conduct of the primary on.
But human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, faulted the argument, saying the court stopped the PDP from going ahead with the primary.
Falana, in an attempt to drive home his point, asked rhetorically: “When a court says in the event that the PDP in defiance of these orders take steps which may be prejudicial, perhaps subversive of these orders and of the proceedings before the return day which I have fixed for November 22, 2011 what do you think it has done?
Is not that it has postponed the primary? If it has postponed the primary, has it not stopped it from holding on November 19?” On his part, Mr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) said it would be proper if the courts learn to stay away from internal affairs of political parties.
Ajogwu noted that it was to avoid the crises associated with court rulings on issues concerning internal affairs of political parties that resulted in section 87 (11) of the Electoral Act 2010.
Meanwhile, Sylva Sunday challenged the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, to disclose his “sins” that eventually made the party to disqualify him as a governorship aspirant in the just concluded primary election.
“We challenge Baraje to come out with the reason why Sylva was illegally excluded from the contest,” the governor said in a statement.
In the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Doifie Ola, responding to the utterances of Baraje that Sylva had been told the reasons he was excluded from the governorship primary and that such “sins” would be made public in due course, the governor challenges Baraje to come clean on these “sins”, perhaps, for necessary “atonement”.
Ola said at no time did Baraje discuss the so-called sins with Sylva, stating: “We are aware that the PDP national chairman has been giving different ‘reasons’ to different people on the illegal exclusion of the governor. But at last, Baraje has exposed the fact that there was no reason known to law and common sense for the exclusion of the governor.
“With Baraje’s tone of voice, we fear that after having excluded Sylva without any justification, there is now a desperate attempt to cook up reasons, however untenable and tenuous, as an afterthought.”
On the primary election where Dickson was elected, the statement said: “Governor Sylva notes with grave disappointment the charade and odium that were orchestrated in Bayelsa State on Saturday in the name of PDP governorship primary.”
Sylva said he and his supporters are still in the PDP and he is still in the gubernatorial race, while thanking the Bayelsa people for keeping peace despite the provocation.
Source: This Day, 21st November 2011.
Dickson Wins Bayelsa's Flawed PDP Primary
By Chuks Okocha, Ahamefula Ogbu, Segun James, Chinedu Ezeand Adebiyi Adedapo
Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson
President Goodluck Jonathan was among top Peoples Democratic Party chieftains absent Saturday as the party held its controversial primary in Yenagoa, the Bayesta State capital, to pick a candidate for the state’s governorship election slated for next February.
Others who boycotted the governorship primary that produced the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, as winner, were the deputy governor of the state, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, three out of the seven governorship aspirants, all National Assembly members representing the state, lawmakers from the state House of Assembly, local government chairmen and councillors.
THISDAY, however, was unable to confirm if officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the primary, as statutorily required by the Electoral Act.
The commissioner of its Monitoring Department, Mrs. Regina Omo-Agege, nonetheless was sighted at Yenagoa yesterday.
INEC had on Friday said that it would stay away from the primary in compliance with the order of Justice G. O. Kolawole of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.
However, THISDAY investigations have revealed that contrary to reports that the court granted an injunction stopping the primary, the court order was misrepresented.
In the court order exclusively obtained by THISDAY, Justice Kolawole specifically ruled that the ex-parte motion would not be refused, but “PDP shall be put on notice of same and they shall within 72 hours of being served with the motion of notice show why the plaintiff (Sylva) shall not be entitled to the preservatory orders as prayed on the ex-parte motion.”
The court further ordered that “in the event that the defendants (INEC, PDP and the party’s acting national chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje) when served with the originating summons, the motion on notice and the enrolment of these orders, the second and third defendants in particular, were unable to show such reasonable and or just cause why the orders shall not be made, this court would have no hesitation in either granting the said orders in the way and manner as couched or may grant Prayer 4 as the alternative prayer as couched in the motion ex-parte.”
Baraje also yesterday insisted that there was no court injunction against the conduct of the primary, stating that what the party got was a motion on notice from the court.
As the primary was about to begin, three aspirants—Enai Christopher Fullpower, Orufa Justin Boloubo and Austin Febo— staged a walk out accusing the Governorship Primary Committee, headed by Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd.) of bias.
The three aspirants protested the haste with which the Primary Electoral Committee was ready to conduct the primary without the party resolving the contentious issues of the ward congress and the non-presence of INEC officials.
The election was held under the “close supervision” of hundreds of security agents while two Apache helicopter gunboats hovered over the venue.
Shortly after the end of voting by the 411 accredited delegates, out of which only 384 voted, Olubolade announced Dickson as winner with 365 votes.
Francis Ekiyegha Korobido and Febo, who polled two votes each, trailed behind him while Francis Doukpola and Kalango Michael Youppele scored one vote each. Boloubo and Fullpower polled no votes. Thirteen of the votes were voided.
Earlier, the acting chairman of the party in the state, Mr. James Dugo, had told the delegates that they should not allow the events of the last few days to sway them from the determination to do what is right, admonishing them to put the problem behind them in the interest of PDP.
Speaking before the conduct of the governorship primary, Olubolade said though the assignment before the panel was given to them by the party, they would do their best in conducting a free and fair election.
After the announcement of the results, the three aggrieved aspirants and Doukpola complained to the committee about the decision of the panel not to wait for the report of the Ward Congress Appeal Panel on the controversial ward congress election, the non-presence of INEC officials, and the absence of statutory delegates, including the National Assembly members.
According to Doukpola, “This is a flagrant display of fraud. The process leading to this is fraudulent and not fair. This election is a sham and should not have taken place.”
Joining in the protest, Orufa said, “We will not participate in a shameful poll like this,” while Enai told the electoral panel to place it on record that INEC was not present at the election.
Olubolade, however, told the aggrieved aspirants that they could not be the judge and the complainants, adding: “To assume that I will take decision on all your complaints is not humanly possible. As a party member, I request you to be patient.”
In his acceptance speech, Dickson said the work for a new Bayelsa had began with the decision of the delegates to hand him their votes and asked the people to support the new path to development and progress in the state by electing him in the 2012 governorship poll.
Although Jonathan and his wife, Patience, were conspicuously absent, former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former military administrator of Delta and Ebonyi States, Navy Capt Walter Feghabo, were among the delegates that voted at the primary.
It was gathered that the president’s absence must have been a last minute decision as his advance team, comprising State House media crew, security and protocol people, had arrived in the state since last Wednesday before the court injunction.
The Peace Park venue for the accreditation of delegates swarmed with uniformed and plain-cloth policemen who frisked delegates before they were accredited.
But at 1.42 pm, there was a sudden flurry as policemen who were in the presidential entourage started moving to the State House buses at the venue, which they boarded and were driven to their hotels. It was at that point that it became clear that Jonathan was no longer coming.
Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, did not pick his call to respond to inquiries on why the president did not turn up for the primary in his home state.
Sources, however, said the president decided to abstain from the primary to avoid being labelled a lawbreaker in view of the court injunction, adding that the presidential security team was left in Yenogoa to help keep the peace since soldiers previously deployed to the state had been withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the PDP national chairman told reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday, that there was no drama in Bayelsa and there was no injunction stopping the primary.
“There is no court order, what we have is a motion on notice and we said to the press that what we have is not a court order. It was a motion on notice for the PDP to show why some of the prayers in the notice should not be granted and we have done that since yesterday (Friday). That is why we are going ahead with our primary.”
In spite of his best efforts to defend the decision to hold the primary, its conduct was criticised by a group, Concerned Statutory Delegates, comprising some aggrieved delegates, including the state’s deputy governor, Sebariugu Werinipre, speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Nestor, Binabo, and the deputy speaker, Hon. F. T. Anaaye.
The delegates, in a statement, said they boycotted the primary so as not to be seen as flouting the court order.
“As law abiding party members, and true believers in the rule of law, we shall not participate in a process that is clearly contemptuous of a judicial order capable of bringing the judiciary to disrepute,” they said in the statement signed by all the 99 aggrieved delegates.
Source: This Day, 20th November 2011.
Uncertainty, Tension In Bayelsa
BY GODWIN IJEDIOGOR (LAGOS) AND WILLIE ETIM (YENAGOA
AMIDST uncertainty over the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for today, embattled Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva has expressed deep concern over the massive deployment of Police and security personnel in Yenagoa, the state capital. A Federal High Court, Abuja, order had restrained the party from conducting today’s exercise any time before next Tuesday.
The governor, through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Doifie Ola, said as governor and chief security officer of the state, he considered the troop deployment uncalled for and capable of threatening the people’s fundamental human rights.
He called on the people of the state to refuse to be intimidated or provoked into any form of violence and urged all residents to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, “trusting in the ability of our democratic institutions to address the existing political anxiety in Bayelsa State.”
Sylva expressed confidence in the ability of the country’s democratic institutions to resolve issues arising from the contest for power at all levels and expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their continued support, maturity and patriotism.
He advised all parties in the political contest to bear in mind that what is most important is the interest of Bayelsa State, not the ambition of any individual or group of individuals.
There has been heavy security presence in Yenagoa since Wednesday, heightening tension and anxiety among the residents of the state.
The Guardian gathered that detachments of mobile policemen were deployed to strengthen security around strategic areas in Yenagoa metropolis and other neighbouring communities, such as Imiringi, Ogbia, Otuokpoti, among others.
Within the state capital, it was observed that an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) belonging to the Police was permanently stationed at the frontage of the PDP secretariat, while the DSP Alamieyeseigha Dual Carriage Way leading to the party’s secretariat was closed to traffic.
No fewer than 20 anti-riot policemen were also spotted at the PDP office, just as other security agents were also busy diverting traffic to other routes.
Similarly, the Melford Okilo Expressway, which passes in front of the Creek Haven Government House, was blocked to commuters and other pedestrians, while stern-looking mobile policemen mounted heavy security around the area.
Residents were now thoroughly scrutinised at the over 30 checkpoints dotting the capital.
Commercial banks and business outlets within Yenagoa closed as early as 3pm, with heavy traffic moving out of the town apparently in fear of possible clash between supporters of Sylva and those in support of his disqualification from the primary election.
Over 105 local government councilors, under the aegis of the Local Government Councilors Forum, led by Adaka Godswill, accused the anti-Sylva group of staging the endorsement of ward results on national television and hunting them with armed security men around the state capital.
They alleged that there was no ward election in their areas and that the claims by a governorship aspirant that ward election took place should be investigated.
They condemn the alleged use of armed soldiers and mobile policemen to hunt them for standing for the truth.
Politicians loyal to the governor had gone underground for fear of intimidation, while there are unconfirmed reports of the arrest of some of his supporters.
An ex-militant leader, Eris Paul, also known as Commander Ogunboss, for instance, debunked rumours of his being shot and arrested by security operatives.
Stop and search operations were being conducted by soldiers and armed mobile policemen along popular routes, including the Tombia Roundabout and the Imgbi road.
Some of the policemen had abandoned their primary assignment and turned to traffic duties, checking particulars of vehicles, with some residents accusing them of extortion and harassment.
At the PDP secretariat, party members have not been to their offices since controversy erupted over the ward congresses.
While nightlife in the state capital is gone and residents have abandoned night movements for fear of being harassed by security operatives, movement in the day has become tedious, with car owners and commercial drivers spending hours in the traffic waiting to be searched by armed soldiers and Police.
The authorities of the Joint Military Task Force, through the Media Coordinator, Lt. Col. Timothy Anthinga, explained that the involvement of the military in the security exercise was a normal development to assist the Nigerian Police ensure security of lives and property.
Source: The Guardian, 19th November 2011.
Bayelsa: Sylva dares PDP
By Isaac Ombe-Yenagoa
Says I don’t need NWC clearance Ex-militants warn party leadership
Armed with what he called his certificate of clearance issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), embattled Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State yesterday flagged off his campaign for the forthcoming governorship primaries of the party in the state.
The governor, who is locked in a battle of wits with the leadership of the party which has so far refused to list his name as one of those cleared to seek the party’s ticket, said the Screening Committee had cleared him and declared that he had the support of President Goodluck Jonathan, contrary to insinuation that he has fallen out with the president.
“Let me tell you one thing : the President is supporting me, all Senators from the state are supporting me, all House of Reps members from the state, except one who is supporting himself, are supporting me, all Assembly members are supporting me, all LGA Chairmen are supporting me, all Councilors are supporting me, Elders, youths, Women non-indigenes are all supporting me.So tell me who is not supporting me” he told cheering supporters at a rally at the Yenagoa Sports Complex.
Holding up a document, he said: “this is my Certificate of clearance given me by the Screening Committee. I have the privilege to be one of the few governors to declare twice and to be cleared twice for the same election.”
He then began to reel off his achievements in office in the last three years.
“My administration has laid solid formation for the growth of Bayelsa state in the areas of Agriculture, youth empowerment , roads, power supply.
“This is why we have the courage to come to you again to seek your votes.That is why I have brought my case before you.”He promised non-stop electricity supply in the state during the coming Christmas.
In an interview shortly after the event, Mr. Nathan Egba, the Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation said supporters of the Governor are mobilizing fro the Ward Congress scheduled for Monday.
“We are on ground; we don’t want to take chances. Let us have proper delegates election in the PDP this time around. We will ensure that PDP members participate in the delegates election to ensure that the Primaries are properly conducted”.
Prominent citizens of the state who spoke at the event included a one time President of the Ijaw National Congress(INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, Ijaw Youth Council(IYC) Vice President, Preye Agama, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Chief Lionel Jonathan –Omo. Others were elders from the three Senatorial districts who pleaded that Sylva be given a second chance to rule the state.
“We will continue to support Sylva for second term because he has done well” said Chief Aduba from President Jonathan’s Bayelsa East Senatorial district.
“Seven out of the eight National Assembly members are behind Sylva, that is 99% of Bayelsans are in support of Sylva’s second tenure” noted Lokpobiri who said the National Working Committee lacks the power to screen governorship aspirants from the state.
“We are not going to allow the NWC Committee to taint the image of our leader, Jonathan, we the representatives of Bayelsans will back Sylva to the end”, he said.
Expressing support on behalf of ex-militants in the state, ‘Commander’ Ogumbos who described Sylva as the hero that initiated moves to bring militants out of the Creeks warned the PDP leadership to tread softly on the issue of Sylva.
“We give our total support to Sylva.He has brought peace to Bayelsa state and the Niger Delta region. Our coming out of the Creeks was initiated by Sylva the hero,” he said.
Okoko, said “I am here again to register my support for Sylva, I have always supported Sylva. I have followed his activities; he has done well in the last four years. Sylva was screened a long time ago by the PDP screening Committee; forget all that the NWC is saying about him and support his reelection”.
Source: The Nation, 13th November 2011.
PDP disqualifies Sylva, Alaibe, Bruce
By Gbade Ogunwale
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has finally barred Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva from the party’s governorship primaries scheduled for November 19.
Also barred from the race is the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe, former Director- General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Mr. Ben Murray Bruce and a serving Permanent Secretary in the Presidency and associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Godknows Igali.
A statement by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP said the four aspirants did not scale through the screening process and have therefore not been cleared to contest the primaries.
The statement, signed by PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali did not give reasons for the disqualification.
The statement reads: “However, in this last and final batch, four of the aspirants did not scale through the party screening process and have therefore not been cleared to contest the primaries.”
“After a thorough review of the two reports, and after a painstaking examination of all the issues raised about each and every aspirant, the NWC has cleared seven out of the 11 aspirants that purchased forms to participate in the primaries.”
The seven aspirants so cleared are: Orufa Justine Boloubo; Dickson Seriake Henry; Enai Christopher Fullpower; Kalango Michael Youppele; Francis Amaebi; Ekiyegha Francis Korobido; and Austin Febo.
Source: The Nation, 13th November 2011.
... Sylva cries foul
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Governor Timipre Sylva has raised the alarm over reports that there are plans to arrest him over what he called trumped –up charges of treasonable felony.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to be investigating a petition that borders on national security against Sylva.
The Governor reacting to his disqualification from participating in the November 19 governorship primaries by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through his Chief Press Secretary in a press statement: ‘Bayelsa People Shall Prevail’ said the story was that there was a tape where he had threatened to kill President Goodluck Jonathan.
While dismissing the story as entirely false, he said there was no reason to wish President Jonathan or any other person dead, stressing that there was no tape as such contrary to reports making rounds.
On his disqualification by the party, Sylva who said the report was disturbing, disclosed that he and his supporters were reviewing the decision of the NWC.
According to him, it was worrisome that his full membership of the party was being abridged and his fundamental right to vote and be voted for was being trampled upon by a party he contributed to build.
He maintained that the NWC decision did not annul his membership of the party, adding that as a governor elected under the platform of the party; he remained the leader of the party and as a loyal party man, he would participate in all its activities.
Sylva appealed to Bayelsans, his supporters and loyalists to remain calm, law abiding, hopeful.
Investigations in the camp of Sylva revealed that his supporters remain upbeat about the political situation in the state as they were in firm control of the party machinery. After the successful grand rally held on Saturday, his camp has been locked in a series of meeting to review the situation especially with reports that the PDP leadership jittery with the large out of supporters at the formal declaration of Sylva would disqualify him from the governorship primaries.
The camp mulling over several options have decided to remain in the PDP and participate fully in the process that would lead to the emergence of the party’s flag bearer. Meanwhile there was a large out of people at a prayer session organized by the campaign team of Dr Godknows Boladei Igali at the Opolo open field to kick-start his governorship ambition.
Igali’s name was among the four people the NWC said were not cleared to contest the governorship primary election. The news of his disqualification did not deter his supporters as they waited for him to declare open the prayer session.
Source: Sun, 13th November 2011.
Bayelsa 500 Space Hospital Would Perform Open Heart Surgeries -- Sylva
Chinedu Wosu
Yenagoa — Governor Timipre Sylva yesterday said the Chief Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital also known as the 500 space hospital when completed would perform Open Heart Operations and other high level surgeries.
Sylva also said the hospital would be completed and commission in the first quarter of 2012 as experts is installing critical equipments for its take-off.
He stated this in Yenagoa shortly after embarking on the projects tour with team of clergies drawn across the state and beyond.
The governor said the hospital was build as a referral centre and not only for Bayelsans alone as it would cater for the needs of patients across the country.
Recall that the clergies had a fasting and prayers for Peace of the state last Monday with the governor and other principal officials in attendances.
Sylva told the clergies that the installation of the facilities would be painstaking as equipment for the hospital has been acquired.
He noted that five technicians from South Africa are currently installing critical facilities in the hospital to enhance its take-off next year.
Describing the hospital as a tourists centre, Sylva said the memorial hospital housed five air tight theaters for various operations, noted that it would attracts best specialists in the world.
On the management of the Hospital, Sylva said it would be a tripartite arrangement involving International hospital management group, state and federal government.
According to Sylva, the state government would install five mega watts power station in the hospital to check power outage.
On the skill Acquisition centre, he said works has reached advance stage and would be inaugurated this December to train youths on skills.
Governor Sylva told the clergies that, the state would name the new Assembly complex after the Senate President, Senator David Mark while the commissioner's quarter would be christened Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria.
Earlier, State President, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Most Reverend Israel Ege said the team was in the state for a fasting and prayer for the peace of the state.
He lauded Sylva for embarking on the projects, particularly the 500 space hospital project which would offers treatment in open heart surgeries.
Ege declared, "On behalf of the church, what we have seen shows that Governor Sylva is working in Baylesa".
According to the clergy, "Sylva cannot satisfy every body, we are ministers of God that stand for the truth and we only speak the truth".
Hear him, "we are not here to defend this administration, but we are here to say from what we have seem that the government is performing".
Our correspondent reports that, Governor Sylva and the clergies inspected, Chief Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital, Assembly/commissioners quarters, skilled acquisition centre and the state Library centre.
Source: Daily Champion, 11th November 2011.
Why Jonathan cancelled trip to Bayelsa, by Sylva
BY KODILINYE OBIAGWU (LAGOS) AND WILLIE ETIM ETIM (YENAGOA)
BAYELSA State Governor Timipre Sylva may have finally decided to take the case of his second term ticket to God in the face of uncertainty surrounding his clearance by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Today in Yenagoa, the state capital, Sylva and his supporters will meet at the Peace Park to offer prayers to God.
“We have satisfied ourselves that we have done everything humanly possible and at this point, only God can intervene. We have not given up, but it is important that we take the matter to God,” sources close to the governor told The Guardian last night.
In the meantime, President Goodluck Jonathan’s last minute decision to abort his planned trip to Bayelsa to attend his younger brother’s wedding at the weekend in order to sympathise with the victims of the bombings in some parts of the North, has continued to attract attention.
Despite the explanation of the Presidency, it was learnt that President Jonathan actually stayed away to avoid the ambush of the various lobby groups seeking his attention and endorsement in the PDP primary.
The sources said: “It is not true to say that President Jonathan stayed away because of Sylva, just because he has not been cleared yet. People forget that the President and the governor were together the night before the planned trip.
“The point is that the President is under pressure from every aspirant. All the camps want his attention and every camp wanted him to come to town. Even those that believe that the President has endorsed them would have wanted him to make a public display of that endorsement.”
It was learnt that most of the aspirants and interest groups had positioned themselves to catch the attention of President Jonathan had he kept his schedule and visited the state.
In the absence of the President, the groups had besieged the residence of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who had been in the state for three days ahead of the aborted visit by the President.
She was reportedly holding talks with members of the camp of one of the governorship aspirants at Otueke, in Ogbia, when the state governor arrived at the venue of the meeting. After keeping him waiting while she attended to those before the governor, the First Lady eventually met with the governor. The details of their meeting were not made public.
Meanwhile, optimism is high in the governor’s camp as they look forward to his clearance being sorted out after the public holidays.
A PDP chieftain and an avid supporter of Sylva, who pleaded anonymity, said that “it is not true to say that the President is against or for Sylva. The only truth is that the governor has not got the nod to contest in the primary. We all know that there are issues and until those issues are cleared, nothing will be certain. Those issues will be cleared; it is only to resolve those issues. Almost everyone now in the country knows that there are issues to be resolved in the PDP primaries in Bayelsa.”
Source: The Guardian, 7th November 2011.
Bayelsa police killing: Mother demands names of suspects
Featured
Written by Mike Odiegwu
The family of the slain 20-year old Emmanuel Victor, on Saturday, asked the police to make public the names of the policemen who killed her son at a checkpoint along Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The request came two days after the State Police Command said that it had arrested three police officers in connection with the incident and subjected them to an in-house trial.
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Speaking to SUNDAY PUNCH, Grace, the mother of the deceased implored the police to release their names to members of the public.
According to her, since it is a murder case, the police should not be seen as shielding the identities of the suspects.
She said, "Now that they are undergoing in-house trial, the police should let us know the names of the policemen. This will go a long way in proving the transparency and honesty of the police in this matter. We need their names and their ranks. We also want their pictures to be published."
Findings show that the state police command had been under intense pressure by the Force Headquarters to fast-track its investigation following widespread criticisms that trailed the incident that occurred on October 16.
The new state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Opara, had reportedly ordered the immediate detention of the three officers who were said to be on duty at the checkpoint when Victor was shot in the presence of his mother.
It was also found that the command’s Criminal Investigation Department had concluded its findings and submitted its report to the commissioner.
The police boss was said to have faulted the claims of the suspected killers and immediately ordered for their trial.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eguaveon Emokpae, who announced the trial of the suspects in Yenagoa said, "The command is disturbed by the barrage of publications concerning the death of Emmanuel Victor in the hands of the police on October 16 along Sani Abacha Expressway, Yenagoa.
"The impression being given by the media is that the command is not taking any action about it. But the CP on assumption of duty took appropriate action by arresting the policemen involved and ordering an investigation. The investigation has not exonerated the policemen. Because of these, they are now on trial, after which they would be made to face the wrath of the law.
"The police as a responsible organisation do not condone indiscipline let alone issues bordering on extra-judicial killing. The outcome of the prosecution of the offenders would be made public to show that the command has nothing to hide particularly in cases concerning abuse of human rights".
SUNDAY PUNCH also learnt that Grace, the mother of the deceased was invited on Friday during the orderly trial to give evidence.
She was said to have met the commissioner briefly in his office in company with her lawyer, Mr. Richard Turner, before proceeding to the venue of the trial.
Opara had assured the traumatised woman that the police would ensure that justice was done in the matter, adding that her evidence was necessary to facilitate the trial.
He said, "We are not insensitive at what happened. We did not send our men to kill people. They are sent to protect lives and that is why we created the checkpoints. Any police officer who commits this kind of offence will carry his cross."
Although our correspondent was taken to the venue of the trial to see the suspects whose names were kept under wraps, he was not allowed to witness the proceedings.
It was however gathered that during their trial, one of the suspects confessed shooting Victor several times, claiming that the deceased inflicted injuries on the officers.
He was reported to have said, "I shot him several times, but I didn’t know that the bullets were getting to him."
Source: Punch, 30th October 2011.
Timipre Sylva and Legless Critics
Dr. Gesi Oyinkuro
column
It is increasingly turning out that Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, the man who wants to govern Bayelsa state is alas presenting credentials based on a sheer and idle criticism of sitting Governor Timipre Sylva.
If critique is matched with a new and superior alternative view, the society could prospect for a healthy debate needed for the growth and development of the citizens and strategic institutions of governance and administration. But where you offer a bland and dismissive challenge in such a serious arena as a political campaign to win power through the ballot, you have lost the race before the gun blast.
Many analysts believe that with his less than impressive remarks on Sylva's administration instead of a robust focus on what he has in store for the people; Dickson has shot himself in the foot. For, in seeking an advantage by attempting to pummel the governor, the lawmaker has exposed himself as truly a poor candidate for the exalted office.
In politics a poor candidate is defined as one who, bereft of the intellectual capacity to operate in the world of ideas and creativity, attempts a barren attack on the performance of those in power. He hardly erects a viable shadow platform. He throws no fresh concepts of govern into the debate.
Three quarters of a one -thousand -word presentation is a parade of criticism with the remaining one quarter a haranguing hotchpotch of politicking.
And so we have Seriake Dickson making sweeping statements that suggest he's a stranger to the new face of Bayelsa under Timipre Sylva. He speaks of 'poor and dismal performance to date' in his Bayelsa Restoration Agenda.
Then he refers t o what he calls a 'reckless abuse of state power without a corresponding sense of honour, responsibility and compassion', implying tragically that under him as governor he'd balance 'reckless abuse of power' with' a ...sense of honour, responsibility and compassion'. What frightening recipe for anarchy. Elsewhere Dickson says; '
The present governor does not quite understand the problems and potentials[sic] of the people.' And on women he says the Bayelsa governor hasn't given them equal opportunities to key into development programmers' in the state.
It's obvious the new Bayelsa has left Dickson far behind. Otherwise he'd realize governance has gone beyond the banal there. The debate is no longer about the personality of who is in power. It's about ideas and leveraging popular participation in the institutions of government. Whoever is the helmsman, in this case Timipre Sylva, represents the collective symbol of our aspiration and dream. We are in an ideas realm that has given birth to several positive changes in Bayelsa.
For instance in 2008 in one fell swoop Sylva's administration appointed seven women as Local Government Chairpersons in the State. It was at a time most governments were still drawing a thick gender line across the country!
Today, President Goodluck Jonathan has also appointed unprecedented number of women in the Federal cabinet! Talk of kindred spirits!
Of course it is utter mischief to say Sylva "does not quite understand the problems and potentials (sic) of the people". He does. Otherwise he'd not be embarking on policies that would steadily wean Bayelsa off the deadly trap of oil dependence. He is deploying agriculture, notably fish farming and rice cultivation, as weapons in his bid to replace oil as the chief revenue earner. He is targeting millions of tones of rice and fish.
His administration is planning the ultimate: the construction of an Agricultural City in Sagbama Local Government of Bayelsa! He says it's going to be the first of its kind in Nigeria to "serve as a centre to produce agricultural commodities and run agric commerce with infrastructure to support ideas on modern farming techniques."
Being a fore-sighted politician, Governor Sylva has looked beyond today and seen that in the not too distant future oil will lose its allure and its fortunes will vanish. It happened in Oloibiri, which is today a metaphor for departed glory. Sylva says we can avert a bigger tragedy by taking urgent steps now to neutralize oil, with all the hardship it has caused Nigeria and her citizens, never mind the Pyrrhic victory it has often given.
Sylva's strategy and vision as a politician are light years ahead of what Dickson is promising. The lawmaker is "to establish an Economic Advisory Council which will lay the foundation for a blue print (sic) to revamp the economy..." Do you lay the foundation for a blueprint or do you evolve a blueprint from which will emerge a prosperous society?
Besides this comment on a contradiction in terms in Dickson's agenda, it must be pointed out that what Bayelsa and really every constituent state of Nigeria, need are committed and tested leaders. We must reject politicians who resort to dismissive criticisms when it is clear from their pedigree and body language that they won't offer better service when voted into office.
Bayelsa under Sylva has posted significant achievements which must be consolidated.
Finally these two questions: who, between the one in the saddle who has proved his mettle and the one who is groping in the dark about a blueprint, would you entrust your fate to? Would you allow a legless man to teach you how to run?
Dr. Oyinkuro is the Director of Research, New Bayelsa Forum, Yenagoa
Source: Leadership, 29th October 2011.
Danger ! Erosion eats Peremabiri community in Bayelsa state
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
For those who remember the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) the name Peremabiri community rings a bell. The community located in Boma clan, Southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa state hosts the biggest rice farm in West Africa. If not that it has been abandoned now for several years, the rice farm is capable of feeding the whole of West Africa.
However the situation now in the community is different. The people are not mulling over the abandoned rice farm but erosion that is threatening to delete the community from the map of Nigeria. Incidentally before the disaster became an issue ex-militant leader, Eris Paul a.k.a Ogunboss had drew the attention of the Federal Government to the activities of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) area. According to him Shell activities through two dredging companies was capable of causing serious environmental problems for the community.
Less than a week after his lamentation, precisely September 26 2011 the bubble burst and a substantial part of Peremabiri was eaten up causing colossal pains and grief for the people of the community. Mrs Grace Aaron is a native of the community, she took over the story: “I am an indigene of this community. Just come and see the way the river has eaten the land also up to swallowing my building. Several other houses have gone into the river and, for me and my household we are really scared that ours might be the next waiting to happen. If you look very well you will agree with me that our house is just less than three or four meters to the river. And we are very much concerned; day and night, as this matter is beyond what the community can handle.
We have already accepted it as our fate judging from the fact that we have witnessed so many others that have gone down into the river over the last few years. Even before we go to sleep, the thought of being swept into the river with the house has always come to the fore. Wherever we find ourselves our thought finds it hard to forget the danger facing us right now. We are hoping that the authorities will hear our cries and quickly come to rescue us from the ecological problem facing us. This is one of the major problems that are occupying the mind of many in this community. We need help urgently. I am appealing to the authorities to come to our assistance as soon as possible”
Dickson Peresuote the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman amplified her worries: “As you can see we are just few meters from the fast flowing Nun River. When I say close; I am placing emphasis on the fact that where we are standing right now may be inside the river sooner than we can imagine. We have lost so much of our community to the River Nun. If you watch you can see with me that the river has advanced too close to the concrete road in the community. If we take a tape and measure, I am sure the space between the River and the concrete road is now less than three meters in that section of the town. Everyone in the community is worried about this threatening ecological issue. When we were young, this community was very far from the football field.
That is why community leaders are not happy with the way Shell Petroleum Development Company [SPDC] has continued to carry out dredging activities within our environment. SPDC has continued to dredge at some sections of the River Nun and along the Diebu Creek every three years or so without recourse to Environmental Impact Assessment. We are of the belief that what Shell is doing is having a direct relationship with this loss of land to the river in our community. And we want solution to this problem. As a peaceful people, we want the authorities to prevail on SPDC and also intervene on this matter. I should use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government interventionist agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] and the recently created Niger Delta Ministry to come to our aid. Unless urgent steps are taken to arrest the rapidly advancing river, this community will disappear soon. Yes, behind our community is a swamp and, we cannot go and build our houses in the swamp. This is our predicament”
Maurice Jonathan’s fear is what would happen to their children. According to him, Peremabiri might case to exist if the problem is not tackled urgently.
He said: “To tell you the truth no one is comfortable with way the River Nun is expanding while the community land is shrinking by the day. It is like a story now when we tell strangers that this community has lost over fifty meters of land in the last few years. And, if the trend should continue unchecked, we may join the monkeys in the swamps very soon. We are of the view that the dredging activities of Shell around us also have negative effect that is leading to the collapsing river banks and expansion of the River here. We are calling for assistance from government before we are wiped out from this location. What are we going to tell our children coming behind?”
The Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN) during its visit to the community painted a pathetic picture of the ecological disaster staring the people in the face.
Mr Morris Alagoa the programme officer in a report after the visit noted that “there exists the urgent need for the Federal and state government agencies to take positive steps to address this ecological threat in Peremabiri and other Niger Delta communities facing similar conditions”
He urged the people to remain peaceful and not take laws into their hands to resolve the issue as violence would only cause more problems.
Source: Sun, 11th October 2011.
Jonathan’s men move against Sylva
From PAULINUS AIDOJIE, Abuja
The plot to make Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State ineligible to contest elections for a second term may have received the backing of close associates of President Goodluck Jonathan who hails from the state, according to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sources in both the state capital, Yenagoa and Abuja.
This is creating tensions between PDP stalwarts residing in Bayelsa State who are loyal to the governor and those in Abuja who are believed to be close to the president.
Sources indicated that the president’s loyalists, most of who operate from the nation’s capital, are working to perfect plans to neutralise Governor Sylva’s plans to retain the party ticket by a set of strategies, which include lining up a number of alternative candidates believed to be friendly to both President Jonathan and his wife, Patience.
Although Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke denied any interest in the race, some partisans in the party expressed doubts since they believe she is also in the picture.
Crucial to this strategy, according to the sources, was the anticipated Supreme Court ruling on the five governors who were exempted by the Appeal Court from taking part in the governorship elections in April on the ground that they swore fresh oaths of office in 2008 after rerun elections they won.
The states include Kogi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Sokoto and Adamawa. After the Appeal Court ruling, former Lagos State governor, Burba Marwa challenged the case at the Supreme Court asking to be joined in the suit because he was denied in the lower court.
He wanted to contest for governor in Adamawa State.
If the Supreme Court, expected to rule October 13, does not uphold the positions of the lower court, the governors might be asked to vacate their offices and that would take away the immunity from the governors.
“That is their plot,” said a source. “If that happens the president’s loyalists may cause the anti-corruption agencies to arrest Governor Sylva on excuse of some charges and put him out of circulation until the primaries are concluded.”
The other plan would be to send either the police or soldiers and make it difficult for Governor Sylva’s loyalists to operate, so that any candidate supported by the president’s men could sail through the nomination and primary processes, according an Abuja source. Apart from the petroleum minister, the other candidates are House of Representives member, Seriaki Dickson and Chairman of the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, Chief Turner.
The first move, said the sources, was the disbandment of the state’s security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei, which was set up to contain violence in the state, although police sources said it was involved in extra-judicial killings. The Bayelsa State chairman of the PDP also received a letter from Abuja, indicating that a new election for a new chairman would be held, raising suspicions of plans from the PDP in Abuja to take over the state party machinery.
There are, however, moves from both sides to reconcile the groups but already some groups have begun to express their support openly on either side, especially on the side of Governor Sylva.“Sylva did not carry all of us in the state along with him,” said a source in Abuja who belongs to the anti-Sylva push. “Bayelsa belongs to all of us,” he said.
But pro-Sylva groups said they thought any rift between the president’s camp and Governor Sylva had been resolved. “We are shocked that the president’s men could be behind this. Why would they cause confusion in the president’s own state?”
Source: Sun, 10th October 2011.
Fear grips Bayelsa community over oil spill
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The people of Kalaba community located in Okordia clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area are now living in fear of the gaseous leakage from a ruptured oil pipeline in the community.
Since September 5, when the gaseous substance was noticed, life has turned upside down for the people.
Their anxiety now is that the spill could affect their source of livelihood as the environment where they farm and the water they drink stands the risk of being polluted.
According to the people going by past experience, the pipeline which belongs to Nigeria Agip Oil Company is likely to remain like that with its gaseous emissions.
The woman leader of the community, Mrs Joe Ovie was the first person that noticed the spill before she alerted her husband and the people of the community on her discovery. Her appeal is that Agip should without delay come to the aid of the community before the situation gets out of hand.
“I was going about my business when I heard this serious sound from afar. I had to avoid passing through that section of the pipeline when I noticed that it was an oil spill because, from the roaring sound alone one would know that it was a serious matter. So, that was how I brought the information to my husband and others.
We pray that this time Agip will respond promptly before so much damage is done to our crops, farmlands and bodies of water around. Besides, it was this kind of incident that led to fire that burnt a woman from this community few years ago, because she was going to her farm with live charcoal without any knowledge that such thing was leaking from Agip pipeline. So, it is dangerous to us and the environment. Agip should come and stop this spill without delay” she said.
Roman Orukali the immediate past Community Development Chairman (CDC) disclosed that he had to call the attention of the Environment Rights Action (ERA) to the development adding that something urgent needs to be done.
“I wonder what will happen to the farms around that direction the wind is carrying the crude oil [in gaseous form]. I know there are farms in that area. Even for me I can’t breathe well in that impacted environment. The crude oil was thick in the air there” Orukali added
The programme direct of ERA in Bayelsa state, Mr Morris Alagoa who has visited the site said it was frightening. According to him the situation in the community is dangerous as there is the possibility of fire outbreak because the whole environment has been soaked with crude oil. He noted that the vegetation of the entire area stand a risk of being destroyed completely if the situation is not arrested immediately.
Alagoa said ERA is demanding the immediate clamp of the ruptured pipe before it further wreaks havoc on the people and the environment. He also suggested that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) be properly constituted to look into what led to the spill.
More importantly, Alagoa disclosed that ERA wants relevant authorities in Bayelsa state to ensure that AGIP does the right thing for the people of the community.
A top official of the Ministry of Environment who pleaded anonymity said the matter has not been reported to the ministry, adding that once they report the matter, the Commissioner, Mr. Robert Enogha would ensure the right things are done.
Source: Sun, 13th September 2011.
Bayelsa under siege of cultists
Written by Oluwole Ige, Yenagoa
TO an average Bayelsan, taking a walk on the streets of the state capital, Yenagoa, or any other town and community in the oil rich state, comes with a lot of risks and unexpected costly sacrifices. Organised crimes such as armed robbery or attacks on banks by hoodlums have faded away as a result of the steady patrols by the police and the activities of the special security outfit, code named “Operation Famou Tangbei”.
Notwithstanding, the recent upsurge in cult violence in the state has succeeded in creating an atmosphere of insecurity among the people, even as tension builds up against the February 2012 governorship poll.
It is quite worrisome and inexplicable that many cultist groups have thrived in the state despite the efforts of the security agencies to rid Bayelsa of criminals.
Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that supremacy tussle among these warring cult groups has shattered the seeming peace and tranquillity being enjoyed by the Ijaws as violent clashes during the day and night often culminate in pandemonium and loss of lives. Whenever such development occurs, residents at the scene of the clashes are made to go through horrors, with trepidation and psychological trauma of killings and maiming perpetrated by the cultists.
More worrisome is the startling discovery of cultist groups among pupils of secondary schools in the state, some of who were about three months ago, arrested by men of the Bayelsa State Police Command, during an initiation procedures on their new entrants.
Available statistics shows that no fewer than six persons had lost their lives to the mayhem between June and August 2011, just as 20 youths were arrested following the last cult clash, which occurred on 27th, August at Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
Horrible skirmishes of about three Sundays, involving feuding cults groups would not be forgotten in a hurry by residents of Akemfa and Ekeki neighbourhoods, in Yenagoa Local Government area. On that particular day alone, three persons were shot dead around 10.30pm when rival groups engaged themselves in a fierce battle that lasted for almost an hour. Pedestrians, residents and shop owners within these areas trembled as sporadic gunshots rent the air, a chaotic development that forced some pubs located in the affected areas to hurriedly close their shops.
Commenting on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bayelsa State Police Command, ASP Eguaveon Emopkae stated that, “it is true that three persons were shot dead in some areas, but we are on top of the situation.
Continuing, he explained that “The Sunday killing was a cult related issue. It happened in Yenagoa Division. At Akemfa, one person was shot dead around 8.30am and there was also another killing around Ekeki in the night. But I can assure you that we are doing our best to make sure that the perpetrators of the dastardly acts are apprehended soonest.”
No sooner than the security concern raised by the killing subsided, last week Monday, was characterised by another spilling of blood as battle between members of cult societies identified as Icelanders and Greenlanders left two persons suspected to be their members dead.
That latest violence, Nigerian Tribune authoritatively gathered, sparked off when adherents of the Icelanders group were attempting to carry out forceful initiation of some youths of Onopa area, Yenagoa, into their group. Subsequently, the refusal of few of them to be initiated attracted a kingpin of Greenlanders, a rival cult, thereby resulting in a gun duel, while axes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons were freely used to attack each other in a free for all.
Timely intervention of the police prevented the violence from escalating, while they also succeeded in arresting 20 persons, alleged to have participated in the clash. The police PPRO hinted that victims of the cult war and those that sustained severe injuries had been taken to Patani General Hospital, in Delta State.
Surprisingly, a lady, who supplies members of the Icelanders cult with marijuana and other concoctions such as “monkey tail” was apprehended with a “Ghana Must Go” bag stuffed with dried Indian hemp.
However, the fear being expressed in some quarters now is the vulnerability of the cultists to the monetary enticement of desperate politicians, who may have perfected plans to use them in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Already, there are allegations that some top local government officials in Bayelsa have recruited a number of cultists to cow their political opponents and also use them to perpetrate electoral violence as preparations for the much awaited gubernatorial poll gathers momentum.
A social commentator, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune under condition of anonymity, contended that “the menace of these cult groups must be halted as fast as possible by the law enforcement agencies if peace must reign in this state.”
“We cannot continue to live with bated breath, owing to the inimical activities of cultists, whose attacks have constituted great threat to the peace and healthy co-existence among the people. Government should be alive to its responsibilities and do something concrete to eradicate cultism by providing job opportunities to a larger percentage of idle youths in this state. If they have something doing, that could guarantee them some means of livelihood, there will be no tendency for them to be lured into cultism. Unemployment has substantially fuelled the number of cultists in Bayelsa State and this is a fact that can be easily disputed if otherwise.”
Meanwhile, gun wielding cultists, continued their attack, on Sunday night, in Yenagoa, as they gunned down another three persons, in a relaxation joint at Kpansia area, in Yenagoa Local Government.
Investigations by Nigerian Tribune indicated that the cultists, who stormed the pub around 8.30pm in a car, moved swiftly to where their targets were sitting and opened fire, killing instantly the victims before escaping after confirming that they were dead.
Among their latest victims was an undergraduate of a university in one of the South- South states.
Source: Tribune, 7th September 2011.
Bayelsa community raises alarm over oil/gas leakage
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
The people Kalaba of community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State have raised fresh alarm over an oil/gas leakage from a ruptured pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company NAOC).
Kalaba community which is situated between Ayamabele and Ikarama communities, all of which are settled along the Taylor Creek is traversed by Agip pipelines and had experienced several oil spills/gas leaks in recent times.
Though the immediate cause of the latest oil spill/gas leakage could not be ascertained but the natives said it was noticed last week by some women while going to the farm.
Thick gaseous substance spraying into the air could be noticed Wednesday as the natives took the Environment Rights Action team led by its field Coordinator in Bayelsa State, Comrade Alagoa Morris and others round the impacted area.
A disturbed Comrade Alagoa Morris said, “the rising and falling sound from the pressure with which the crude oil was spewing (more of gaseous form) into the environment was frightening.”
He noted with sadness that area could go up in flame if urgent steps are not taken to clamp the leaking pipeline.
“Instinct continues to warn visitors that anything can happen, especially fire; as the whole air around was saturated with crude oil fume. Besides the crude oil fumes in the air, pools of crude oil could be noticed around the environment,” he lamented adding, “fire outbreak is possible if there is any spark within the point zero zone (the impacted area).”
The ERA Field Coordinator in the state called on Agip to, as a matter of urgency, mobilize to site and clamp the ruptured spot even as he pleaded that a Joint Investigation Team be constituted to ascertain the cause of spill before clamping is effected.
“Agip should fellow clamping with immediate clean-up of the impacted environment. After clean-up, remediation should follow and the relevant authorities and stakeholders should ensure Agip does the right thing and, at the right time,” he said.
Source: Vanguard, 7th September 2011.
Sylva Walks A Tight Rope
By OSA OKHOMINA
Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa Correspondent uncovers Governor Sylva’s many battles for his re-election bid in 2012.
When hundreds of disabled persons converged at the Isaac Boro Peace Park to offer prayers for the re-election of the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva in 2012 and peace during the coming Governorship polls, many political observers concluded that the battle for the Governorship seat in the state is open and will be tough for the incumbent to return to his exalted office.
In the last few months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the new time-table for the 2012 polls, the tempo of lobbying, horse-trading and political realignment have increased considerably with the various political parties and camps strategising on how best to draw advantages from the new time table.
But there are two major issues that worry the staunch supporters of the Governor and the PDP in the state. First, is the reported decision of the National Secretariat to conduct fresh primaries in line with the directive of INEC and the purported meetings convened by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to convince PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to pave way for Chief Timi Alaibe to return to PDP and hand him the governorship ticket. The Ota Chicken farmer was reported to have hinged his advice on the perceived unpopularity of Gov Sylva, a scenario he claimed nearly cost the PDP Bayelsa State in 2011.
Chief Alaibe was at various times, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the presidential aide to President Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs. The former NDDC boss is currently the Labour Party Governorship Candidate in Bayelsa State for next year’s polls. Many Bayelsans believe he is Governor Sylva’smain challenger.
According to reports, monitored by a leading local tabloid in the state, the Niger Delta Herald, two meetings to that effect had held, one in Ota and the other in Abuja. According to top sources at the meeting, President Jonathan was reported to have told the former President that he will not support any opposition to be Governor in his State. But sources at the meeting claimed that Alaibe handed the President three conditions for his return to the PDP. First, he said the President and the Elders of thePDP in the State should organise a Press Conference stating that his return to the PDPwas due to the pressure mounted on him by the President.
Leadership gathered that the reason for such condition was to ‘‘save his face’’ before his numerous supporters in the state who had complained in the past that he suddenly turned around to accept federal appointment after building a solid structure in the state for his governorship ambition. Chief Alaibe also asked for the dissolution of the existing executive of the PDP in the state and the adoption of the Direct Voting System from ward to State level.
Whether President Goodluck Jonathan accepted his position at the Ota Farm was however unknown but another meeting held at unknown location in Abuja among those opposed to the Governor.
Though it ended abruptly after a sudden appearance of the Governor at the meeting but it was well attended. But President Jonathan didn’t fail to advise the governor to pay up the billion of naira which the state is owing under the present administration.
Former PDP Chairman in Bayelsa State and Governorship aspirant who is believed to be Chief Alaibe’s pointman, Chief Fred Agbedi was among those in attendance. The sudden appearance of the Bayelsa Governor at the Abuja meeting led to the sack of the Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Mr, Sylkbrix Obriki. He was accused of being the spy that alerted the Governor.
The Labour Party, however seems not bothered by the purported pressure on its Governorship candidate, Chief Alaibe to return to the PDP. After the party’s loss to the rigging machinery of the PDP in the 2011 State and National Assembly polls in the state, LP resolved to stop the rigging of PDP and clinch the governorship come 2012. To achieve that it commenced immediate re-organisation of the Party structures.
But the Governor seemed not perturbed. Speaking when he was crowned with a chieftaincy title of “Opu Abadi” (Big Ocean) by King Agara Onya Mozi ofKolokuma/Opokuma community, the incumbent Governor said the supporters of thePDP and the people of the state should vote his opponents into the Atlantic Ocean so that “I, as the Opu Abadi can swallow them up”. While the opposition politicians are holding their meetings, the Governor Sylva camp has also intensified reconciliation with some aggrieved persons and interests groups before the 2012 elections through the 12-Man Reconciliation Committee inaugurated by the Governor. The panel has long swung into action.
The Committee is headed by a respected former Senator, John Koko Brambiafa. Members of the committee include: HRH, Frank Okurakpo, Chief Alex Ekoitene, Mr.Blesson Akpuluma, Prof. Ayebaemi Spiff, Mrs Immaculata Amaseimogha, Chief DouyiDouglas Niangba, Dr Bolere Ketebu. Others include Mr. Ayebaesin Dienagha, Chief Victor Awala, Mr. David Obuma while Mrs Gloria Izonfuro is the secretary.
Many Bayelsans viewed with cynicism the inauguration of the committee but Gov.Sylva has remained resolute in his declaration that the committee was borne out of his genuine desire to ensure the people of the state are united.
The Governor was said to have been deeply worried about the level of rancor in the state and the negative effects on the efforts of his administration to bequeath a befitting legacy to the people of the state. Checks indicated that while some are dissatisfied with some policies and programmes of the Sylva government, others are alleging ethnic bias in appointments. Close aides of Sylva said he set up the committee and appointed a man of integrity that can command the respect of the opposition.
Justifying the constitution of the committee, Governor Sylva said no meaningful development could be achieved when the people were divided. He maintained that the committee was not a political committee, stressing that its members were carefully chosen based on their track record of service. Sylva expressed optimism that with the integrity of the members, they would be able to resolve all aggrieved parties in the state.
“This is not a political party committee. It is a committee to bring all Bayelsanstogether. After a lot of political hassles; I believe that we need this kind of committee to bring people together because a lot of nerves have been frayed. And as a state, the only way that we can continue to forge ahead is to continue to be united.”
Since its inauguration the committee has been moving from one place to the other to talk to people and listen to their grievances. It has met with all former political appointees and political office holders from 1999 till date. Braimbafa, according to the committee members, is determined to succeed and prove cynics wrong that the reconciliation committee is a ruse. In a recent encounter, he defended the setting up of the committee and its mandate.
“Our statement is very clear. Our role is not to satisfy any particular person. Our role is to look at conflicts and we would agree that some of what we are witnessing now are cases of accumulated grievances that were left unresolved. We are not to settle political scores. Because of past experiences, many Bayelsans do not trust the committee. But what they do not know is that this committee is different.
During its meeting with the people of Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Brambiafaagain re-echoed the determination of his committee when he said there was no going back on the mission to unite the people of the state and enthrone peace. “This committee has been able to discuss with prominent Bayelsans and former public office holders from Bayelsa in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa and the results were rewarding. Each time we met with the parties, they have been very cooperative by opening up their minds on what has made them aggrieved.”
While the truce is ongoing, Governor Sylva’s handlers have sworn to stop Alaibe from returning to the ruling party. A source in government house, Yenagoa said the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the three senators from Bayelsa State, Chief Edwin Clark, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and presidential aide, Comrade Oronto Douglas have been recruited by Silva to persuade President Jonathan to pay deaf ear to Chief Obasanjo’s advice.
Aside from this, Leadership gathered, that the Gov. Sylva group has outlined strategies to render Alaibe politically impotent. Leadership learnt that the Governor was manipulating the anticipated report of the committee set up by the Presidency to probe the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to indict the former NDDCboss. The committee is headed by the former Head of Service, Dr. Steve Orosanye.
Dr. Oronsaye, according to Leadership sources, was at the Bayelsa State Government House last month. He was reported to have come with President Goodluck Jonathan on a private visit to the Federal University in Otuoke in Ogbia town but pressured to stay back for “private discussions”. Dr. Oronsanye was later sighted during the visit with Governor Sylva on an inspection tour of projects in the state.
According to the statement signed by the Labour Party chairman, Comrade BoboAdou-Atari, the committee has been compromised to implicate Chief Alaibe in order to taint him before the polls. This will be followed with his arrest by EFCC. LP argued that what the PDP and Bayelsa Government are planning is a replay of the Akwa IbomState scenario where the Action Congress of Nigeria Governorship candidate, ChiefAkpan Udehe was humiliated through arrest and detention.
However, Comrade Adou-Atari enjoined party faithful to be focused for the battles ahead.
“The Party wants to put it on record and assure the peace loving people of the state that though the 2011 elections in the state was fraudulently declared to have been won by the PDP by the financially induced INEC, the performance of the People and the Party have led to a renewed zeal by the party leaders to separate the snitches andPDP apologists in our party before the Governorship poll in the state. The Party is ready for the 2012 Governorship poll in the State and is rededicated to the needed change in the polity of the state. We call on the people of the state and the dedicated supporters of the party to stay focused and vote for the needed change in the state.”
The Labour Party berated the Justice Christopher Auta led Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Bayelsa for relying on technicality to strike out five out of the seven petitions filed against the 2011 National and State Assembly election victories of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While saluting the courage of its candidates in the polls, the party promised to appeal the decisions of the tribunal.
As the battle for soul of the oil rich state rages ahead of 2012, many Bayelsans are praying fervently for peace to prevail in the state.
Source: Leadership, 6th September 2011.
Bayelsa releases N687m for students bursary
CHINEDU WOSU Yenagoa
BAYELSA State Government yesterday said its has released the sum of N687million for the payment of bursary allowances for indigent students of Bayelsa State origin.
The payment, the state government said would cover the 2008/2009 and 2009 and 2010 academic sessions.
The Chairman of the Special Bursary Payment Committee, Mr. Jonathan Ogbuebite, who spoke to our correspondent in Yenagoa said the process of fund disbursement was reviewed to guarantee transparency
He acknowledged the state government for the released of the fund, saying that the payment was stopped temporarily to tackle issues relating to fraud noting that all the affected students would be paid in six months.
The lawmaker who is also the Chairman on Committee on Education, Bayelsa State House of Assembly explained that the new payment system would be done through banks and the internet.
According to him, undergraduate would receive N15, 000; postgraduate, N80, 000; doctorate degree students, N120, 000 and the Law School students, N200, 000.
Also monotechnic students will receive N100, 000; final year medical students; N80, 000 while special students such as the physically challenged will get N40, 000.
He noted that the new system will recognize special students with all forms of disability in secondary schools by paying them N20, 000 each.
Obuebite further blamed part of the delay in paying bursaries to students on reluctance of the institutions’ registries to release list of students.
He named other members of the committee which developed the system as the Secretary to the State Bursary Board, Mrs. Atonye Penkemie; The representative of the Ministry of Education, Mr. William Sange; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Mr. Mike Olomu.
Others are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Higher Education, Dr. Prince will Igbagara and the President of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students; Mr. Prince Owoebi.
The Chairman warned impersonators to desist from the scheme, saying that the committee had obtained list of authentic students from various higher institutions and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board to curb fraudsters.
Source: Daily Champion, 10th August 2011.
Bayelsa moves to stop communities’ protest against Shell
From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State government, Monday night, and the wee hours of Tuesday, clamped down on some masterminds of the protest staged by four communities in Ogbia Local Government Area against the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
The four communities, Otuasega, Oruma, Elebele and Imiringi had recently locked the valves of Shell facility accusing Shell of insensitivity to the plight of the people by refusing to honour the agreement it entered into with the communities.
Pastor Ranami Afagha, the vice chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) had raised the alarm that some government functionaries from the area and influential citizens were being recruited by Shell and the Bayelsa State government to frustrate further protests.
Investigations revealed that a meeting was held in Bayelsa Government House on Monday at about 3pm followed by another meeting in the evening at the palace of an influential traditional ruler. Deliberations at the meeting centered on how to quell further protests to pave way for dialogue with the Bayelsa State government and some influential people playing a major role.
Checks indicated that the meeting in Government House, which initially was to have in attendance Governor Timipre Sylva and paramount rulers of the four communities was only attended by some top government functionaries and former government officials but the paramount rulers were conspicuously absent as the masterminds of the protests persuaded them not to attend the meeting on the grounds that there would be no meeting unless the eight-man committee set up by the four communities to negotiate with Shell was also in attendance.
The action of the leaders, which was read as an attempt to embarrass the state government, was said to have infuriated some elements in the government and directive was immediately given to the security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei, to storm the four communities and pick up the ring leaders.
Among the first set of leaders arrested was the vice-chairman of the CDC of Oruma community, while the leaders of the protest in Otuasega, acting on a tip off, however, escaped.
The Environmental Rights Action (ERA) Programme Officer, Bayelsa State office, Mr. Morris Alagoa, in a statement strongly condemned the clamp down and urged government and security operatives to exercise caution. He warned against the torture of those arrested, stressing that protests were part of democracy.
A top government official who craved anonymity said in an interview that he was at the meeting and people expressed shock that the leaders could prevent the paramount rulers from attending a meeting with the governor.
According to him, the meeting was called to resolve the issue but the action of the leaders revealed that they had a sinister motive to embarrass the government and cause a breakdown of law and order in the area.
While admitting that some people were arrested, he disclosed that they had been released and a follow-up meeting would hold before the end of the week that would have in attendance the governor, the managing director of Shell, the leaders of the protests and the paramount rulers of the four communities.
Afagha, in an interview, confirmed the release of those earlier arrested, warning, however, that the communities would not compromise their demands. He declared that the only condition they would attend the meeting was for the eight-man committee set up by the four communities to be in attendance and be joined by four persons nominated by the paramount rulers from each of the four communities.
Stressing that they would resist any attempt by those who had been short-changing the communities to hijack the meeting.
Source: Sun, 27th July 2011.