The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anxiety

  • Anxiety heightens over Sylva’s uncle’s safety

    Anxiety heightens over Sylva’s uncle’s safety

    •Kidnappers keep mum

    •Family: our father is hypertensive 

    There ia fear over the wellbeing of the   abducted uncle of former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva.

    Pa Benson Adigio-Eseni’s whereabouts have remained unknown.

    It was learnt yesterday that the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the octogenarian’s family two weeks after abducting him. He  is 86.

    The development, it was gathered, had thrown the family into confusion, raising suspicion about the real motives of the kidnappers.

    Adigio-Eseni was kidnapped on July 28 at about 2am at Okpoama in Brass Local Government by gunmen who came in a speedboat.

    The hoodlums were said to have shot sporadically before abducting their victim.

    One of his sons, Fabo, said the silence of the kidnappers two weeks after the incident had affected the family.

    “The abductors are yet to establish contact with us two weeks after our father was kidnapped,” he added.

    Fabo said the abductors’ attitude had raised fears over their father’s safety.

    The third son in the family said he suspected that their father was abducted for political reasons.

    According to him, the political enemies of Sylva could have carried out the criminal act to get at the former governor, who is now a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Besides being his uncle, Fabo said Sylva was very close to their father.

    “We are suspecting that it is political because of his relationship with former Governor Sylva. Maybe some persons kidnapped him to get at Sylva. We know our dad is not a politician and he has been ill for some time.

    “He has been in the house and he hardly goes out, even to the church. But he is very close to Sylva. Any time he (Sylva) comes to the village, his first port of call is my father’s place,” he said.

    Fabo said the silence of the kidnappers had increased grief in the family, adding that his step mother was the worst hit.

    He said she had been in shock since the incident occurred, adding that her condition had created fears in the family.

    “We are down and my step mum is the worst hit. She is shocked. She is depressed. She doesn’t know what to do. She has not uttered a word since then. We are even afraid. Everybody is downcast. There is nothing we can do because the old man is the pillar of the family,” Fabo added.

    He said their father was hypertensive and was on drugs before the incident happened.

    “They didn’t allow him to go with his drugs and his mobile phone.

    “We appeal to them to release him unconditionally so that he can reunite with his family.”

    On how their father was kidnapped, Fabo said: “They pushed and slapped the old man. They also tore his clothes before taking him away.”

  • Anxiety over fate of Boko Haram ‘butcher’

    Anxiety over fate of Boko Haram ‘butcher’

    Whereabouts of key suspect unknown

    Military source: we don’t have him

    There was anxiety yesterday over the whereabouts of the suspected Boko Haram “chief butcher” Mohammed Zakari in police custody.

    The suspect was arrested on July 15 after a counter-insurgency operation in Balmo forest in Bauchi State, which was rated as the major armoury of the sect.

    The suspect had been undergoing interrogation in a police facility.

    A source claimed that the suspect was in Bauchi; another said he had been transferred to a secret location in Jos.

    It was gathered that the tension over the  suspect’s whereabouts was heightened by the fact that he had not been grilled by the military and other security agencies.

    A top security source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, confirmed that there was disquiet over the fate of the suspect because the police did not state the extent of their investigation into his activities.

    “No one can also explain who is keeping the suspect in the last two weeks. There are different claims on whether he is in Bauchi, Jos or Abuja,” the source said, adding: “It could also not be confirmed whether he is still alive or dead during encounters. The situation is creating fears in the states under emergency rule.

    “Those from these states have been raising concerns on Zakari’s actual status.”

    It was also learnt that there were issues about the lack of coordination between the police and  the military and security agencies.

    A military source, who spoke last night, said: “Well, the police arrested the suspect they should be in the best position to account for his whereabouts.

    “So far, we have not been involved in the quizzing of the suspect.”

    Attempts to get official confirmation from the police last night did not yield results.

    A text message to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba, was not replied as at 8pm.

  • Anxiety over second Niger Bridge

    Anxiety over second Niger Bridge

    There is anxiety in the Southeast over the Second Niger Bridge – less than two months after President Goodluck Jonathan laid its foundation.

    Minister of the Environment Mrs Laurentia Mallam said work had stopped on the project because the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not conducted before the ground breaking. This sparked the suspicion that the project may be abandoned.

    The Ndigbo United Assembly (NUA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Southeast zone at the weekend warned against any “foul play” on the project.

    But the preferred bidders for the project – Julius Berger Nigeria – and the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority (NSIA) denied that work had been stalled.

    Addrerssing reporters after its emergency meeting, the National President of NUA, Sir Peter Okala, said the construction of the bridge remained a bond between Jonathan and the Southeast.

    He called on the ministries of Works and Environment to put their houses in order for uninterrupted construction of the bridge, adding that anything short of that would be unacceptable to Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.

    He said: “NUA had to convoke this emergency meeting after reading on the pages of newspapers that the Federal Government has stopped work on the construction of the Second Niger Bridge because of the failure of the Federal Government to comply with the requirements of the EIA law before embarking on the project.

    ‘’Ndigbo is taking a stand that the both ministries should go home and do everything within their reach to settle the problem, get the EIA law in place and make sure we don’t hear this type of discouraging comments from the Federal Government again because the construction of the bridge is a great bond between Ndigbo and President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and we wouldn’t want the Federal Government through agents or whosoever to push Ndigbo to the wall.”

    Okechukwu insisted that “now that the second Niger Bridge has been suspended, we call for international competitive bidding and due process to govern the award of the contract.”

    Okechukwu maintained that sooner or later, Ndigbo would discover to their dismay that voting further for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on sentiment and ancient stereo-types would lead us to nowhere.

    However, in a statement yesterday, the Managing Director, Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority, Uche Orji, and his counterpart in Julius Berger, Wolfgang Goetsch, said the reports suggesting that work on the bridge had been suspended due to non-compliance of environmental laws represent inaccurate and misconstrued information.

    “Contrary to recent reports, work on the Second River Niger Bridge Project continues to progress according to schedule, to ensure timely completion of the Bridge, which is set to be executed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model, “ the statement said, adding that the nominated EPC contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, had commenced full mobilisation to site and timely execution of all scheduled activities is anticipated.”

  • Budget: Anxiety as New PDP Senators, Reps meet

    Budget: Anxiety as New PDP Senators, Reps meet

    Ahead of tomorrow’s presentation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill by President Goodluck Jonathan, the New Peoples Democratic Party senators and members of the House of Representatives have scheduled a meeting to take a position.

    While the senators will meet on Monday, House members may hold theirs’ an hour before the President’s presentation on Tuesday.

    It was learnt that the New PDP members in the National Assembly are insisting on $79 benchmark.

    The Executive has proposed a benchmark of $74 per barrel in the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    But while the Senate jacked up the benchmark to $76.5 per barrel, the House of Representatives voted in favour of $79.

    Although the Senate and the House are expected to constitute a Joint Conference Committee to harmonise the differences on the benchmark, the Executive was, however, said to be uncomfortable with either $76.5 or $79 per barrel.

    The New PDP senators and members of the House have decided to pitch tent with the masses and the 36 states, which may be cash strapped if $74 benchmark was adopted, it was learnt’

    New PDP Senators and the House members were said to have been summoned to an emergency meeting today and tomorrow by 9am before the presentation of the 2014 budget by the President at 10am.

    A text message to the Representatives yesterday simply said: “New PDP members in the National Assembly will meet on Tuesday by 9am.”

    A key member of the group in the National Assembly said: “We want to meet and chart a position on the benchmark. You know, the next stage is a joint conference committee to harmonise the differences.

    “We do not agree with the proposal from the Executive, we are in favour of $79 benchmark. We decided to talk to weigh options in case the Senate is infiltrated to stick to $76.5 per barrel.

    “The fact is that the 36 states would not be able to survive if the benchmark remains at $74 per barrel.”

    Another member of the group’s caucus in the National Assembly said: “We have intelligence report that the Executive opted for $74 benchmark to reduce the funds available to the 36 states because of 2015 poll.

    “The strategy is that if states could barely survive, their governors won’t get money to spend in preparation for 2015.

    “And for governors, who are seeking a fresh mandate in 2014, they will be left with only recurrent expenditure, no money for capital projects to sell their candidature.

    “We are, however, looking beyond the permutations of the Presidency. 2015 election or not, Nigerians deserve quality service and sustainable infrastructure.

  • Anxiety over health of kidnapped Cross River deputy gov’s father

    Family members of Etubom Essien Cobham, father of the Cross River State deputy governor, Efiok Cobham, who was abducted on Friday morning by unknown gunmen, have expressed fears over his health.

    Etubom Cobham, who is in his 80s, it was gathered, had just returned from the hospital on Thursday as he has not been in the best health conditions recently.

    A family source said, “We are very concerned about his health as he just came back from the hospital the previous day before he was kidnapped. All the drugs that were given to him in the hospital are still here. I don’t know how he will be able to cope wherever they have taken him to without his medicine.

    At press time yesterday, his whereabouts are still unknown but according to the source, the kidnappers had gotten in touch with the family. It was learnt that they had demanded for ransom though the amount could not be ascertained.

    When the gunmen struck, it was initially believed that an unnamed uncle of the deputy governor was equally kidnapped. However, it was learnt yesterday that this was not true. The deputy governor’s father was the only one abducted.

  • Anxiety as court rules on Suntai’s suit tomorrow

    Tomorrow, the court will rule in a suit filed by Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai against the Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa and 15 other lawmakers for stopping him from resuming duty, after returning from a 10-month medical trip. Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO, who has been following the proceedings examines the issues involved.

    The High Court in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, has been a theatre of legal war between the counsels of Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and lawyers of the Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa and the State House of Assembly.

    Although, the legal battle is between Suntai and Tsokwa, logically, it is a war of attrition between Suntai and his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar who is accused of scheming to consolidate his hold on power. A win for the Speaker means Umar will continue to run the affairs of Taraba as acting governor. If the Speaker loses in court Umar will have to revert to the position of deputy governor, while Suntai would be affirmed to resume his duties as the governor.

    Besides the allegation that Umar bribed the state lawmakers to transmit power to him to continue to act, the deputy governor is reportedly financing the lawyers defending the Speaker and the Assembly in the suit Suntai filed against them.

    The legal tackle

    The case is before Justice Ali Ibrahim Andeyangtso, all motions, necessary affidavits and references have been filed.

    Hearing has taken place only twice, but it has been fascinating watching the legal luminaries -standing for their various clients, as they try to hit the right knobs through their presentations to outdo one another.

    In the originating summon: Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and the Speaker, Taraba State and 1OR (TRSJ/306m/2013), Suntai is praying the court to declare that the letter he transmitted to the House is “absolute, mandatory obeisant, immutable and cannot be debated or contradicted by any means whatsoever as the first and second defendants (Speaker and Assembly) lack any discretion in the circumstance and that upon transmission of the said letter, he has automatically assumed his powers and responsibilities as governor of Taraba State”.

    The second process: Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and the Speaker, Taraba State and 1OR (TRSJ/94/2013), the governor is seeking the order of perpetual injunction constraining the Speaker and the House from “debating, interfering with, doing anything in connection with or in relation to the letter transmitted by the plaintiff to the first defendant (Speaker), pursuant to Section 190(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”.

    In a nutshell, Counsel to the governor, Alex Izinyon, SAN, is only asking the court to interpret section 190(2), as it has to do with the said letter.

    Counsels to Speaker, Micah Musa Esq, Yusufu Akirikwen and others are arguing that the ‘facts’ submitted by Suntai are disputable facts. The Speaker’s counsels who have teamed up with Counsels to the second defendant (House of Assembly): Adebayo Oba Adelodun (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), and others have filed counter motions and affidavits, some of which include the allegation that the signature appended on the letter was forged by someone else, and that the plaintiff ought not to have filed the suit in an originating summon.

    The Constitution confers on a party a right to appeal where he is not satisfied with the decision of a lower court. In Suntai’s suit, the defendants are seeking referral when the case has not been tried by the lower court even as the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

    Justice Andeyangtso had told the applicant and the defendants that the ruling tomorrow would be on whether he would grant referral or not.

    In the last proceeding, counsels to the first and second defendants told the court to refer the matter to the appeal court “because of the novelty of the suit”.

    But Counsel to the governor, Alex Izinyon (SAN), was quick to argue that the substantive matter in his pleadings and two issues brought by the defendants have not been resolved, therefore, there was no need heading to the appeal court.

    “We can’t do things piecemeal; it has to be one way”, said Izinyon, who added that the defendants were dragging the proceedings unnecessarily “on a matter that is so simple and clear”.

    Izinyon said: “not every provision of the constitution that warrant referral for interpretation, otherwise the high court would end up doing nothing”.

    Again, Counsel to Assembly, Yusuf Ali, submitted that the issue brought by Izinyon is not as simple and clear as he thinks. “It has K-leg, and we are saying it is not possible for the judge to decide, because of the novelty of the case. The court should look at the facts, set of pleadings and circumstance.”

    Counsel to Speaker, Yusufu Akirikwen decried the multiplicity of affidavits. Seeking referral, he told the court: “we brought leave on the court to refer the substantive constitutional question of law, arising from the case, as formulated in their (plaintiff’s) submission, for interpretation by the court of appeal, in view of the novelty of the case”. Quoting from the constitution, Akirikwen said: “where any questions, as to the interpretation of questions on the originating summon -on the interpretation of the constitution arises, the court may and shall (if any of the parties request) refer the case to appeal. Because of the word ‘shall’, it is imperative and mandatory to refer the case to appeal court for interpretation”.

    Ali added: “the interpretation of section 190(2) has never attracted any judicial interpretation. It is in this regard that we bring this application to urge the judge to refer us to the court of appeal. The judge is at his discretion only if none of the parties apply for referral, but as long as we applied, it becomes mandatory in this circumstance for the court to grant the application”.

    But again, Counsel to the governor urged the court to dismiss the defendants’ application of referral as “grossly inadmissible”.

    Izinyon drew the attention of the court saying: “this honourable court is not a robot that can be manipulated mechanically or otherwise, but a court of law whose decision is based on facts and circumstances of the case before it. Therefore, I urge the court to look at the processes in the suit, to determine whether the application has merit at all.”

    He told the judge that the defendants shouldn’t put him in a condition of dilemma. He said: “the defendants raised the issue of forgery of signature of the plaintiff that they have seen the plaintiff (Suntai) and he is not fit to sign and author the letter transmitted to the House, are they medical examiners that can look at someone and say he is not fit to sign his signature? Their application (seeking referral) is premature and should die prematurely.”

    Just as expected

    The fact that Suntai’s suit is generating hot debate is not unexpected. The governor, who was injured when a plane he flew crashed near Yola, Adamawa State, on October 25, last year, returned to the state on Sunday, August 25. The following day, he transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly, informing lawmakers of his readiness to resume work.

    The letter sparked crisis when Speaker of the House, Haruna Tsokwa said Umar should remain the acting governor, until the House deliberates on the letter.

    Tsokwa, who said Suntai may not have authored the letter, said the ailing governor must appear on the floor of the House and speak to lawmakers, or some principal officers of the House must go and talk to him in the Government House.

    On Wednesday, August 28, Suntai dissolved the State Executive Council and appointed a new Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff. But 16 legislators signed to stop the governor, on health grounds. They said the governor was not yet fit to perform his constitutional duties and should return to the United States of America (US) to complete his rehabilitation.

    Tsokwa said when the House met with the governor on Tuesday, August 27 he spoke in a manner that brought “more doubt” to his authorship of the letter purportedly transmitted to the House.

    The 16 lawmakers said they acted on the provision of Section 190(2) of 1999 Constitution to transmit power to the deputy governor to act.

    The ruling tomorrow is important to the people of the state. Justice Andeyangtso is in the bosom of the law, and having listened to both counsels, is expected to administer justice as the law provides.

     

  • Anxiety as ocean surge threatens Imo communities

    •Flood victims face fresh hurdle

    Riverside communities in Imo State have raised alarm over threatening ocean surge that may submerge the communities if nothing urgent is done to avert the impending disaster.

    This has posed a fresh hurdle for the flood victims who are battling to pick up the ruins of their lives after losing everything to last year’s flood disaster.

    Some of the villages along the popular Oguta Lake in Oguta Council Area of the state are in imminent danger as the water is gradually but steadily overflowing the bank of the lake that was once a tourist attraction.

    It would be recalled that the entire riverside communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Council Areas were submerged by last year’s flood disaster, which washed away their homes and farmlands.

    The Nation’s findings revealed that the flood victims who had earlier returned to their dilapidated homes are currently faced with fresh challenges as the water level has risen to an alarming level and may flood the communities any moment.

    One of the victims, Nze Mathias Ahanna, who spoke with our reporter, lamented that, “we are yet to recover from last year’s disaster and it is obvious that we may suffer the same fate again this year. We don’t have any other place to go to but will continue to wait until something is done to assist us.”

    The father of eight, who lost his house and crops in last year’s disaster, decried what he called the government’s indifference to the plight of the victims during last year’s flood disaster.

    Also bemoaning the situation, Mrs. Carolina Azubuike, a widowed petty trader, disclosed that, “after we lost our means of livelihood, we were given paltry sum of money and now we are faced with another challenge. We are appealing to the government to come to our aid and maybe dredge the lake or construct embankment along the bank of the river to stop it from running over the communities.”

    Meanwhile, in an earlier interview, the Chairman of the State Flood Disaster Management Committee and former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Obi Njoku, disclosed that every kobo of the intervention fund was invested into the welfare of the flood victims and building a permanent camp to accommodate victims in future.

    He said that apart from the N67 million earlier disbursed to the affected communities, the state government is currently building farm settlements in the 16 communities at the cost of N25 million each.

     

  • Excitement, anxiety as Taraba awaits Suntai’s return

    Excitement, anxiety as Taraba awaits Suntai’s return

    Taraba State is on edge, following reports that Governor Dambaba Suntai will return on Sunday, after 10 months of absence. Correspondent Fanen Ihyongo captures the excitement and anxiety of the people.

    Taraba State Governor Dambaba Suntai is expected back on Sunday, after 10 months of absence. The ailing governor was hospitalised in Germany and the United States (US) hospitals, following the injuries he sustained in a helicopter crash last year. His doctors, according to sources, said he was now fit to resume work at the State House, Jalingo.

    Suntai was flown to Hannover, Germany, from where he was evacuated to the US on the advice of his Chief Physician, Prof. Zakari Yusuf Aliyu.

    The governor piloted the ill-fated Cessna 208 aircraft, which also had onboard his Aide-de- Camp (ADC), Iliya Dasat, the Chief Detail, Joel Danladi, and the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Tino Dangana. The security aides, who were treated in Germany, have since returned home.

    Suntai, who is said to be hale and hearty, is expected to depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home in New York, for home on Sunday. The acting governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, has been officially informed.

    During his long absence, there were moves to remove him, on claims that he was either incapacitated or dead. His associates say his return will disprove reportsthat his condition was sad.

    In Taraba, there is unease. Many people are anxious; some are confused. There is panic in the anti-Suntai camp. Suntai’s men ,who shifted loyalty to the acting governor are also panicky. While the governor’s family and political associates are happy, his antagonists are afraid.

    Some people actually jubilated when the accident occured on October 25, last year. To them, Suntai’s return is bad news. To those who wept, planned his return calls for celebration. In other words, it is defeat for his opponents, but triumph for his loyalists, supporters and well-wishers.

    Suntai’s deputy, Umar, who was sworn in on October 5, last year, succeeded Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, who was impeached . When he became the acting governor, he prayed for speedy recovery for his boss. He is however, surrounded by fanatical supporters, who wanted him to be sworn in as governor.

    Umar’s supporters mounted pressure on him to assert himself. A source said that the deputy governor always cautioned his supporters saying it was wrong to betray a benefactor.

    He also explained that through providence became he deputy governor and acting governor. Umar also said that, even as acting governor, he has been exercising the powers of the governor as prescribed by the Constitution.

    But, some party chieftains accuse him of pretending. The former Secretary to the Government (SSG), Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwah accused him of trying to manipulate the governor, without success.

    Njiwah was among nine members of the State Executive Council sacked by the acting governor for allegedly failing to account for the N400 million Federal Government’s intervention funds for victims of the flood disaster in the state last year. But he claimed that he was fired because he refused join those who said that Suntai was incapacitated. “I cannot betray my governor (Suntai)”, Njiwah said at a press conference.

    The sacked commissioners are Anthony Jellason (Agriculture), Rebo Usman (Water Resources and Rural Development), Yakubu Agbaizo (Education), Charity Green (Women Affairs) and Jonah Agyo (Works). The sacked Special Advisers are Joshua Augustine (Revenue Matters), Mannaseh Kaura (Border Development), Tonyonga Binga (Education) and Joseph Magaji Tahwa (Rural Development).

    Apart from Binga and Tahwa, other sacked officials were indicted by the House of Assembly, which adopted the report of its investigative committee on the utilisation of the flood funds.

    “They were fired for failing to account for the N400 million federal government intervention funds provided for victims of the flood disaster in Taraba state last year”, Umar said in a statement.Binga and Tahwa bitterly, but Umar said their services were no longer required.

    The Commissioner for Health, Prince Mustapha Hammangabdo, who was also indicted by the report, resigned few hours before the acting governor’s axe. Njiwah alleged that it was the acting governor who advised Hammangabdo to resign.

    The sack has been heating up Taraba.There have been protests and counter protests.

    Njiwah said the sacked officials only spent N300 million out of the N400 millions. He accused the acting governor of trying to feast on the remaining funds. But Umar said he acted in the interest of the state.“My boss (Suntai) would have done same”, he said.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fact-finding panel of the on Taraba which visited Suntai in New York, was impressed with what it saw. Senator Hope Uzodinma-led panel was set up by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The committee members told the party that the governor was still fit to rule.

    A lot of political changes have taken place in the last 10 months. The House of Assembly Speaker Istifanus Haruna Gbana, was impeached and replaced with Hon. Haruna Tsokwa. Gbana was removed along with Deputy Speaker Abel Peter Diah and the Majority Leader, Charles Maijankai.

    Umar, explained that the impeached House leaders were planning to remove him. Gbana and Diah denied the allegation.

    The political situation in Taraba changed when Gbana and Diah, who are strong allies of the ailing governor, were shove aside.

    The Gbana/Diah-led House impeached the former deputy governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Danladi, to pave the way for Umar. Danladi went to court to challenge the impeachment but he lost.

    Njiwah and his group have sued the government. The sacked officials were accused by the flood victims of feasting on the relief funds. Their cries prompted the House to investigate them.

    In their suit, the sacked officials are seeking a declaration that their sack is null and void, and an order setting aside the ad hoc committee’s report of the House.

    They also want the court to restrain the acting governor from appointing other public officers to replace them. They are also praying the court to issue an order compelling Umar to apologise to them “for defamatory and/or libelous publication”.

    The defendants include Speaker Haruna Tsokwa, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee that investigated the sacked officials, Tanko Adamu Maikarfi, and other members of the committee-Edward Baraya, Yahaya Abdulrahman, Ibrahim Adamu Imam and Yohana Iratsi Adaki.

    They alleged that the House denied them fair hearing. They also want the court to determine whether or not the failure of the ad hoc committee to invite them to respond to the allegations levelled against them did not breach their fundamental rights to fair hearing, as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution.

    But Speaker Tsokwa has stood his ground, saying that the sack officials were given enough time to defend themselves.

    Umar appointed Mr. Garvey Yawe, the former Chief of Staff, as SSG. The acting governor also appointed Ahmed Yusuf, an engineer, as the Chief of Staff. Yusuf had been an opposition leader in the state for many years. He was urged to defect to PDP by Suntai in May last year. The governor later appointed him as the Chairman, Board of Taraba Investment and Properties Limited.

    Umar however, has not replaced other sacked officials, apparently to dispel the claims by Suntai’s loyalists that he is “over ambitious” and that he was subverting his boss.

    The acting governor has directed other commissioners to oversee the affected ministries.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Iliya Wanapia, is supervising the Ministry of Works. Information Commissioner Emmanuel Bello oversees the Ministry of Agriculture. Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation Isa Musa is supervising the Ministry of Education. The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, G. T. Kataps, is in charge of the Health Ministry. Environment Commissioner Danfulani Kwetaka is in charge of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Commissioner for Social Welfare,Youth and Sports Abdulhadi Haruna Lau is supervising the Ministry of Water Resources.

    Majority of the commissioners are pro-Suntai; they were appointed by him. This makes Umar to believe that they do not want him to be sworn in as substantive governor. “But being pro-Suntai does not mean being anti-Umar”, one of the commissioners said.

    “Ours is loyalty to the state government. Whoever is in the saddle has to be supported. We hear a lot of stories, such as; the acting governor is reshuffling the cabinet tomorrow, next week and so on. We don’t actually understand him”, he added.

    The Muslim elite from the Northern geo-political zone had wanted Umar to take over, so that he could run as the governorship candidate in 2015. Their belief is that, if the acting governor contests as an incumbent, he can muzzle the ruling party to give him the ticket, so that he can become the first Muslim governor, since Taraba State was created on August 27, 1991.

    As Suntai returns, he is likely to relinquish power to the Southern Zone. Although Taraba does not practice power shift, the governor had promised the zone that he would handover to one of the indigenes of the area.

    But there are still ‘doubting Thomases’, who think that Suntai will not come back. They ask: Is Suntai is returning, or an impostor? Will he be physically and mentally strong to carry on as governor?

    The pro-Umar group is angry with the acting governor for not being “decisive”. They allege that Umar is playing along with Suntai’s loyalists to shield the governor.

    Suntai will return to meet a divided state and party. His stickers are on his supporters vehicles. But Umar’s supporters also carry the acting governor’s sticker.

    Umar has allegedly opened a campaign office, where his supporters meet to plot Suntai’s fall. The office, claimed to be a PDP Youth Vanguard Secretariat, is located a few metres from the party’s office, at No 29, Barde Way, beside the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), in Jalingo.

    Suntai’s loyalists, including the PDP chairman, Mr. Victor Bala, have frowned at the move. Bala’s fate as chairman is hanging in the balance. Some stakeholders are plotting his removal.

    There has been a lull in party activities. Suntai’s absence and politics of succession have polarised the party. The camps work at cross purpose. Will the governor’s return re-unite the divided fold or deepen the crisis? Time will tell.

  • Rivers crisis: Anxiety over House Leader’s health

    Rivers crisis: Anxiety over House Leader’s health

    RIVERS State Assembly Leader Chidi Lloyds is going blind, his colleagues have said.

    Lloyd, a lawyer, who represents Emohua Constituency, has been moved from the Police Officers’ Mess, Old Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt, where he was detained on Friday, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). He is not allowed to receive visitors and has got no medical help, his colleagues claimed.

    Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt on behalf of the 27 lawmakers loyal to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Leyii Kwanee, said Lloyd’s health was deteriorating. He needs medical attention.

    Kwanee, a lawyer, who represents Khana Constituency 2 and also the Chairman, Parliamentary Exchange and Mentorship Programme of the Pan African Parliament, revealed that the Speaker, Otelemaba Dan Amachree, was away in Namibia for the conference of Commonwealth Parliamentarians.

    The 27 lawmakers said: “We need to ensure that democracy is respected in Rivers State. Hon. Chidi Lloyd reported himself to the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday. He was flown into Port Harcourt on Friday. We thought he would be charged to court that day.

    “As I speak with you now, he is being held up at the State CID by the same police authorities under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.

    “Hon. Chidi Lloyd was blindfolded, tortured and teargas was sprayed all over him. We have been refused access to him. We have just been informed that Hon. Chidi Lloyd is going blind, occasioned by the teargas that was sprayed all over him, particularly in his eyes. Medical help has also been refused him.

    “Today (yesterday), the 27 pro-Amaechi lawmakers have met in all the churches. We have been praying, seeking God’s intervention. We all know that Nigerians are prayerful people. We are also not losing sight of the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to a lot of conventions and treaties bordering on human rights.

    “We are assembling a team of lawyers, who will look at the possibility of putting together all the human rights abuses that have been inflicted on Hon. Chidi Lloyd, the leader of the 7th Assembly, with a view that if justice cannot be got on the shores of Nigeria, human rights transcend borders.

    “We may seek justice to ensure that Hon. Chidi Lloyd’s rights are protected and his cause is also ventilated, probably in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), if it comes to that. The Speaker will also draw the attention of the Commonwealth to the ugly development.”

    The pro-Amaechi lawmakers also lauded Senators for concurring with the members of the House of Representatives in taking over the Rivers Assembly, which they described as a welcome development and in the best interest of Nigerians.

    They described the commissioner of police as a “major” problem in the deepening political crisis, insisting that the decision of the National Assembly to advise that he be redeployed should be heeded.

    The 27 lawmakers noted that with a “neutral” police commissioner, they would be able to sit. To them, the reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), headed by Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson, will not serve the interest of Rivers State.

    Earlier, in a statement issued yesterday, 25 of the 27 lawmakers said Mbu should be held responsible, should anything happen to Lloyd.

    The pro-Amaechi lawmakers also said: “The Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly, Hon. (Barr.) Chidi Lloyd had earlier in the week reported to the Force Headquarters, Abuja and had what the Force Headquarters described as ‘meaningful interactions’ for four days.

    “Since his arrival in Port Harcourt, the Rivers Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has assaulted and tortured him (Lloyd) like a criminal. They have been moving him from one station to another since he reported to CP Mbu’s office on arrival from Abuja.

    “As his lawyer, Bello Olisa Nwofor, stated: ‘the continued blindfolding and detention of Hon. Chidi Lloyd by the police is emphatically dangerous to his health and life.’

    “We have also heard from the lawyer who accompanied Lloyd from Force Headquarters to Port Harcourt, Barr. Emenike Ebete, that over 500 riot policemen escorted Chidi Lloyd from the airport to CP’s office and transported in a ‘Black Maria’ as authorities would move criminals.

    “As a House, we are indeed saddened to note that the Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly was blindfolded, tear-gassed and handcuffed. As victims of this scripted and staged crisis from Abuja, with a junior minister playing a major role and the police commissioner, Rivers State, as key actor, our worry:

    “• Is Mbu aware of Chidi Lloyd’s medical history? This calculated poisoning of Chidi Lloyd reminds us of the assumed circumstances leading to the death of our one-time Senate President Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.

    “•Why the blindfold? He is only alleged to have committed an offence. He is not a terrorist nor an armed robber; neither is he a kidnapper. He is a representative of Emohua Constituency of Ikwerre ethnic nationality at the Rivers State House of Assembly and a legal practitioner, who will stand for truth and justice, even when the truth is too much for those bent on destroying our hard-earned democracy, with unnecessary impunity.

    “•Why the handcuffs, when he submitted himself to the police?”

    The pro-Amaechi lawmakers also stated that they were “genuinely” anxious over the life of Lloyd, whose whereabouts they claimed remained unknown.

    The lawmakers who signed the statement are: Golden Ngozi Chioma, Innocent Barikor, Josiah John Olu, Ibiso Nwuche, Belema Okpokiri, Legbosi Nwidadah, Andrew Anderson Miller, Augustine Ngo, Ben Horsfall, Okechukwu Nwaogu, Victor Amadi, Azubike Chikere Wanjoku and Victoria Nyeche.

    Others were Benibo Anabraba, Irene Inimgba, Felicia Barizasi-Tane, Aye Atamah Pepple, Onari Brown, Gift Wokocha, Ewor Nname Robinson, Lucky Odili, Chigbo Eligwe, Leyii Kwanee, Ikwunyi Igbani, Tonye Harry and Otelemaba Amachree.

    Mbu, however, insisted that he remained a professional police officer, not taking sides and not a politician, as alleged in some quarters.

  • Anxiety over Tukur, others

    Anxiety over Tukur, others

    The crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new dimension.

    A panel headed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim has advised National Chairman Bamanga Tukur and the other National Working Committee (NWC) members to resign, it was learnt last night.

    The 13 NWC members are expected to face a fresh election at a National Convention— in line with the verdict of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Thursday’s National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP may ratify the recommendation.

    As a prelude to the NEC meeting, the PDP Governors Forum will today meet with the NWC on the exit plan.

    The crisis-ridden NWC came into being on March 25, last year.

    The fighting within the NWC led to the sack of the National Secretary of the party, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.

    Other members of the NWC on their way out are a former Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Kema Chikwe (National Woman Leader); the National Youth Leader, Garba Chizea; the National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; the National Treasurer, Bala Kao’je; Umar Ibrahim (deputy national auditor); his deputy Okechukwu Nnadozie and Dennis Arokpe (Deputy National Youth Leader).

    There are also Abubakar Mustapha (National Organising Secretary); and Sam Jaja (Deputy National Chairman); and Chief Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary) and his deputy Binta Goje, Deputy National Woman Leader, Hannatu Ulam, Deputy National Treasurer Claudus Inengas, and Deputy National Youth Leader, Dennis Alonge Niyi,

    According to sources, the Anyim Committee confirmed INEC’s position that “the process, which produced 12 of the 16-member exco, was in violation of paragraph 6.5 (1) of the guidelines for the conduct of the 2012 congresses and national convention and, therefore, unacceptable.”

    According to INEC, the “rule says nobody should emerge unopposed”.

    INEC had, on April 8, 2013, nullified the election of 12 of the 16 NWC members.

    The lucky four, whose election followed due process, are Tukur; Oyinlola; Mustapha and the Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani.

    Anyim Committee reportedly observed that if the NWC was not dissolved, any primaries conducted by it for the 2015 poll could be nullified by a court.

    It was learnt that PDP Governors had earlier recommended a mini-National Convention to correct the errors in 2012 convention but Tukur and his team offered to stay on.