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Tag: deputy

  • Ex-Edo deputy governor urges Jonathan on Boko Haram

    Ex-Edo deputy governor urges Jonathan on Boko Haram

    Former Edo State Deputy Governor Rev. Peter Obadan has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to change his tactics in fighting Boko Haram.

    He spoke to reporters yesterday in Benin.

    Obadan said a greater percentage of the fund used to prosecute the fight against Boko Haram should be given to the governors in the Northeast.

    He said this became necessary because the governors, who were familiar with their terrain, knew how to use the money to end killings.

    Obadan said: “Many people have died and the terrorists have not given up. What worries me is the billions of naira said to have been spent, which is not accountable.

    “If the North’s governors were given the money, would they not have stopped terrorism?

    “The question I ask myself is, the demands of the terrorists, are they more than the billions of naira? If the money is truly spent, we will enjoy peace.

    “My take is that if the governors are given the money, they will stop terrorism. A stitch in time saves nine.”

    The ex-governor enjoined the President to take security reports on the Northeast states seriously.

    He said relying on reports from the security agencies, especially the Department of State Service (DSS), instead of those of politicians, would end insurgency.

  • Efforts to save Enugu deputy governor fail

    Efforts to save Enugu deputy governor fail

    Efforts to save embattled Enugu state Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi from impeachment hit the rocks at the weekend. The state PDP caucus failed to get him a soft landing.

    The caucus which met on Saturday at the Governor’s Lodge reportedly advised the embattled Onyebuchi to resign or await the House of the Assembly is action after its investigations.

    The House in the penultimate week, moved a motion for the deputy governor to be served with an impeachment notice. He was accused of gross misconduct.

    The members of the PDP caucus were bitter that Onyebuchi allowed his relationship with the governor to degenerate to the level that the House had to intervene.

    A source at the meeting said prominent members of the caucus, particularly Senator Ken Nnamani, Amb. Fidel Ayogu and Mr. Dubem Onyia, were not happy after listening to Governor Sullivan Chime narrate his experience with his deputy in the last seven years.

    Senator Nnamani told the caucus members that the deputy governor ran to him to Abuja where he told him to return home to resign or wait for the House to complete its investigation the source said.

    Onyia and Ayogu also were said to have took the line of Nnanami for the deputy governor to bow out since Chime told the caucus meeting that he was not prepared to work with Onyebuchi for any day longer.

    However, the source said Senator Gil Nnaji and Peace Nnaji representing Nkanu East and West in the House of Representatives, pleaded with Chime to pardon his deputy.

    The source said Senator Nnaji praised Chime for the good work he was doing in the state and urged him to give his deputy a second chance.

    But Chime was said to have told Senator Nnaji that his plea was belated since his deputy came to him in Abuja and he did not deem it fit to call him until he was invited to the caucus meeting.

    The source said majority of the caucus members were of the opinion that it would be futile to try to save the deputy governor since his boss said he could no longer work with him.

    Besides the source said the caucus said asking the House to jettison the impeachment process would amount to “ridiculing democratic practice in the state”.

    Chime was also said to have insisted at the meeting that members of the National Assembly from the state who had served for  two or more terms should return home to serve in other capacities.

    The majority of the caucus members who were not in the National Assembly had asked the members of the National Assembly who were all at the meeting except Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, to speak their mind but none opposed the governor.

    The caucus advised the lawmakers to abide by the gentleman agreement reached in 2011 and consider running for other positions other than the ones they have occupied for more than two terms.

    The House of Assembly had last Thursday advised its clerk to paste the impeachment notice on the known addresses of the deputy governor since he could not be physically served and it adjourned till Thursday.

  • Anxiety as Adamawa House meets on Nyako’s, deputy’s fate

    Anxiety as Adamawa House meets on Nyako’s, deputy’s fate

    Adamawa State lawmakers are meeting today to consider the report of the seven-man Investigative Panel which investigated allegations of misconduct against Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari.

    There is anxiety in the state, following the speculation that the Assembly might impeach Nyako and Ngilari, who never appeared before the panel.

    It was learnt that some lawmakers in Abuja might be flown to Yola in a chartered jet for today’s sitting.

    Members of the Assembly have been directed to report for a session to consider the panel’s report.

    Members of the panel, led by Buba Kaigama (Mubi Northern Zone), are: Laraba Hassan (Michika Northern Zone), Njidda Kito (Song Central Zone), Joshua Abu (Hong Central Zone), Binanu Esthon (Guyuk Southern Zone), Sa’ad Lawan (Mayo-Belwa Southern Zone) and Esthon Gapsiso (Genye Southern Zone).

    A source said: “The Assembly will meet on Monday to receive the report of the Kaigama Panel and decide whether or not to impeach the governor and his deputy in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “Barring last-minute horse-trading, the Assembly may impeach the two leaders after getting the report.

    “The only challenge facing the state is that it does not have an acting Chief Judge who can swear in the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Umaru Fintiri.

    “But the most senior judge or the president of the Customary Court of Appeal or the Grand Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal may be asked to inaugurate the acting governor.”

    Another source spoke of how all the lawmakers were being recalled. “Those behind the impeachment are so desperate to hire a chartered jet to convey some of the Assembly members from Abuja to Yola,” he said.

    The provision for the removal of a governor and his deputy is contained in Section 188 (1-11) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The section says: “A motion of the House of Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed unless it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly.

    “Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the State shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, investigate the allegation as provided in this section.

    “The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person or be represented before the panel by legal practitioner of his own choice.

    “A panel appointed under this section shall (a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly; and (b) within three months of its appointment, reports its findings to the House of Assembly.

    “Where the panel reports to the House of Assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter.

    “Where the report of the panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within 14 days of the receipt of the report, the House of Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of the House of Assembly supported by not less, than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.

    “No proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.

    “In this section, ‘gross misconduct’ means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion in the House of Assembly to gross misconduct.”

  • Impeachment plot: Nyako, deputy shun panel’s summons

    Impeachment plot: Nyako, deputy shun panel’s summons

    Governor Murtala  Nyako and his deputy,Mr.Bala Ngilari, were conspicuously  absent yesterday     as the 7-man  panel constituted by the former Ag. Chief Judge Adamawa State ,Justice Ambrose Mammdi  to probe  the duo, commenced sitting in Yola .

    They were also not represented by any counsel.

    Chairman of the panel, Alhaji Buba Kaigama, apologized  for the delay in the commencement of  public sitting coming   one week after it was constituted without a proper inauguration.

    He said the committee faced  several problems which have since been addressed.

    Kaigama pledged to be fair to all parties  involved in the assignment before his committee.

    The deputy speaker  of the State House of Assembly,Mr. Kwamoti Laori was in attendance.

    Counsel to the House,which is the complainant  in the matter,Mr. Duro Ajeleye (SAN) and Mr. Leonard Zidon, led the only witness for  the Assembly, Mr. Therman Wafarninyi,  Chairman of the House  Committee on Public Accounts.

    He said the panel should determine whether  Nyako and Ngilari  violated the constitution  or not and make the appropriate recommendation.

    The counsel to the Assembly  tendered 22  exhibits against Nyako and  six  against  Ngilari.

    The panel adjourned to today to enable the Governor and his Deputy or their representatives to appear before it.

    The Christian Community in Adamawa State  sued for peace between the warring factions  and asked them to allow peace reign

    In a statement in Yola, the Chairman, Council of Pastors in  Adamawa State, Dr. Victor Ordinan, said the impeachment process was uncalled for  at this point in time.

    Ordinan said:“As a people we must unite so that together we can avert the severe consequences of impeaching the number one and two citizens of our state at the same time. Because we know the consequences and cannot sit back to watch them befall us.”

    However,  Elders and Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in the state  threatened to sanction any legislator that backs out of the  impeachment process.

    Spokesman  for  the group ,Dr. Umar Ardo told reporters yesterday in Yola said that the impeachment move was a PDP affair and therefore any lawmaker who went against  the decision of the party on the matter would be sanctioned.

    Asked about the reconciliatory move between the lawmakers and governor Nyako, Dr Ardo said  any action taken by the legislators is inferior to the party’s.

    He said the PDP was not even aware of any such peace parley.

    Spokesman for the State  Government Mr.P.P. Elisha said that the legitimacy of the seven man panel constituted by the acting chief judge of the state remains questionable.

    Elisha said that Governor Nyako being  a custodian of  the  Constitution will not submit himself to an  illegal  body

    On  threat  by the PDP   to sanction any of the lawmakers that may back out of the impeachment process , Elisha said it was a confirmation that the impeachment  saga was  politically motivated .

    He said  PDP was  desperate to take over power at  all cost.

     

  • Adamawa CJ constitutes panel to investigate Nyako, deputy

    Adamawa CJ constitutes panel to investigate Nyako, deputy

    The Acting Chief Judge of Adamawa State, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, yesterday named  a seven-member  panel   to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled at  Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, by the State House of Assembly.

    At the head of the panel is Mr.Buba Kaigama.

    The committee members are: Laraba Hassan, Njidda Kito, Joshua Abu, Binanu Esthon, Sa’ad Lawan, and Esthon Gapsiso.

    The panel will be  inaugurated at a later date, the Chief Registrar of the Court, Abubakar Bayola,said in Yola.

    He said “The Hon. Acting Chief Judge Hon. Justice Ambrose D. Mammadi   by the powers vested in him under Section 185(5) of the 1999 constitution as (amended) has approved the appointment of seven (7) Man Panel to investigate allegations of Gross Misconduct of the Executive Governor of Adamawa State Admiral Murtala Nyako and the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State Mr. Bala Ngilari,” the registrar said.

    Allegations against Nyao and Ngilari include  corruption and mismanagement of state funds. The anti-graft agency, EFCC, has frozen the state’s accounts over corruption allegations.

  • Reps reject easy impeachment process for erring corrupt President, deputy

    Reps reject easy impeachment process for erring corrupt President, deputy

    Members of the House of Representatives yesterday could not make the constitutionally required two-thirds votes needed to simplify the processes for the impeachment of an erring President or Vice President.

    There was also drama during the voting at the Committee of Whole as the Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila accused the Majority Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola of cheating during the Constitution amendment voting.

    Over 50 members of the House could not be accounted for yesterday as the voting took place, despite the long notice from the leadership.

    Speaker Aminu Tambuwal gave no reason for their absence.

    But 13 clauses were considered and 12 passed.

    During the voting, the “Bill for the Alteration of Section 143 of the Constitution to remove ambiguities in the process of impeachment and removal of a President and Vice-President from Office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment and removal of the holder of the offices,” had 172 votes for, 122 against and three abstentions; hence, it came short of the mandatory two-thirds majority stipulated in the Constitution for an amendment.

    The House, however, passed the clause “seeking alteration of Section 67 of the Constitution to secure compulsory attendance of the President to deliver a State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly,” with 293 for and seven against.

    The alteration of Section 4 of the Constitution “to provide immunity for members of the legislature for words spoken or written at the plenary or at committee proceedings, to guarantee freedom of speech and debate and proceedings in legislative houses are not impeached or questioned in any court or place outside of Parliament” was passed with 301 votes for.

    Security agencies were put on first line charge with the bill of “Alteration of Section 81(3) of the Constitution to include the National Security Agencies and the Nigerian Police in the first line charge of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, passing with 282 votes in its favour and 16 against.

    Under the same section, members voted 296 in favour, five against and one abstention, to put the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation on first line charge in the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

    The House passed with 299 votes for and one against the amendment of Section 89(1)(e), which states: “The National Assembly may by law further prescribe civil and/or criminal sanctions for any failure, refusal or neglect to obey the summons issued by a legislative House or Committee thereof.”

    The “Alteration of Section 89 to include directly in the Constitution the Sergeant-at-Arms of a Legislative House among persons to execute a warrant issued by a Legislative House or Committee thereof” was passed with 297 votes.

    The Amendment Bill for the alteration of Section 285 of the Constitution, which states: “An election tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition,” sailed through with 250 votes for, 10 against and seven abstentions.

    With 300 votes for and two against, life insurance cover for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members was approved and passed as “Amendment of the National Youth Service Corps Act, Cap. N84 LFN, 2004 to make it mandatory for the Service Corps to provide life insurance policy for Corp Members”.

    Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha explained that the piece of legislation became a Constitution amendment matter because of the provisions of Section 315(8) of the Constitution, which entrenched the NYSC Act as part of the Constitution.

    Other aspects include: the Amendment of Sections 68(i)(e) and 109(i)(e) of the Constitution, which was proposed to allow lawmakers belong to parliamentary or similar bodies without losing their seats.

    Drama, however, started when Gbajabiamila, under a Point of Order, accused Akande-Adeola of voting by proxy for Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha.

    “Mr. Speaker, please, I will like to ask a question. Is it in our House rules that a member can vote on behalf of another member? This is because I can see Hon. Mulikat voting for the Deputy Speaker.”

    This caused a loud uproar on the floor, as people stared in her direction in disbelief.

    “Noted: I’ll keep an eye on her,” the Speaker said.

    But Akande-Adeola stood up and addressed the Speaker.

    She said: “Mr. Speaker, I thought the Minority Leader was only after my seat, but you can see now that he’s all over me.”

    The incident was regarded by many as a joke until a statement by Gbajabiamila’s Personal Research Assistant, Olanrewaju Smart, on the matter.

    Smart insisted that Gbajabiamila was not joking and that Akande-Adeola voted by proxy.

    The statement reads: “The point raised by Hon. Gbajabiamila on the floor of the House during the e-voting on constitutional amendment, stating that Hon. Akande-Adeola was voting by proxy for Ihedioha is a statement of fact.”

    Ihedioha said the successful voting on outstanding bills on the constitutional review was a triumph for democracy and a demonstration of the House’s resolve to always put national interest above all other considerations.

  • Ekiti deputy governor condoles with Fashola

    Ekiti deputy governor condoles with Fashola

    Ekiti State Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu has commiserated with Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola on the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

    During her visit to the governor at the Lagos State Government House in Marina, Lagos Island, at the weekend, Prof. Adelabu described the deceased as a legend, whose death should be celebrated, rather than mourned.

    She said he lived a fulfilled life and left indelible imprints in the society.

    Prof. Adelabu hailed Fashola for making Lagos a model state and urged him to keep up the tempo.

    She said: “Pa Fashola lived a fulfilled life and immortalised himself, not only by giving birth to, but by donating Governor Fashola, who is one of the best governors in the country, to sustain his legacies.”

    Prof. Adelabu, who noted that her principal, Governor Kayode Fayemi, had earlier visited Fashola, said her visit was to further demonstrate the love of Ekiti people for Fashola.

    She prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Fashola thanked Prof. Adelabu and Ekiti people for sharing his grief.

    He said although his father lived a fulfilled life, the family misses him and his memories would linger for life.

    Fashola lauded the cordial relationship between Lagos and Ekiti states.

     

     

     

  • Mimiko: no plan to impeach my deputy

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday debunked a report that there were plans to impeach his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, for alleged ineffectiveness.

    Speaking with reporters in his office in Akure, the state capital, Mimiko urged the public to disregard the story.

    He denied directing the House of Assembly to begin the impeachment process, adding that there was no plan to replace his deputy.

    According to a report published by some national newspapers (not The Nation), the Assembly has set a machinery in motion to impeach Olanusi for alleged non-performance owing to his ill health.

    The report said the governor was concerned about his deputy’s health and had told Olanusi to produce the person that would replace him.

    The Septuagenarian was said to have nominated his son, a development the governor was allegedly opposed to.

    Mimiko, who just arrived from Abuja, said: “I have been receiving messages, calls and heard the report on BBC Hausa Radio Station that we are planning to replace the deputy governor. There is no such plan.

    “Nobody is planning to impeach my deputy. He is part of this administration and is very active. He still has a lot to offer the present administration and the people. I urge the public to disregard the report.”

    Olanusi, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman, has been Mimiko’s deputy since the administration began its first term on February 24, 2009.

     

     

  • New deputy rectors

    DR. Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan and Mr Biaminu Oshe Saliu have been appointed deputy rectors. While Dr Kuburat Olaosebikan is in charge of Administration, Mr Saliu will manage Academic Matters.

    Their appointment followed the approval by the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, on the recommendation of the Expanded Management Committee of the Polytechnic.

    The new deputies will replace Pastor John Ayeni and Mr. Eghe Igbinehi whose second terms in office have expired.

    Prior to her appointment, Dr Olaosebikan was the Dean, Centre for Continuing Education (CCE). Olaosebikan, who was born in June 1959, is an alumni of the University of Ibadan where she studied English.

    Mr Saliu was born in July 1952. He had his first degree in Mathematics from the Ahmadu Bello University in 1979.

    He had his Masters in Mathematics in 1983 at the University of Ilorin.

     

  • Ikuru, a deputy indeed

    His Excellency, Engineer Tele Ikuru is the deputy governor of Rivers State. He deputises embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi who is currently battling for his political life following a face-off with President Goodluck Jonathan.

    While Amaechi has been suspended by the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a very controversial manner, Ikuru is being wooed by Amaechi’s opponents to dump the governor’s camp and support an alleged impeachment plot that will see him (Ikuru) become governor instead.

    Ikuru, who is not a stranger to intra-party squabbles, was the deputy governor to ex-Governor Celestine Omehia in 2007 before the election was nullified by the court.

    Ikuru survived the crisis and paired up with Amaechi in 2011 for a fresh mandate.

    He is being asked to return to his pre-2007 political camp “to deal with” his boss. Ikuru has, however, decided to stand by his boss. He has refused to make any commitment to the anti-Amaechi forces.

    For his decision to stand by his boss at a time like this, many observers of the politics of the oil-rich state are hailing the Engineer-turned politician as a deputy indeed.