The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Intrigues

  • Enugu impeachment: The roots, the intrigues and the power game

    Enugu impeachment: The roots, the intrigues and the power game

    The impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi, has recorded a lot of twists and intrigues. But as it enters its final stages, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, dug into the genesis of the crisis, and reports that it is rooted in the power game ahead 2015

    As Enugu State House of Assembly this week rounds up the impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi, there are indications that the outcome may untie the web-like political texture of the South-East state ahead 2015 general elections.

    Varying interpretations to the forces that led to the political crisis have already been offered. But our investigation confirmed that all the interpretations point to different political interests, a fact that suggests that the post impeachment realities of Enugu State may not only define the existing political interests of the top players but also expose where each of them stands.

    Until now, some major political stakeholders in the state have carefully hidden their interests, their loyalties and where they stand, but it seems the wind of impeachment will finally blow open some carefully hidden political secrets and expose who is where in the intricate game for 2015 elections.

    For now, as has been the case since last year when the face- off at the Government House began, the Enugu State politics has remained largely anchored on a delicate blame game.

    So, notwistanding the fact that the House of Assembly made its position and reasons for the impeachment proceedings very clear, there still exist different accounts of what led to the action.

    While the deputy governor is accusing his boss, Governor Sullivan Chime, of being behind his predicament because he wants to create political opportunity for his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, officials of the state government and other insiders to PDP leadership in the state, who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity, said it was members of the House of Assembly that noted the gross impeachable offenses committed by Onyebuchi and decided to do their constitutional duties in order to save the state and the inherent threats to democracy. They said Onyebuchi has since ceased to respect, obey or take instructions from the governor, a development that, according to them, has hampered governance in the state.

    For example, a source in Enugu, a civil servant, explaining the genesis of the crisis, has this to say: “The principal impeachable offense against the deputy governor, that of deliberate disobedience to the governor, is neither false no a secret here. It has been there for long. As you must have read in the papers, it led to serious embarrassment of the state during the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to flag-off the construction of the Second Niger Bridge in Anambra State and during a recent meeting of South-East Governors Forum in Enugu. These are just the few instances that finally brought out this obvious case of deliberate insubordination to the public sphere. The instances have been much but the governor had chosen to manage the situation. In most cases, when the governor directs the deputy to represent him in some critical occasions, the later will claim to be indisposed or sick even when everybody knows that he would attend more strenuous personal assignments at the same specified time. I think both the House of Assembly and the people of Enugu State saw it clearly that these two political leaders, who have been political allies since the days of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, can no longer work together, hence the impeachment proceeding.”

    Another source, a top PDP chieftain in Enugu, who refused to be named in order not to be seen as taking sides, said the matter has to do with the 2015 politics and the control of the state power. “It seems the deputy governor is caught in a fierce political battle between Governor Chime and Senator Ike Ekweremadu for the control of power in Enugu State from 2015. It may not be false that Onyebuchi associates greatly with Ekweremadu and the former governor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, but whether he deliberately disobeys the governor on account of his relationship with these powerful political personalities is what I can neither ascertain now nor realistically comment upon, but I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that for Chime and Onyekwere, things have really fallen apart and we in the party know that it may no longer be in the interest of the party and the state to insist they must work together. Something has to go in the interest of peace and progress of the state,” he said.

     

    Genesis of the face-off

    The Nation’s investigation shows that the disagreement between the governor and his deputy dates back to last year when the governor went on a prolonged medical leave.

    During the leave, it was alleged that the deputy governor refused to represent the governor in some vital state functions, a development that not only ridiculed and embarrassed the state but also exposed the cat and mouse relationship between the governor and the deputy.

    In fact, the face-off preceded this recent leave as it can actually preceded the famed poultry evacuation saga.

     

    The poultry saga

    Although the argument over the poultry farm run by the deputy governor in his private residence at the Government House had dragged for a long time, it came to a head on February 28, 2014, when news reports of its evacuation hit headlines.

    That day, over 3,000 fowls plus 40 crates of eggs from the poultry farm were evacuated in the presence of news men and other onlookers.

    The evacuation was carried out by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) and the Ministry of Environment. The officials, led by their commissioners said the poultry farm was constituting public health hazard.

    The ministry officials, who carried out the duty said the Deputy Governor had earlier been directed to relocate the poultry farm in two letters dated December 24 and 27, 2013 with reference numbers GHE/CAO/31/239 and GHE/CAO/31/240, signed by Mr. G.O.C Ajah, Permanent Secretary in-charge of Government House, Enugu.

    However, the deputy governor described the evacuation of his poultry as a wicked act of impunity intended to humiliate him, alleging that Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo, the Chief of Staff to the governor was behind the action.

    But an official of Enugu Ministry of Environment, who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity said “none of the letters to the deputy governor, allegedly signed by the Chief of Staff was actually signed by her. In fact, as if divinely ordained, when most of those correspondences to the deputy governor were to be signed, it happens that Madam is usually not around. The ones that emanated from her office or from the Government House were usually signed for her by an officer or by G.O.C Ajah, the Permanent Secretary in-charge of Government House, Enugu.

    “But as you know, even if she signs any of those letters, it would be unfair on her to allege she was the one trying to boss the deputy governor. No, that is cheap politicking, chief blackmail of an innocent woman. Her office as the Chief of Staff is simply designed to convey the governor’s instructions and directives. Everybody, including His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, knows that when a letter comes from the Chief of Staff office, it is not a directive from the Chief of Staff herself but a directive from the governor. It is both laughable and painful that people who know are deliberately striving hard to drag Mrs Nwobodo into everything, projecting her as if she is super human. Is it not instructive that even when the Deputy Governor collapsed at the hearing of the Impeachment Panel this week, the people were careful enough to put it in the papers that he collapsed shortly after the arrival of Mrs Nwobodo. Why must we link everything to this simple woman? She only got to the panel because she was summoned to go and give evidence, just like the other officials.”

    According to the official, during Poultry evacuation saga, both the deputy governor and his loyalists also accused the Chief of Staff of being behind it all.

    It would be recalled that at the peak of the poultry saga, Onyebuchi had said,  “I told them that the poultry farm was designated Agriculture Unit and I want them to deny that the structure had been used as a poultry farm before I became deputy governor. Let them also deny that I have not operated the poultry farm since 2008. That was why I put in my Assets Declaration at the end of my first term and at the beginning of this term that I have operated the poultry farm and this was verified by the Code of Conduct Bureau. How suddenly my poultry farm became a health hazard when it has been in existence since 2008,” he said, adding that it was Mrs Nwobodo that gave the instruction just to ridicule and humiliate him.

    But the Ministry of Environment official, who saw it all said it is not true that Nwobodo simply gave that directive to get at the deputy governor. “I can assure you that the directive is from the very top. Everybody was complaining about the offensive odour emanating from the farm. This was because, as at that time, the deputy governor was not living in the quarters and  his workers were obviously unable to keep the place tidy.

    “I was involved in the Poultry matter. I learnt, I don’t know how correct it is, that at a point, the governor was so disturbed by the unending complaints of staff and visitors to the Government House that he offered to give the deputy governor a piece of land outside the Government House to relocate the birds, but he reportedly refused it. I also remember vividly that even that very morning, the deputy governor was contacted on phone by the commissioner or some other top official I cannot remember clearly and told that the ministry will evacuate the birds to a temporary location to enable us tidy up the place. But you know politicians, he said okay, that there were people there to open the gate for us. But as soon as we got there, the deputy governor arrived with camera men and other newsmen and made a big case of the matter. He said it was the Chief of Staff that instructed the destruction of the farm to humiliate him. I felt sorry for the Madam.”

     

    The parting encounter

    Until a recent historic meeting between the governor and his deputy at the governor’s office, which insiders ironically see as the parting encounter, the face-off was averagely managed by both parties as an open secret. But it got out of control as the two leaders ended up in an open quarrel at that meeting. Today, loyalists of the two personalities are peddling different versions of what transpired between Chime and Onyebuchi in that meeting.

    A source close to the deputy governor said it was the governor that summoned the governor to a meeting in his office. At the meeting, said the source, the governor accused the deputy of disobedience to lawful orders. At a point in the discussion, he became so angry that he asked the deputy governor to walk out of his office and to resign his position immediately. The source claimed that Chime’s anger was Onyebuchi’s insistence that he must contest the senatorial seat of Enugu East. The source said, “The deputy governor frankly told the governor that he must exercise his right to contest election into the senate in the coming elections but the governor opposed the move. When voices started rising, the deputy had to leave,” he said.

    Insiders to Enugu State Government however gave The Nation in Enugu a more graphic account of what happened that day. According to the accounts by two of such sources, it was the deputy governor that actually came on his own to meet with the governor and to seek permission to attend to some personal family affairs.

    According to the accounts, “before granting the oral request, Chime, who at that time just returned from his annual leave abroad, used the opportunity to ask his deputy why he could not represent him in two very important state functions while he was away in spite of the fact that he was given a formal invitation to the event by the Chief of Protocol, the right officer to convey such invitation

    “The functions include the visit of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to Anambra State to flag-off the construction of the Second Niger Bridge and the meeting of South-East Governors’s Forum in Enugu?

    “The governor also expressed displeasure to the report that in his absence for a mere leave, the deputy governor attempted to remove from office the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, who as a personal staff to the governor and as such cannot be removed in that manner without the governor’s consent.

    “To the governor’s rude shock, instead of being at least civil in his explanations, the deputy governor said  pointedly that declined to show up at the South-East Governors meeting because the governor did not give him any directive to act in his absence. On the presidential visit Onyebuchi fired back at the governor at the presence of some other governor’s aides, “why should I represent you at those functions? Tell me why I should represent you at those functions.”

    “Almost dumbfounded at the sudden outburst, Chime first said, ‘okay, tell me also why I should grant your permission now.’ “Then, he paused as if in deep thought over the development. By the time he spoke again, he was visibly angry. It was at this stage that the governor listed other cases of alleged insubordination on the part of the deputy governor, accusing Onyebuchi of dancing to a secret song from political rivals. He therefore concluded that the deputy is obviously tired of working with him as he could not be working under another person and be taking instructions from his boss’ political rivals. He therefore advised Onyebuchi to leave his office and to resign his position forthwith.”

     

    The impeachment charges

    Following the obvious breakdown in the relationship between the governor and the deputy governor, the House of Assembly, in what a lawmaker described as a timely move to save the state from a possible descent to anarchy and chaos, served the deputy governor a notice of impeachment, signed by 20 out of the 24 lawmakers at the Enugu State House of Assembly.

    The lawmakers accused Onyebuchi of maintaining a poultry farm in his official residence contrary to a resolution of the House prohibiting the maintenance of and operation of commercial livestock and poultry farms within residential neighborhoods in Enugu Metropolis.

    They also accused him of defying the governor’s directive to represent him at some occasions which they said violates Section 193 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    On the first charge, the deputy governor replied that he came and met an area in his official residence designated as ‘Agricultural Unit’, which includes a poultry farm, and whose facilities were installed by the first premier of Eastern Nigeria and that all his predecessors used it and maintained the poultry farm.

    On the second charge, Onyebuchi said, “Let me start by saying that on June 9, 2014, the Governor commenced his 2014 annual vacation. This was made public through various news media. He did not tell me to take any action on his behalf pending his return, and I am not aware that he sent a formal letter to the Enugu State House of Assembly informing the Assembly that he was proceeding on vacation. The governor did not tell me to take any action on his behalf pending his return, neither did he tell me that he would pass instructions to me through a third party. I did not receive instructions from him personally, by phone or in writing asking me to represent him at the meeting of the South East Governors Forum that took place in Enugu on July 6, 2014.

    “I did not have any reason not to represent him if he had so instructed me to do so. I do not think it is appropriate for a deputy governor to act in the absence of the governor deriving authority from a subordinate or based on press release to the effect that the governor handed over to his deputy.

    Reacting to these response, a top government official said it is unfortunate for the deputy governor to pretend not to know the usual channel of giving official directives. The source asked rhetorically, “If the Chief of Protocol delivers an invitation to any official in the Government House, is it not the usual way of giving the governor’s instructions? Why would the deputy governor prefer a telephone instruction from the governor to the universally acknowledged medium?

    While the supporters of the two leaders defend the cause of their principal, the  House on Thursday, 31 July, 2014 went ahead to direct the State Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezurike, to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations.

     

    Why Chime, Onyebuchi parted ways

    Ironically, the governor, Sullivan Chime and the deputy governor, Sunday Onyebuchi were considered strong political allies when they were both favoured by the former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani. For a long time, insiders said they worked hamounously until alleged political interests put a wedge between them.

    The resultant icy relationship first manifested when the governor became ill and had to stay away for a very long time. According to a source, it was at this period that political intrigues to wrest control of the political structure from Chime started.

    So, when Chime miraculously recovered and returned home, all was no longer as before. At a stage, the governor reportedly accused Onyebuchi of fraternizing with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, whom he sees as his major political opponent in 2015.

    Up till today, insiders say Ekweremadu wields enormous influence on Onyebuchi. In fact, as soon as it became known that an  ultimatum had been given by the Enugu State House of Assembly to Sunday Onyebuchi, the state deputy governor to respond to the impeachment notice served him, a group led by Ekweremadu and former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, reportedly stormed Abuja in a bid to stop the impeachment.

    Also, Enugu State House of Assembly sources confirmed that on the day the Assembly served the impeachment notice, the deputy governor had travelled to Abuja to contact his benefactors in an attempt to stop the impeachment.

    A day before the incident, Onyebuchi had raised the alarm that there was a plot to impeach him, alleging that Chime was behind the plot.

    He allegedly old a group known as Ebeano Machinery, at a meetings with top chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja that they must work hard to stop the impeachment plot

    A source in Abuja confirmed that the group actually met with the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to plead for his support.

     

    Mrs Nwobodo’s angle

    Perhaps because Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo hardly speaks to the media to defend herself over the numerous allegations about her alleged quest for power, her name has never ceased to appear in the various controversies surrounding the Enugu power game.

    Some of the questions most observers are asking are who is this woman, what does she want and why does she enjoy so much confidence of the governor? A top government official who attempted an answer to these questions simply said: “Chief is a simple woman, a dependable workaholic who is being accused of things she knows nothing about. I think her fault is that she calls a spade a spade and is not willing to follow the ways of politicians.

    “She is being opposed because she is like a formidable pillar to the government of Enugu State. We call her our Madam due process and I don’t see that as an offense though I know many politicians who hate her for it.”

  • Intrigues over confirmation of NCAA DG-designate

    KEY aviation stakeholders are divided over the confirmation of the Director General designate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Murktar Usman.

    Usman was nominated for the post five months ago following the sack of the former helmsman, Captain Folayele Akinkuotu.

    Members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) threatened to ground operations in the sector if the nomination is further delayed.

    But the Aviation Network International (AN1) dismissed the threat as unacceptable, saying it is not in the overall interest of the sector.

    It was also gathered that some former workers of Nigeria Airways have written petitions against the nomination of Captain Usman.

    Usman was the former commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    The petitioners allegedly questioned Usman’s capability as a pilot in command, it also emerged.

    Investigations revealed that the delay in confirmation of Captain Usman is predicated on a petition by a governor in the South West, querying the circumstances under which Captain Fola Akinkuotu was removed from office as NCAA boss.

    ATSSSAN expressed worry over the non- confirmation of Usman.

    It issued a 21-day ultimatum to the National Assembly to act, failure of which it would halt activities in the sector.

    In a petition to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, dated June 18 and signed by Captain Tar Tanongo, Deputy National Secretary of ATSSSAN, the association said the appointment of a substantive director general for NCAA is dragging too long.

    The association said as much as nature does not abhor vacuum with an acting director general appointed, it warned that the Civil Aviation Act does not recognise such arrangement of  ‘acting capacity’.

    But ANI’s president, Mr. Thompson Obafemi, said the union’s role in a civil society is not to usurp the responsibility of elected leaders by unfairly twisting government’s arms to dictate implementation of government policies or functions.

    After the presidential nomination of a director general designate for NCAA, it is left for the Senate to delay, deny or approve confirmation of relevant executive officers, Obafemi said.

    He warned that aviation unions or associations have no business in such process.

    According to him: “There’s no vacuum caused by having an acting director general in place in NCAA.

    “In fact, the acting director general, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka, is a consummate and accomplished professional with vast multi jurisdictional international experience of the industry, well respected by his peers and operators, and has brought stability in regulating the sector.”

    A source close to Usman said:” There is a process of appointing the director general of NCAA. The civil aviation act is very clear on the process.

    “And I believe the process is going on. I believe government is doing what is supposed to be done.”

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Act 2006 stipulates that a director general be appointed but does not state whether this should be in acting or substantive capacity.

  • Intrigues, power play stall appointment of new ministers

    Intrigues, power play stall appointment of new ministers

    Plans by President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint new ministers from the ranks of new members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears not to be sitting well with some old stakeholders of the ruling party, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    The high expectations that trailed the defection of former Kano State Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is seemingly giving way to a feeling of frustration.

    Some weeks ago, Shekarau was formally admitted into the PDP by the national leaders of the party, led by President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, at a zonal rally held in Kaduna.

    His defection to the PDP came on the heels of a similar exercise held in Sokoto during which a former governor of the state, Attaihiru Bafarawa, also a former chieftain of the APC, formally declared for the ruling party.

    The unexpected decision of the duo to leave APC followed their irreconcilable differences with the leadership of the major opposition party over the control of the party in their respective states.

    The Nation gathered that two of the agreements allegedly reached between the Presidency and the two former governors include their appointment as ministers and their recognition as leaders of the PDP in Kano and Sokoto respectively.

    But weeks after their entries into the PDP, some stakeholders of the party are allegedly kicking against their being made leaders of the party in the concerned states, sources disclosed.

    Findings by The Nation revealed that the situation in Kano is more complicated, a development that is allegedly giving the Presidency and national leadership of the party a serious concern.

    Intrigues and power play among leading stakeholders of PDP in the North West state, it was gathered, is said to be stalling the appointment of Shekarau, who, reports claim, has been penciled down as the substantive Minister for Education.

    Many of the old PDP members in the state, led by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, are alleged not to be comfortable with the proposed appointment of Shekarau as a minister and are alleged to be doing everything possible to stall the move.

    Sources disclosed that the defection of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the PDP to the APC had initially ended the internal wrangling in the party, as members of his Kwankwasiya group followed him to his new party.

    The development, it was learnt, closed the chapter of rivalry between his group and those loyal to Ambassador Aminu Wali, who was recently appointed as the minister for foreign affairs.

    Shekarau’s defection to the party has, however, ignited a fresh crisis in the party, with some of the leading members alleging that the former governor is being accorded a preferential treatment by the Presidency.

    Some members, it was further gathered, are also happy that Shekarau is being positioned to replace another nominee from the state, Hajia Jemila Salik, who was dropped two days after her nomination was announced.

    The crisis got to its peak sometime ago when nine, out of the 11 members of the caretaker committee of the party, announced their resignation.

    In a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, the deputy chairman of the caretaker committee, Alhaji Shehu Wada Sagagi, said members of the caretaker committee had unanimously resigned their appointments to, in his words, “provide a platform of the integration of new and old members of the party.”

    He added that they resolved to resign their appointments at a meeting attended by all members of the committee, excluding the caretaker committee chairman, Dr. Hassan Kafayos.

    But contrary to the reason advanced, it was learnt that the mass resignation of the party’s interim executive may not be unconnected to the battle for control and clash of interests between Shekarau, Aminu Wali and Mohammed Abacha, son of the late dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, who sometime last year defected to the party from the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

    The current scenario in the Kano State chapter of PDP has subsequently delayed Shekarau’s appointment as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), with not a few of the old members preferring Na’Abba or Salik.

    Like Kano, like Kwara

    The intrigues currently prevailing in the Kano PDP is also playing out in the Kwara State chapter, it was gathered.

    The selection of a businesswoman, Hajia Bola Shagaya, who is also one of the closest associates of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, as the Leader of the party in the state, has thrown the party into a crisis.

    Allegedly uncomfortable with Shagaya’s leadership is a returnee member of the party, Gbemi Saraki, with other stakeholders, including the Senator representing Kwara South, Simeon Ajibola, Prof. Abdulrahman Oba and former Minister of Transport, Ibrahim Isa Bio.

    Those opposed to Shagaya’s role in the party believe she wields so much power because of her closeness to the seat of power at the centre despite not being known to be a politician.

    The wealthy businesswoman was the chief host at the reception of the President during his recent visit to Kwara State – a development believed to have angered old party members and supporters of Simeon Ajibola – the only PDP Senator in the state.

    Again, Shagaya was alleged to have selected members of the state delegation that visited the President at the Aso Rock Villa some weeks ago, and allegedly leaving out key members of the party.

    Beside the issue of leadership tussle, top Kwara PDP members are also alleged to be at daggers drawn on the 2015 governorship election and who fills the state’s slot in the federal cabinet formerly held by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the erstwhile Minister of Sports.

    “The PDP has tripod problems. It’s not only about the ministerial slot, their problems are in three folds; they have leadership problem, they are also engaged in-fighting over the 2015 governorship ticket as well as the ministerial slot. I wonder how the party can work together. Unlike PDP, APC has a clear-cut leader,” a source close to affairs of the party said.

    While Gbemi Saraki is being touted as Abdullahi’s replacement, other stakeholders like Bio and Oba are also allegedly scheming for a ministerial position.

    Bio’s argument, it was learnt, is that Kwara North, where he comes from, should fill the ministerial slot rather than another party member from the Central senatorial zone where the immediate past minister, Abdullahi, Saraki, Oba, and a new defector into the party, Mr. Dele Belgore, (who is also allegedly lobbying for a ministerial position) hail from.

    The Nation also gathered that the fear among those kicking against Gbemi Saraki’s appointment is that she may use her position to hijack the party structures in the state to advance her governorship ambition.

    How the Presidency and the PDP national leadership resolve the imbroglio in its Kano and Kwara states chapters remains a matter of conjecture.

  • Jonathan sacks minister amid intrigues

    Jonathan sacks minister amid intrigues

    Minister of Youth Development Inuwa AbdulKadir got the boot yesterday. He was sacked while on a trip to Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    A statement by the Special Assistant (Media), Sam Nwaobasi, on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, that announced the termination of the minister’s appointment, titled: “Termination of the Appointment of the Honourable Minister of Youth Development”, reads: “His Excellency Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, President and Commander –in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has relieved Inuwa Abdul-kadir Esq of his appointment as Honourable Minister of Youth Development with effect from the 26th of August, 2013.

    “The former Minister is to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

    “Mr. President expresses appreciation to the former minister for the time he put in the services of the nation and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”

    There were indications that the minister was booted out of the cabinet for four reasons, including his “deep-rooted” loyalty to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Governor Aliyu Wammako, who is seen as anti-Presidency.

    It was, however, learnt that the minister had told some forces in the Presidency that he could not abandon Tambuwal, his childhood friend.

    He was quoted as saying: “I can’t abandon Tambuwal because we have come a long way.”

    Other factors advanced for the sack of the minister were alleged lack of depth of the portfolio; the crisis in the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN); and the slow pace of reforming the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    The ex-minister was caught unawares by his sack. He was away in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Following the news of his sack, Abdulkadir asked his aides to clear his desk.

    As at 7pm, the aides were still at the ministry, trying to pack his personal effects.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Although no explanation was given for AbdulKadir’s sack by the President, we suspected that it was borne out of politics.

    “For some time, the ex-minister had been warned about his closeness to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, but he said if he is going to be the last man standing with the Speaker, he would do so.

    “He said he had been Tambuwal’s friend from childhood and he could not abandon him now.

    “Also, we are all aware of the strain in the relationship between Governor Aliyu Wammako and President Goodluck Jonathan, with the G-5 mission to salvage the nation’s democracy. The ex-minister is a product of Tambuwal-Wammako political alliance.

    “The removal of AbdulKadir might pave the way for the emergence of a pro-Jonathan minister from Sokoto State.

    Another source attributed the ex-minister’s sack to alleged “lack of depth of his mandate”.

    “The recent evaluation of ministers showed that he has not come to terms with the demand of Youth Development.

    “As a matter of fact, his fellow ministers used to joke with AbdulKadir that he is a minister of youth who is not a youth. He has not initiated any landmark policy to assist the youth.”

    A third source attributed the sack to the recent dissolution of the Executive Council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN) without consultations with the President.

    “The NYCN President, Mr. Yakubu Shendam, was alleged to be a former Personal Assistant to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and a card-carrying member of the party.

    “Worried by the crisis trailing NYCN elections in May in Makurdi, the Minister dissolved the council. There were fears that the ex-Minister acted contrary to the plan of the Federal Government to use NYCN to seek the support of youths in 2015.

    “A former President of NYCN, Mr. Olawale Ajani, who contested with Shendam, had claimed that there was no election at the Benue congress, and that it was a charade superintended by the ex-minister.

    Olawale said: “The honourable minister continued to persuade me to jettison the election for his candidate claimed to have come from the Presidency. He said that he had been mandated by the Presidency to deliver Yakubu Shemdan, a personal assistant to the PDP chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.”

  • Drama, intrigues as Bayelsa hosts, wins MBGN

    Drama, intrigues as Bayelsa hosts, wins MBGN

    In a show characterised by drama and intrigue, the fair-skin, average-height 18-year-old Anna Ebiere Banner from Bayelsa State emerged the winner of the 26th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (2013).

    Banner, one of the youngest winners since inception, will represent Nigeria at the Miss World pageant in Jakarta, Indonesia, later this year.

    She was crowned by the outgoing winner, Isabella Ayuk, in the presence of an excited Governor Seriake Dickson.

    Dickson immediately appointed her Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism and made her the state’s Culture and Tourism Ambassador.

    Banner clinched the crown after beating 31 other contestants to the admiration of the rapturous crowd, who were mostly residents.

    While some believed that her victory was based on the home support she enjoyed from the crowd who gave her a standing ovation each time she appeared on the stage, others said her composure, beauty and mien endeared her to the judges.

    But the entertaining event started unfolding with much drama when Dickson was asked to present an award to the screen diva and musician, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde. Jalade-Ekehinde was on the panel of judges.

    The governor, in his brief remarks, forced most spectators to roll with laughter.

    After looking closely at the actress, Dickson said: “Having seen you closely, I can see why they call you, Omosexy.”

    But Jalade-Ekehinde, who thanked the Silverbird Group for the award, changed the mood of the event from excitement to sober reflection.

    In a prepared speech, she lamented the hopelessness of the Nigerian child, citing the inability of the Senate to protect the rights of children.

    She was angry that the Senate refused to abolish child marriage.

    “If the Senate with members perceived to be fathers could show nonchalant attitude to sensitive issues affecting children, who protects the child in Nigeria?” Omotola queried.

    “A very alarming number of children are hawking on the streets. Let us say no to the Senate Bill endorsing child marriage,” she said.

    But the audience’s attention was later focused on each of the radiant contestant who looked ready to go home with the crown.

    The contestants showcased their endowments, curves and talents in their swim wears, traditional outfits and dance steps.

    Performances from KC and Timi Dakolo added colour to the event.

    Despite their efforts, the number was reduced to 15 with accompanying tragi-comedy.

    Miss Kwara featured twice in the list of the top 15 while Miss Abia was later withdrawn from the list and replaced with Miss Imo in what the duo of Chris Okenwa and Chioma Agunon, who acted as compere, described as a typographical error.

    But Miss Imo, Stephanie Okwu, cleared the doubts that arose from the development. She made it to the top five and was viewed by some persons as the potential winner.

    She later emerged as the first runner up to represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe Pageant.

    Miss Adamawa, Powede Lawrence, was the second runner-up, Miss Kaduna (Enoma Agboniko) third runner-up and Miss Abuja (Melissa Devidal) fourth runner-up.

    The host governor described the show as a vehicle for tourism promotion in the country.

    He said his administration supported the pageant to underscore its seriousness in diversifying the economy from oil and gas.

    Dickson said the government would continue to host events of international interests to bring people to the state, adding that his administration wished to make MBGN a yearly event in the state.

    “The new Bayelsa is safe”, he declared, adding that the state will soon host other big celebrations.

    The Minister of Culture, Edem Duke, said the country must embrace tourism to become one of the top 20 economies in the world in 2020.

    “If we want to become one of the 20 economies in 2020, we better start doing what Bayelsa is doing right now,” he said.

    Duke said over 7,000 persons from across the world will gather in Bayelsa for the Africa-Caribbean Festival of Arts and Culture.

    He said the state had been selected to host the event from September 15 to 25.

    The minister also announced that the state had been chosen to host 70 “world best” in underwater imaging programme organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman of Silverbird Group, organisers of the pageant, said the essence of the competition is to bring about unity among ladies from various cultural and social backgrounds.

    “In over 25 years, we have produced beautiful ambassadors who have represented Nigeria at various international events.”

  • More intrigues as Lamido/Amaechi posters show up

    More intrigues as Lamido/Amaechi posters show up

    More intrigues are being deployed in the battle for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Posters of Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi are being pasted in some states. Neither Lamido nor Amaechi, chairman of the NGF, has indicated interest in the 2015 presidential race.

    The NGF election was postponed till May, following the rancorous meeting, which polarised the fold last month.

    Amaechi is planning to retain the seat. But the forces against him, who are believed to be enjoying the Presidency’s backing, are plotting to pull the rug from under his feet. It is believed that the anti-Amaechi forces have not mustered the majority support required to frustrate his second term bid.

    Sources said yesterday that many Northern governors who are opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan are backing Amaechi for the leadership of the forum. Prominent among them are Niger and Jigawa governors Babangida Aliyu and Lamido.

    Since the beginning of this week, posters announcing the presidential ambition of Lamido, with Amaechi as his running mate, have flooded some states in the North. The posters, said sources, were pasted to stir up emotions and sentiments against the Jigawa and Rivers states’ governors within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and create disaffection among party followers.

    The posters, which were sighted in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Benue states, are meant to blackmail Amaechi and weaken his popularity among the members of the NGF and the newly inaugurated PDP Governors’ Forum, led by his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio.

    The strategy, said the source, seems to be that if his colleagues, including the opposition governors, are convinced that Amaechi is nursing a plan to run in 2015, he will lose their support.

    Under Amaechi’s leadership, the NGF has confronted the President over critical issues germane to true federalism. The body objected to the formula for revenue allocation. It also raised eyebrows over the controversial Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). The forum is in court protesting the lopsided sharing of the national wealth against the Federal Government.

  • Intrigues threaten constitution review project

    Intrigues threaten constitution review project

    As the two houses of the National Assembly put finishing touches to the committee reports on constitution review efforts, Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, takes a look at the issues stalling the process

     

    A  subtle but deep struggle is currently going on at the National Assembly. Sources close to the hallowed chambers say the rumpus, which has to do with the ongoing constitutional review process, may soon blow into the open as a very serious political crisis that will cut across party, regional and even ideological divides.

    Though the reports of the nationwide referendum on the constitution review conducted by both the House of Representatives and the senate are yet to be made public, there are already indications that the lawmakers may find it difficult to speak with one voice on the matter.

    While the House of Representatives took the survey on the review to the 360 Federal Constituencies in the country, members of the senate conducted similar surveys in the six geo-political zones of the country all in a bid to make the planned amendment as reflective of the desires of Nigerians as possible.

    But there are now fear that the outcome of the said surveys may have torn the National Assembly apart ahead of the public presentation of a report on the ongoing constitutional review process.

    Already, there is a failed attempt by the Constitution Review Committee of the House of Representatives to present its result on the review. The Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who rose from a marathon meeting of principal officers that lasted over three hours, announced the cancellation of the event.

    He based the cancellation on the need to put certain things right by doing more consultations on the issue. Later, the leadership of the lower House said the presentation was stalled because there “were hitches here and there.”

    “As leadership, we have reviewed the process so far and realised that we cannot go ahead with this programme today. Just like any other things associated with humans, there are hitches here and there- that is normal,” Tambuwal said.

    But findings by The Nation suggest that the cancellation may not be unconnected with the wrangling among the lawmakers over certain portions of the report. According to inside sources, the legislators are yet to agree on a number of issues as at the time the committee attempted to push its final report into public domain.

    The Speaker and some other principal officers, excluding the deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who is the chairman of the committee, are said to have strongly disagreed with the Constitution Review Committee over certain provisions suggested in the report.

    And after several efforts to reach a compromise failed, Tambuwal and his men chose to stop the unfavourable report from becoming a public document as they feared that such presentation may further complicate the already fragile situation amongst lawmakers.

    Tambuwal, according to sources, is uncomfortable with the position of the Ihedioha-led committee on issues like state creation and immunity. It is believed that the Speaker and his deputy disagreed on several occasions when attempts were made to reach a compromise on the grey areas.

    “The Speaker is not hiding the fact that he is not comfortable with the content of the report. The problem however is that his deputy is the chairman of the same committee. The leadership of the house is currently divided into two halves with each supporting Tambuwal or Ihedioha on the matter.

    The point the Speaker is making is that should the committee go ahead to present the document, the House could suffer more serious embarrassment because lawmakers, including the house leadership, could publicly contradict themselves over the content of the report.

    The Spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, at a press briefing, admitted that Tambuwal had to cancel the public presentation because most lawmakers had complained that they were yet to scrutinise the final document.

    “But because of the short time we have and the fact that a number of our colleagues have not been able to go through the reports from their various states we had to postpone the presentation ,” Muhammed said while explaining why the event was abruptly cancelled.

    The House of Representatives is not the only chamber heated up by the rumpus generated by the constitution review process. According to sources, the arguments for and against the need for new states has caused a sharp division among the principal officers of the senate.

    While Senate President David Mark and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, are for new states; a number of other principal officers, especially those from the north, are opposed to the creation of more states.

    On the floor of the senate, it is difficult to determine what the result would be should the lawmakers decide to vote on the contentious issue of state creation. This is because while a good number of senators from the south and north central support state creation, most lawmakers from the north are strongly opposed to the idea.

    “The fear that the process is aimed at creating just one more state for the southeast to balance the number of state per zone is ripe in the minds of northern lawmakers. For this, they are opposed to the idea while most senators from the south will support the call for more state should a public debate arise,” our source said.

    It is believed that it is this inability of the lawmakers to reach a common ground on some of the contentious issues contained in the reports that is stalling the public presentation.

    “Most members of the House of Representatives from the North are not in support of the creation of an additional state for the southeast. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, wants a new a state in the Southeast. Speaker Tambuwal is not favourably disposed to the idea.

    Right now, the leadership of the National Assembly is in a dilemma over how to manage the situation, not only concerning state creation but other issues like state police, immunity, local government autonomy among others.

    The truth is that principal officers and members are divided on a number of these issues. For instance, President of the Senate, David Mark, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, are in support of new states. Many of the other principal officers hold contrasting views on state creation. There is currently a stalemate on the reports,” a lawmaker from Kogi state told The Nation.

    Given the current scenario, analyst are of the opinion that unless care is taken, issues like the proposal for state creation, immunity and local government autonomy might derail the ongoing constitution amendment process

    “There is need for us to stop and take a closer look at the whole process. There are many other burning issues Nigerians are hoping will be addressed by the ongoing constitution review effort. But as things are now, the lawmakers may allow their selfish interests in a few issues to thwart the entire process.

    Already, there is a cold war in the House. The Senate will soon follow suit as disagreement are also rife among its members on some issues. And if care is not taken, it will become a north versus south situation.

    ‘Once that happens, we should all bid constitution review farewell once again. This is why we feel the public should be let into what is going on within the hallowed chambers concerning the review process. Continued silence will not be to anybody’s advantage,” Barrister Modupe Oduguwa of the Citizens’ Right Project (CRiP) cautioned.

    Recently, while reacting to a statement credited to Senator David Mark, a senator from the core north has said northerners will oppose the plan to create more states in the south with all their might.

    “We are ready for whatever will happen on this state creation issue. The rumour is that the presidency is behind this agenda. For us, it is an agenda against the core north, especially Hausa-Fulani. We will north allow it to go unchallenged. Already, it is causing serious rumpus here at the National Assembly,” the Senator said.

    Mark was reported to have said: “The argument of those opposing state creation is based on whether existing states are viable or not. But they forget that a state might be unviable just because the administrator is not ingenious with internal revenue generation or the people are not united and the administrator has to spend the available resources on achieving peace.

    “I am for the creation of Apa state and any other state that may fit the conditions. I have never shied from my agitation for creation of additional states just as I have always called for the creation of roles for traditional rulers in the Constitution.”

    To further complicate the matter for the lawmakers, Governor Rotimi Ameachi, in his capacity as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) said his colleagues would resist any attempt by the National Assembly to grant autonomy to local governments.

    “There is no country in the world that there are three federating units; there are only two all over the world. Why should you then say that there must be a third federating unit in Nigeria?

    Of course yes, let a state governor or let the states create as many local governments as they want to create. Don’t put it there as a constitutional issue,” Amaechi said.

    But Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, stated that the governors do not support the amendment because it will put a stop to their siphoning of resources meant for the development of local government areas.

    “Local government autonomy as far as Nigerians are concerned is long overdue. As true representatives of the people, our constituents do not agree with the current status where local government funds are being pilfered by governors at the expense of the people and chairmen who are seen as mere boys for the job. We would certainly not accept a situation where governors turn themselves to demi -gods in the name of joint accounts.

    But if Mohammed thinks it would be easy to ignore the governors, he may have to beat a retreat because, determined to have their ways, the governors are said to have recruited some national lawmakers to ensure that the autonomy clause never make it into the constitution.

    “The current rumpus at the National Assembly is not without some external prompting. For example, state governors are now cajoling and threatening elected national lawmakers from their states into rejecting the autonomy clause. They are using their hold on party machineries as a bait to lure the lawmakers to their sides.

    ‘We are already hearing tales of how governors vow to stop any lawmaker who supports the clause from getting re-elected in 2015. This explains why some of our colleagues are now singing new tunes. But I can assure you that we will not jettison the demand of the majority of Nigerians because of a few selfish governors,’ a principal officer of the Senate said.

    Given this confusing scenario, the question on the lips of most observers of the ongoing brouhaha over the constitution review process is whether the much awaited reports will survive the rumpus in the National Assembly.

     

  • Enugu without Chime: Intrigues without end

    Enugu without Chime: Intrigues without end

    The accumulated leave taken by the  Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime,  for about five months now ought to raise a crucial constitutional issue of how long  public officers could be away from their duty post, but the motives and antecedents of the members of the Save Enugu Group (SEG) who are calling for Chime’s impeachment raise serious doubts about their credibility and the genuineness of their motives, Olukayode Thomas, who was in Enugu, reports

    JOY and misery abound in equal measure on the 15th of December 2012 when news filtered in first from the social media and later other sources that the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, has gone to the realm where all roads ultimately lead in far away India.

    For a majority of Enugu indigenes who believed that the state did not start reaping the dividends of democracy until Mr. Chime became governor in 2007, it was day that their hopes of a better tomorrow turned into despair.

    While the period between 1999 and 2007 was regarded by many of the state indigenes as years of the locust, in Chime’s five years, they have seen some development,  especially in the provision of infrastructure and security.

    But for his opponents, who felt betrayed that Chime refused to follow the script laid down by their godfather, who chose Chime above other ‘more qualified candidates’ to become the state chief executive officer, the news of Chime’s death was a vindication of their earlier statement that the governor had long died and that a cabal that is ruling since he left the state since September 19, 2012, had been deceiving the public.

    But within hours, the two sides soon traded places, as the news of Chime’s death filtered out as it filtered in, it was just a rumour. The State Commissioner for Information, Chucks Ugwuoke, then described the  rumour as coming  from the pit of hell.

    But while a majority of Enugu indigenes, including Chime’s political opponents, believe he may be alive, they doubt claims that he is healthy, and that he is just enjoying his accumulated leave.

    Majority of Enugu residents interviewed last week by The Nation are not only wishing Chime speedy recovery, they are also praying that he returns to Enugu immediately and continue his ‘good deeds.’

    For members of the opposition or other Enugu indigenes, especially members of the Save Enugu Group (SEG), Governor Chime is seriously sick, incapable of ruling again, therefore the Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, should be sworn in immediately as the new state governor.

    Even when photos of a fit-looking Governor Chime with Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) in London, was released last week, SEG, the main protagonists in the ‘’Chime must surface or be impeached’’ campaign declared the photos to be fake. SEG Convener, Maxi Okwu (Ikenecheoha II), President Citizen Popular Party (CPP) and National Chairman Conference of Nigeria Political Party (CNPP) said: “The Enugu State Government (ENSG) came up with that photo trick to meet our deadline.”

     

    BETWEEN SEG AND THE SPEAKER

    Apart from  Chief Okwu, other prominent members of the SEG include Igbonekwu Ogazimora, a former Commissioner of Information in the last dispensation , Chief Willy Ezugwu, National Secretary of CNPP, Mr. Ibuchukwu Ezike, a prominent indigene of the state, Mr. Victor Eneh, another prominent indigene and Mr. Ray Nnaji, a Commissioner under Nnamani and Chime. They had demanded that Acting Governor Onyebuchi must constitute a delegation of prominent leaders of Enugu to visit Chime. They suggested Bishop Callistus Onaga, Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Revd Hyde Onuaguluchi, Prof Bath Nnaji, Igwe Paul Egbogu, Chief Mrs Grace Obayi, Chief Nduka Eya, Secretary General Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo and Dr Louis Anya Chukwuma.

    But the Speaker, State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, dismissed the demand of the SEG. Odo posited that the House of Assembly could not invoke the Doctrine of Necessity because the governor followed due process before embarking on his accumulated leave.

    Odo believed that SEG members may not really know what the Doctrine of Necessity is all about. He insisted that the circumstance of Chime’s absence is completely different from that of late President Umoru Yar’Adua’s circumstances.

    He stated: “And under the 1999 Constitution, section 190, whenever a governor is travelling and he intends to stay for more than 21 days, he should transmit a letter to the House of Assembly, in which case the deputy governor becomes the acting governor, which Chime had done.”

    Odo revealed further that Section 189 of the constitution clearly states that if the governor is sick,  only  the State Executive Council is empowered to generate a resolution to the House of Assembly, the Speaker can then nominate five medical practitioners, including the governor’s personal doctor, who will examine and report on his condition. According to Odo, none of the people nominated by the SEG is qualified according to the constitution.

    Investigation revealed that insinuations that the acting governor’s approval is only N500, 000, may not be true, ditto for allegations that workers are being owed salaries since Chime travelled and that all ongoing projects have been abandoned. The truth is, Enugu workers are paid as at when due. Salaries alone gulp about N800 million monthly, so if the deputy governor’s approval limit is only half a million naira, salaries would definitely not be paid.

    Also, multi- million naira worth of projects are going on in various sites across the state. The state budget for 2013 was presented to the State House of Assembly last month. So all these give the impression that all is well.

     

    IS CHIME A VICTIM OF EBEANO POLITICS?

    If Chime followed due process before embarking on his accumulated leave, if he has not breached the constitution and the acting governor is in charge of the state, why has the state been in the news for the wrong reasons since Chime travelled in September?

    Political observers in Enugu who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that most members of the SEG either have personal problems with Chime because of the volatile nature of Enugu politics or they are members of the Chimaroke Nnamani Ebeano group who felt it is now time to get back at Chime, the ‘traitor’.

    Investigation in Enugu revealed that Chime and Okwu were once best of friends and their fathers were both ministers in the First Republic.

    The duo fell apart when Chime reneged on an earlier promise to host the chairmen of all political parties in Enugu. Okwu, the chairmen of CNPP  had made elaborate preparation and invited all the chairmen to Enugu, only for Chime to renege on his promise at the last minute. Since then, things have fallen apart between the two friends.

    Ogazimora and Nnaji, both prominent members of SEG, were Chime’s colleagues as commissioners under Chimaroke Nnamani, Nnaji was also at a time commissioner under Chime.

    Just like Nnamani and Chief Jim Nwobodo, Chime and Nnamani fell apart barely a month after the later installed him as governor when he declared that Enugu state was not really working, a sharp contrast to the “EBEANO” slogan that Enugu was working.

    Since then all hands had been on the deck to ensure that the ‘traitor’ is dealt with. In the run up to the 2011 election, the  Ebeano Group  dumped PDP for PDC in their bid to unseat Chime. Ogazimorah said then , “the Ebeano, which is the real PDP in Enugu State, had been floating as we were rejected by both government and leadership of the PDP. That is why we have entered this party called PDC to find a way of restoring our voice. The PDC is a small party, we don’t pose a threat to anybody, we are dealing with a very powerful incumbent government that claimed to have performed well, we are the underdog, but we just want to participate politically, and whether we win the election or not is not a priority, but to ensure that we participate in the polls.”

    All efforts to speak with Ogazimorah the voice of SEG, to ask him if the present campaign against Chime were a continuation of the struggle for power between Ebeano and Chime, proved abortive. On three occasions, appointments were fixed but Ogazimorah’s busy schedules did not permit him to keep  appointments.

    But a source, who is on first name basis with major political actors in Enugu politics, doubts if Nnamani is behind SEG,

    ‘‘ Nnamani is not civil, his style is an Agbero style, and Ebeano means ‘Crush Them’. If the former governor was behind all these, he would mobilise people to occupy the Government House. Give it to Chime, he is a fine gentleman. Under Nnamani, our state was not like this. All opponents of the governor were chased out of the  state, but most of the actors are people that are close to him.”

     

    FOR HOW LONG CAN PUBLIC OFFICERS BE AWAY

    But for doubts over the intentions of members of SEG, the prolonged absence of Chime and other public officers raises a serious question about how long a public officer should be away, and this calls for genuine discussion by the National and State Assemblies to help resolve an issue that the constitution is silent on. As at today, apart from Chime, the governors of Cross Rivers and Taraba State are outside the country for health reasons.

    The official statement from the Enugu State Government  is that the governor is enjoying his accumulated leave. Since he joined  the state service about 14 years ago (eight years under  Nnamani ‘s administration, six years as governor) Chime has never gone on leave. So, if Chime is entitled to a month of holiday yearly and he has not gone on leave since 1999, that means he is entitled to a 14 month holiday.

    An Enugu based lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said all the hue and cry by SEG and others asking about Chime’s whereabouts may amount to nothing.” The governor followed due process. Even if they decide to go to court, they will lose because the constitution says if a governor will be away for more than 21 days, he should transfer power to his deputy, which he did. The law does not say he must return in six weeks or six months. On that, the constitution is silent.”

    Going forward, the lawyer wants the National and State Assemblies to amend the constitution and stipulate the number of weeks or months a public officer could stay away from his/her duty.

     

    IFEOMA NWOBODO AND ENUGU CABAL

    Apart from Chime and his absence from the state, one person that is much discussed among the elites, politicians and civil servants in Enugu State is the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo. Politicians loath her, civil servants wish she lost her job penultimate week when the acting governor almost fired her, while those who hang around the corridors of power and contractors always pray that their files do not go through her desk.

    An accountant, married to a High Court Judge in the State Judiciary, Mrs. Nwobodo was recruited by Chime from Nike-Lake Hotel where she worked as Director of Finance when he was elected Governor. Investigation in Enugu revealed that no contract file passes through her table with the contract amount not being reviewed downward. This no doubt creates more enemies than friends for her.

    Secondly, with a private sector background, she is said not to have patience for politicians and civil servants. She has also been severally accused of being rude and brash.

    One of the many ‘sins’ Mrs Nwobodo was accused of include sacking of the Head of Service, Mr. Dennis Eze. She was also accused of sacking the Head of Enugu SUBEB  because of power tussle between them over who awards contract for rehabilitation of dilapidated primary schools in the state. Another alleged prominent victim of Nwobodo is the former head of Enugu Waste Management Board, Mrs. Thelma Ogakwu.

    Efforts to get Mrs. Nwobodo to talk were abortive. Aides said she would not grant a telephone interview, while appointment for a formal interview has to be prearranged.

    But a prominent indigene of the state, who spoke on the condition anonymity, revealed that Mrs Nwobodo is well loved by the masses and honest people in Enugu State, adding that it is only the elites and those that hang around government, looking for inflated contracts and politicians that hate her.

    He revealed that Nwobodo’s problem stems from her profession, accounting. He said ‘’Being an accountant, she is over prudent and our people don’t like people like that’’. He also said that unlike under Nnamani where there were lots of patronage, it is not so under Chime and Nwobodo is seen as one of the people that is behind this.

    On the people allegedly sacked by Nwobodo. He asked: “Where does she derive the power from? Sack the Head of Service? Stop the Acting Governor’s allowances? These are pure lie. Infact, she almost lost her job last week.”

    Giving an insight into why the government sacked the head of Enugu State Waste Management (ESWAMA) , Mrs . Chinyere Ogakwu, the source revealed that waste management had always been a problem in Enugu and that before she was sacked four other heads of ESWAMA had been relieved of their appointments.

    He revealed that it was the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Amechi Okolo, acting on the instruction of the Acting Governor that announced the sack and named Dominic Okonkwo to oversee the affairs of the agency until further notice .Ogakwu’s problem with the state government, he said,  began when it became obvious that she could not successfully keep the state clean before Christmas and New Year. The Government had wanted visitors coming home to see a clean state .

    By December, the state was so dirty that government had to hire trailers to move waste. In the face of the glaring failure by the agency, the head had to assume responsibility, that was why she was sacked by the state government. ‘’ Let me also tell you that Mrs. Ogakwu is not just a relation of Governor Chime, they are from the same place Udi, so there is no way anybody would have sacked her unless she actually failed in the performance of her duties’’.

    He equally revealed that the Head of Service Mr. Denis Eze was relieved of his appointment by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Amechi Okolo who also asked him to hand over to the acting Head of Service, Mr. Chidi Ezema within 24 hours.

     

    ENUGU IS WORKING –CNPP

    For the Chairman of Enugu State chapter of CNPP, Mr. Afam Ani, the absence of Chime has not stopped Enugu from working. Ani said he saw the letter the governor wrote to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly transferring power to  the Deputy Governor ‘’he is away legally,  and his absence is not causing any problem. There has been no problem with payment of salaries, projects are going on and the budget has been presented.

    ‘‘But we are watching the government and the moment we smell anything bad we will raise the alarm. People are worried about the condition of the governor  because he is a good man,” he said.

    On the insinuation that a cabal led by Mrs. Nwobodo has sidelined the Acting Governor, Ani said , ‘‘It is cheap propaganda by SEG, there is nothing like that. Mrs. Nwobodo is a very strong woman, a rare bred who is a blessing to Enugu state. When you are talking of people in charge of government it is the Acting Governor and the Secretary to the State Government. I don’t know why they are shouting about Nwobodo, even when Chime was here they said all manner of things about her. if there is a cabal,  the local CNPP will be the first to raise an alarm. She has no power to sack anybody, it is the secretary to the government empowered by the  Acting Governor that has such power,” he said.

     

    CHIME’S ADDMISSION OF ILL HEALTH AND VISIT TO UDI

    While controversy about his whereabout rages in Enugu, Chime has surfaced in London with three other Governors and has tactically admitted he has been sick. “I am alive and well, I will be back very, very soon. I am great, very, very great. Tell Nigerians to discountenance all the rumours about my health.” Rotimi Amaechi, the Governor of Rivers State, speaking on Chime’s health, reportedly said, “We saw him in an atmosphere of recovery. We were able to go out with him, he is in good shape and is getting ready to come back home very soon. We thank God for what He has done, how He has helped him to recover.”

    Gabriel Suswam of Benue State said: “Chime has been discharged from the hospital.” While Godswill Akpabio said: “He has recovered tremendously, I am very happy and I give glory to God. We should pray for our leaders instead of wishing them bad.”

    Back home, Enugu residents are worried. A visit to Chime’s home town in Udi revealed a people who are worried and are desperate to see their son again. The palace of Igwe Chris Ogakwu, the Okwuluoha 111 of Udi, was locked when The Nation visited last week, but an elder lady said, ‘’ the king is probably in Enugu, but I cannot give you his number, but you are a journalist, you should be able to give us information about our son, we are worried, we are praying for him every day, we are sure God will bring him home soon’’.

    At Chime’s expansive house in the village, two security men wearing Vote for Chime T-Shirts told this reporter that the house has been locked for a while and no member of the family who could grant an interview was around. But from white to blue workers in Udi, the only news they want to hear now is that Chime is back in town.

    But some like the Chairman of Enugu State Christian Pilgrim Board and Bishop of the Enugu Anglican Communion, Emmanuel Chukwuma, is not happy being in the dark about Chime’s whereabout

    ‘‘ I must say that I, Bishop Chukwuma, am one of those behind the installation of Sullivan Chime as the Governor of Enugu State. I gave him support and I was the only bishop who blessed him. No other bishop blessed him when he was coming into government. Even his Catholic bishops rejected him because of how he was brought in by the former Governor, Dr. Chimaroke (Nnamani). I was the only bishop and I’m still praying for him. But the family of the governor has to be blamed for all that is happening now because they are not sincere and open on the matter. When the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was sick, his family was open to let us know he was sick. And I personally visited Ojukwu at the hospital in London. One of my visits was at the London Clinic while the other was at the Wallington Hospital. And I was able to see him and pray for him. But up till now, nobody has told me where my governor is, which hospital he is; they are hiding it. But we are praying. All I know is that he is not dead. I even received Christmas greeting card and gifts from the Government House sent by him. Okay! But what is the state of his health, nobody is telling us.’’

    But another clergy, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga warned against wishing Chime death and called for prayers for his recovery.

    Bishop Onaga said “We miss Chime now that he is not around. But there are many reasons why a chief executive of a state can travel outside. The important thing is that he complied with the laws of the land. He’s entitled to his holidays during which he can do other things which he wishes to.”The present situation is that things are not retarding because he’s not there. So, we’re praying that his being outside would augur well for him and eventually favour the whole state. We’re asking our people to be patient and try to understand that with time, we shall all smile. I’m quite sure that he probably has some health challenges, which are normal to every human being. But there is no reason people should hide it. Rather, we should be told the details of the whole thing so that we can intensify our prayers for him. Many of us have set up prayer warriors for him because he has been a very hardworking governor. He has made the Coal City to become one of the best states with good road networks in the entire country. And we want him to come back and complete the work.’’