Shadow boxing rages on in Bayelsa Assembly
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- Category: Inside politics
- Written by Hope Abah, Yenagoa
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On the surface, the in-fighting in The Bayelsa State House of Assembly is between the lawmakers, but political pundits postulate that it is actually between President Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Timipre Sylva, and the sacrificial lamb could be Governor Henry Seriake
Lawmakers, all of whom now belong to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’s family in Bayelsa State are at loggerhead over the current crisis that prompted the impeachment of the leadership of the House which was elected barely three months ago.A faction of the House last Monday removed their speaker, Friday Kombowei Benson in an indoor session which barred journalists from covering the proceedings that also elected a former deputy speaker, Fini Angaye as its new Speaker.
Weekly Trust gathered that a faction of the legislators presumed to be former Governor Timipre Sylva’s henchmen stormed the Assembly complex at about 4:00pm under the guise of an emergency session to discuss crucial issues of importance for the well being of the state.
And, with the presence of heavily armed security men, within 30-minutes, the sitting was over with the announcement that the speaker has been impeached by a two-third majority while a new one has also emerged.
Consequently, the new speaker addressed journalists saying, “I have now become their (legislators) servant and at any point in time when I go astray, they should correct me. Bayelsa State House of Assembly has effected a change and all I can tell you is that I have come to serve the people of Bayelsa State and move the state forward.”
In a prompt response, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the ousted speaker, Piriye Kiyaramo fired back. He said the action taken by the lawmakers was illegal because they had only 11 lawmakers out of 24, which did not form a quorum. He also said the symbol of authority was not at their disposal during the process.
Before now, the aggrieved members led by a former speaker Nelson Binabo and his deputy Fini Angaye representing Kolokuma/Opokuma II who moved against the Speaker Konbowei Friday Benson held that 16 members of the 24 were at the session and supported the impeachment.
It was learnt that Angaye who acted as speaker of the Assembly when Hon. Binabo was elevated as acting Governor following the Supreme Court judgment which swept former Governor Timipre Sylva out of office had contested the speakership slot when Dickson emerged governor.
Incidentally, Angaye lost to Benson who represents Southern Ijaw constituency II due to the fact that Angaye was one of the legislators fingered as loyalists of Sylva.
Benson who was said to be out of the country when his impeachment was announced on Monday returned to the state only 24 hours later to claim that he was still in House and that due process was not followed to authenticate his ousting.
But, the new man, Angaye is not letting go as he also claimed to have been duly elected in an emergency session which observers said was hurriedly done following a motion moved by the member representing Ogbia Constituency II, Obedience Emoton and supported by former Governor Timipre Sylva’s loyalist, a former speaker, Binabo.
Binabo who also held forte as acting governor early this year nominated Angaye, his former deputy that acted as acting speaker during the period Sylva was sacked which was accepted by the others perceived to still be standing in for the former governor.
Reacting to the development, a top politician in the state who declined his name in print confided in Weekly Trust that the current crisis is far from finish and that it has it remote causes on the manner the PDP conducted its affairs in the last election which produced Henry Seriake Dickson as governor of the state.
Moreover, the source said Dickson has no structure in both National and State Assemblies, “it is obvious that Sylva’s camp will regroup to strengthen the effectiveness of the impeachment saga in the House.”
Meanwhile, Dickson who was said to be in Lagos when the event occurred waded into the crisis that enveloped the House in an attempt to stabilize the fragile relationship or possibly restore calm to the tensed atmosphere.
Dickson, who appeared to feign ignorance about the development, which political analysts opined has the capacity to threaten the foundation of his administration, is said to have already held series of meetings with the legislators including the embattled speaker to find a way forward.
On the other hand, Angaye and his former boss, Binabo were alleged to have masterminded the impeachment move against Konbowei for his inability to release money frequently to them. That was the tradition before the change of baton when Binabo resigned his position as Speaker having hailed from the same Sagbama hometown as Dickson.
Again, the failure of Dickson to fulfil the unwritten agreement to have Binabo replaced to the vacant slot created by his elevation was said to have fuelled the former acting governor to team up with his former deputy to take back his pound of flesh.
“Although, the governor may not be aware of the underlying game plan, the whole plot is an attempt to fight his administration. Once the aggrieved men get complete hold of the key leadership of the House, the number of members who impeached the speaker can also send him (Dickson) packing,” says a political pundit.
In the thinking of most political analysts, the governor needs more than a mere wisdom to handle the crisis effectively or else it might consume him. This is even as some people believe that he is part of the plot.
Apparently, the men in the eye of the storm may not easily concede defeat, but reports suggest that the ‘coup’ plotters are no longer comfortable with the embattled speaker whom they believe lacks the political clout to influence the Governor to release funds.
Obedient Emoton, representing OgbiaII, who moved the motion for impeachment and seconded by Walaman Igurubia Ogbia III, said their action was inevitable to enable the state move to the next level. Binabo, who represents Sagbama II, said the choice of Angaye as speaker of the Assembly will stabilize the polity considering the antecedents of Angaye in leadership position.
As at press time, credible source informed Weekly Trust that the PDP’s leadership in the state has made frantic effort towards resolving the issue following a directive from President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate the ousted speaker.
Benson, however ,has continued to reject his purported impeachment, insisting that 11 members of the House did not comply with the Standing Order 44 of the House, adding that the development was an embarrassment to the government and people of the state.
He argued in a statement made available to Weekly Trust that the House has earlier adjourned from its sitting last week Wednesday, May 30, 2012, to Tuesday, June 5, 2012, to enable it to transmit previously passed bills to the governor for his assent.
The statement said “being blindfolded by their desperation to unseat the speaker before he returned from his family medical trip, they went ahead to sit without the symbol of authority in the House (the MACE) contrary to the tradition and practice in every parliament and the world over, meaning that whatever decision taken on the sacred floor of the House on that Monday amounted to an exercise in futility.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that, before a Speaker or his Deputy could be removed, there must be a two-third majority of members present on the floor of the House, being 16 members out of the 24 members in the case of Bayelsa State House of Assembly to constitute the constitutionally required two third majority.
“The Speaker has therefore challenged the eleven members that carried out the purported impeachment exercise to provide proof of evidence to the contrary, if they had two-third majority of members during their purported sitting to impeach him”.
In the meantime, all is not well from the look of things. Sylva is not yet a closed chapter, so also those who are aggrieved with Jonathan over the choice of Dickson for governor are also waiting to settle scores.
In fact, political pundits who read in between the lines had concluded that the battle has just started, not merely against Benson but a supremacy struggle to undo Jonathan and his political anointed son, Dickson. In their thinking, the state Assembly apparatus against the person of Jonathan and his PDP-controlled executive is a strong signal that the oil-rich state might be heading for a show of shame.
Articles
Shadow boxing rages on in Bayelsa Assembly
Category: Inside politics Written by Hope Abah, Yenagoa Hits: 985
On the surface, the in-fighting in The Bayelsa State House of Assembly is between the lawmakers, but political pundits postulate that it is actually between President Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor Timipre Sylva, and the sacrificial lamb could be Governor Henry Seriake
Lawmakers, all of whom now belong to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’s family in Bayelsa State are at loggerhead over the current crisis that prompted the impeachment of the leadership of the House which was elected barely three months ago.A faction of the House last Monday removed their speaker, Friday Kombowei Benson in an indoor session which barred journalists from covering the proceedings that also elected a former deputy speaker, Fini Angaye as its new Speaker.
Weekly Trust gathered that a faction of the legislators presumed to be former Governor Timipre Sylva’s henchmen stormed the Assembly complex at about 4:00pm under the guise of an emergency session to discuss crucial issues of importance for the well being of the state.
And, with the presence of heavily armed security men, within 30-minutes, the sitting was over with the announcement that the speaker has been impeached by a two-third majority while a new one has also emerged.
Consequently, the new speaker addressed journalists saying, “I have now become their (legislators) servant and at any point in time when I go astray, they should correct me. Bayelsa State House of Assembly has effected a change and all I can tell you is that I have come to serve the people of Bayelsa State and move the state forward.”
In a prompt response, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the ousted speaker, Piriye Kiyaramo fired back. He said the action taken by the lawmakers was illegal because they had only 11 lawmakers out of 24, which did not form a quorum. He also said the symbol of authority was not at their disposal during the process.
Before now, the aggrieved members led by a former speaker Nelson Binabo and his deputy Fini Angaye representing Kolokuma/Opokuma II who moved against the Speaker Konbowei Friday Benson held that 16 members of the 24 were at the session and supported the impeachment.
It was learnt that Angaye who acted as speaker of the Assembly when Hon. Binabo was elevated as acting Governor following the Supreme Court judgment which swept former Governor Timipre Sylva out of office had contested the speakership slot when Dickson emerged governor.
Incidentally, Angaye lost to Benson who represents Southern Ijaw constituency II due to the fact that Angaye was one of the legislators fingered as loyalists of Sylva.
Benson who was said to be out of the country when his impeachment was announced on Monday returned to the state only 24 hours later to claim that he was still in House and that due process was not followed to authenticate his ousting.
But, the new man, Angaye is not letting go as he also claimed to have been duly elected in an emergency session which observers said was hurriedly done following a motion moved by the member representing Ogbia Constituency II, Obedience Emoton and supported by former Governor Timipre Sylva’s loyalist, a former speaker, Binabo.
Binabo who also held forte as acting governor early this year nominated Angaye, his former deputy that acted as acting speaker during the period Sylva was sacked which was accepted by the others perceived to still be standing in for the former governor.
Reacting to the development, a top politician in the state who declined his name in print confided in Weekly Trust that the current crisis is far from finish and that it has it remote causes on the manner the PDP conducted its affairs in the last election which produced Henry Seriake Dickson as governor of the state.
Moreover, the source said Dickson has no structure in both National and State Assemblies, “it is obvious that Sylva’s camp will regroup to strengthen the effectiveness of the impeachment saga in the House.”
Meanwhile, Dickson who was said to be in Lagos when the event occurred waded into the crisis that enveloped the House in an attempt to stabilize the fragile relationship or possibly restore calm to the tensed atmosphere.
Dickson, who appeared to feign ignorance about the development, which political analysts opined has the capacity to threaten the foundation of his administration, is said to have already held series of meetings with the legislators including the embattled speaker to find a way forward.
On the other hand, Angaye and his former boss, Binabo were alleged to have masterminded the impeachment move against Konbowei for his inability to release money frequently to them. That was the tradition before the change of baton when Binabo resigned his position as Speaker having hailed from the same Sagbama hometown as Dickson.
Again, the failure of Dickson to fulfil the unwritten agreement to have Binabo replaced to the vacant slot created by his elevation was said to have fuelled the former acting governor to team up with his former deputy to take back his pound of flesh.
“Although, the governor may not be aware of the underlying game plan, the whole plot is an attempt to fight his administration. Once the aggrieved men get complete hold of the key leadership of the House, the number of members who impeached the speaker can also send him (Dickson) packing,” says a political pundit.
In the thinking of most political analysts, the governor needs more than a mere wisdom to handle the crisis effectively or else it might consume him. This is even as some people believe that he is part of the plot.
Apparently, the men in the eye of the storm may not easily concede defeat, but reports suggest that the ‘coup’ plotters are no longer comfortable with the embattled speaker whom they believe lacks the political clout to influence the Governor to release funds.
Obedient Emoton, representing OgbiaII, who moved the motion for impeachment and seconded by Walaman Igurubia Ogbia III, said their action was inevitable to enable the state move to the next level. Binabo, who represents Sagbama II, said the choice of Angaye as speaker of the Assembly will stabilize the polity considering the antecedents of Angaye in leadership position.
As at press time, credible source informed Weekly Trust that the PDP’s leadership in the state has made frantic effort towards resolving the issue following a directive from President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate the ousted speaker.
Benson, however ,has continued to reject his purported impeachment, insisting that 11 members of the House did not comply with the Standing Order 44 of the House, adding that the development was an embarrassment to the government and people of the state.
He argued in a statement made available to Weekly Trust that the House has earlier adjourned from its sitting last week Wednesday, May 30, 2012, to Tuesday, June 5, 2012, to enable it to transmit previously passed bills to the governor for his assent.
The statement said “being blindfolded by their desperation to unseat the speaker before he returned from his family medical trip, they went ahead to sit without the symbol of authority in the House (the MACE) contrary to the tradition and practice in every parliament and the world over, meaning that whatever decision taken on the sacred floor of the House on that Monday amounted to an exercise in futility.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that, before a Speaker or his Deputy could be removed, there must be a two-third majority of members present on the floor of the House, being 16 members out of the 24 members in the case of Bayelsa State House of Assembly to constitute the constitutionally required two third majority.
“The Speaker has therefore challenged the eleven members that carried out the purported impeachment exercise to provide proof of evidence to the contrary, if they had two-third majority of members during their purported sitting to impeach him”.
In the meantime, all is not well from the look of things. Sylva is not yet a closed chapter, so also those who are aggrieved with Jonathan over the choice of Dickson for governor are also waiting to settle scores.
In fact, political pundits who read in between the lines had concluded that the battle has just started, not merely against Benson but a supremacy struggle to undo Jonathan and his political anointed son, Dickson. In their thinking, the state Assembly apparatus against the person of Jonathan and his PDP-controlled executive is a strong signal that the oil-rich state might be heading for a show of shame.