http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201007090544951

There was confusion in Bayelsa State on Thursday on who the authentic deputy governor of the state was.


This followed the swearing in of a former Speaker Wirinipre Seibarugu as governor Timipre Sylva’s deputy and the ruling by a Court of Appeal that Mr. Peremobowei Ebebi should be reinstated as deputy governor, for now.


Announcements on the state-owned Radio Bayelsa had informed the public that Seibarugu’s inauguration would take place at 2pm.


A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Dofie Ola, said Sylva, would preside over the ceremony.


He added that five new commissioners, who were also to be inaugurated, were entitled to only one guest each.


Ola advised ”all guests to be seated by 1.30pm” in a hall in the Gloryland Castle, Government House, Yenagoa.


But as the news of the Appeal court ruling reached Yenagoa, the ceremony was hurriedly shifted to 12 noon with the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, administering the oath of office on the former speaker in the near empty hall.


Sylva, in a brief remark, said he had handed over the ministries of Agriculture, Local Government and Sports to Seibarugu.


He added that it was very clear what the roles of a deputy governor should be.


“In the last two years, this has not been so,” the governor said.


Counter radio announcements, which informed the public that the former speaker was sworn in at 9am, deepened the confusion among residents of the state.


Seibarugu and 17 other members of the state Assembly had on June 24 impeached Ebebi.


The impeachment brought to a climax, the political crisis that had plagued the state since the Assembly issued an impeachment notice to Ebebi on June 8.


At a sitting that lasted only 45 minutes, the lawmakers received and adopted the report of the seven-member investigative panel that probed the 10 allegations of gross misconduct against Ebebi.


The panel, headed by Mr. Donald Denwigwe (SAN), had submitted its report to the Assembly in the evening of June 23, after sitting and taking witnesses for two days.


But Ebebi went to the Yenagoa High Court to challenge the impeachment and the constitutionality of the panel.


Justice Doris Adokeme, however, dismissed the suit in which Ebebi had sought to stop the investigative panel.


Counsel to Ebebi, Mr. Kemeasuode Wodu, told newsmen after the court’s ruling that he would appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.


While ruling on the appeal on Thursday, Justice Suleiman Galadima, ordered that Ebebi should remain the state’s deputy of governor pending the hearing of the substantive suit on October 13, 2010.


He, therefore, directed lawyers to the appellant and respondents to advise their clients to abide by the rules and respect the directives of the court.


The judge gave the appellant 14 days to file his briefs while the respondents were also granted leave to file any further documents they deemed fit.


He said, “Respondents are granted leave to file any further document they deem fit and the appellant is given 14 days to file his briefs. The case is now adjourned till October 13, 2010 for hearing of substantive appeal.


“All of you (lawyers) should advise your clients to abide by the rules and respect the directives of the court.”


Earlier, counsel to the appellant, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had moved a motion for the impeachment of Ebebi to be set aside and all his rights as a deputy governor be returned to him.


Izinyon also applied for an accelerated hearing of the appeal and an interlocutory injunction restraining the state government from swearing in a new deputy governor pending the determination of the case.


However, lawyers to both parties differed on the directive that the status quo be maintained until judgement was delivered on the case.


Lawyer to the state Assembly, Mr. Sebastine Hon (SAN), had told journalists that information reaching him from Bayelsa was that a new deputy governor had already been sworn in.


But Izinyon maintained that Ebebi remained the deputy governor of Bayelsa State until the court ruled otherwise.


Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Nestor Binabo, has emerged as the new speaker of the Assembly.


His elevation followed the inauguration of Seibarugu as the state’s deputy governor.


The Assembly also elected Mr. Fini Angaye as the deputy speaker.


In his remarks, Binabo promised to consult other members of the Assembly on issues concerning them.

nigeria and their partisan politics

The speaker should quietly step down.

that goes a long way to show how influential our president is. his home state in disarray and he is still thinking he can rule nigeria even when he cannot handle his state.
on the other hand, what we have in nigeria is called anarchy - absence of govt. i will accept 5 or more deputies because we have democracy which is govt of the ppl, by the ppl and for the ppl so let everybody get involved.

A state chief lawmaker joins others to disobey a court order for selfish reasons. I think this democracy is crumbling. I can see the hand of Jonathan in this.

If a state is a vehicle and the Deputy Gov is a spare tyre, then any vehicle having 2 spare tyres is driving at his own risk. So, Bayelsa State be extra carefull.

Like Bauchi,Like Bayelsa
Two deputy Governors at once

Under Yaradua with his Rule of Law ,this would never happen
Even in the Senate case against Sen Amordi the court sacked her and the senate Refused to swear the new senator
We need Rule of Law Back

xterra2:

Like Bauchi,Like Bayelsa
Two deputy Governors at once

Under Yaradua with his Rule of Law ,this would never happen
Even in the Senate case against Sen Amordi the court sacked her and the senate Refused to swear the new senator
We need Rule of Law Back

then vote pdp out come 2011

The name BAYELSA seem like a dangerous name. They always have one problem or the order with polity. Other State may have and u wont hear from them, but once is BAYELSA everything will be expose.

the drama has only begun.
very soon, we will be having 2 or 3 presidents at the same time
this is Nigeria , anything can happen

when will our people in public office learn how to be civil.its a shame

qrich:

the drama has only begun.
very soon, we will be having 2 or 3 presidents at the same time
this is Nigeria , anything can happen

[size=18pt]where were you when Yaradua & Jonathan were both serving the country on presidential basis? Yaradua as President and Jonathan as acting President but empowered by the senate with presidential powers . [/size]

Vainglory:

A state chief lawmaker joins others to disobey a court order for selfish reasons. I think this democracy is crumbling. I can see the hand of Jonathan in this.

How do you see the hand of Jonathan in it? Are you seer or General Overseer. Everything is now Jonathan. If you sleep with your wife and she gives birth to a girl, it is Jonathan that caused it .
hissess angrily

chidichris:

that goes a long way to show how influential our president is. his home state in disarray and he is still thinking he can rule nigeria even when he cannot handle his state.
on the other hand, what we have in nigeria is called anarchy - absence of govt. i will accept 5 or more deputies because we have democracy which is govt of the ppl, by the ppl and for the ppl so let everybody get involved.

So because he is President and from Bayelsa state, he must interfere with all activities in Bayelsa state. I thought you would say he should be President and Governor of Bayelsa state at the same time. hissess

Eh! Nigerian Politics!!! When will sanity ever be entrenched in it,

Corrupt people, nemesis will catch you up soonest

"Four deputy Governors in two states" was the caption of one of the Newspapers today.
Bauchi and Bayelsa states are as confused as the nation Nigerian. Why is it that some people don't like to leave office when asked to go. Is it there property? Haba.

One should be Assistant Deputy, and that solves that!!

Those fools.They are all confuse,

@SPYKER, the reason they dont like leaving such office is because of the free national cake.

that is to show their high level of greed.

This is one of the most underdeveloped states in Nigeria and yet the money that goes in is one of the greatest.

It is laughable for anybody to insinuate democracy ever existed in the jungle called Nigeria. Mangled, rigged and shady elections can not tantamount to democracy.

May God help dis our state 'Bayelsa'.
May God evict Timipre Silva like a plagued rat.

funmi2010:

One should be Assistant Deputy, and that solves that!!

ROTFLMAO. . . .

nigeria jaga jaga everything scatter scatter

Politics will continue to be a 'do or die' affair in Nigeria.

What?

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na waooooooooooooooooo

Naija land of never ending drama

Bayelsa? what the hell is that? Nigeria had 19 states before I left for New York