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The protracted
leadership tussle that has hitherto turned the Edo State House of
Assembly into a one-party assembly might soon end as the house
yesterday recalled four of its members who were suspended in February
this year.

The suspended
legislators including the erstwhile Speaker, Zakawanu Garuba (Etsako
West I) were suspended for allegedly using dangerous weapons in the
forceful change of the House’ leadership on February 22, 2010.

Mr Garuba alongside
his former deputy, Levis Aigbogun (Ovia North East I), former Majority
Leader, Frank Okiye (Esan North East I) and Blessing Agbebaku (Owan
West) were however asked to apologise to the assembly and withdraw
their cases from the court.

Spirit of the yuletide season

Majority Leader of
the House, Philip Shaibu who moved the motion for the recall of the
suspended members, explained that the decision to recall the members
was in line with the spirit of the yuletide season as well as the
spirit of unity to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

The motion which
was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Paul Ohonbamu, however listed
conditions that must be met before they could be fully re-admitted into
the House.

According to him,
Mr Zakawanu and his colleagues “must withdraw all cases in court
instituted by them against the Edo State House of Assembly or any
member thereof.

“They must formally
apologize to the House in writing, for their roles in the fracas on the
floor of the House on Monday, February 22, 2010.

“They must sign an undertaking with the State Commissioner of police, to be of good behaviour thereafter.” He said.

Meanwhile, the
House in a plenary session on Monday, swore-in the member-elect
representing Igueben constituency, Steven Idehenre of Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) who was declared winner of the election held on April
14 by the Appeal Court last week.

The relevant oaths
were administered by the Clerk of the House, Egbe Evbuomwan under the
watchful eyes of the Speaker, Bright Omokhodion and other members.

The House also
cleared two commissioner nominees. They are Francis Osakpamwan
Evbuomwan and Ojeabu Ochei Callistus who were sent by the Governor of
the state, Adams Oshiomhole for screening and confirmation.

Gladys Nwafor, a
national commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission,
said the commission will prosecute anyone found guilty of malpractice
during the forthcoming voter registration.

Mrs. Nwafor said in
Bauchi at the weekend that the immediate prosecution of the offenders
would serve as a deterrent to other persons with similar motives.

According to her, the commission has set an example with the recent prosecution of some offenders in the Anambra by-election.

“We are using the
Anambra issue as a case study. So, anybody found guilty or engaged in
electoral malpractice will be dealt with accordingly, no matter his or
her status,’’ she said.

She however assured Nigerians that the Attahiru Jega-led electoral
commission would conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2011.

The Ekiti State
Police Command says it has deployed 750 officers to provide security
during the by-election into the Moba state constituency 1 in Moba
Council Area. The spokesman for the Command, Adebayo Jimoh, in Ado
Ekiti on Monday said that police authorities had ordered ‘stop and
search’ inspections on all vehicles coming out and going into the
constituency as part of measures to forestall any breach of the peace.

The by-election to
be organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is
scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 22. The constituency became vacant
following the death of Saliu Adeoti, the former deputy speaker of the
House of Assembly on October 27. The election is expected to hold in 49
polling booths in five wards that make up the constituency.

“So far, 750 policemen from the command have been deployed to take
part in the Moba Constituency 1 by-election to ensure peaceful conduct
of the election. The Commissioner of Police has equally visited the
constituency and all the polling booths to assess the security
situation,” Mr. Jimoh said.

Anambra State
governor Peter Obi was moved to tears last weekend when he visited
victims of a fire disaster at Uli, Ihiala local government area of the
state.

Mr Obi said he had
come to commiserate with them and to assess the level of damage wreaked
by the inferno when a fuel tanker fell on the road leading to the
Anambra State University at Uli, destroying houses and goods worth
millions of naira.

Speaking during the
inspection, the governor said he wished the disaster had not happened.
He said he feels pained when any part of the state suffers in any way,
because there was enough hardship in the state already. He remarked
that his government was working round the clock to ameliorate the
situation.

The governor, who
had earlier sent a commissioner to assess the damage as well as
directed the State Emergency Management Agency to pay full attention to
the incident, said he felt compelled to visit in person to show how
dispirited he was.

Consolation

He assured the
victims that they would be compensated and promised that he will appeal
to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to replace the burnt
wire and restore electricity to the affected homes.

The Legislator
representing Ihiala 1 Constituency at the state house of assembly,
Simeon Ohajianya said that he was often humbled by the way issues
affecting any part of the state touched the governor.

“When I informed
him about the disaster, he was touched. For once, one could see a
governor who is passionate about the welfare of his people. If you do
not love this state, after dealing with the governor, you will be
inspired to love the state,” Mr. Ohajianya said.

The traditional ruler of Uli, Onyedi Ebekue, said that his people
were grateful to the governor who had continued to show them love and
care.

The Chairman of
Bendel Insurance Football Club, Igbinomwahia Ekhosuehi was at the
weekend abducted by two armed men at his residence in Idemudia Avenue
of Erediauwa Street, Ekehuan road, Benin City.

The Edo State
Director of the State Security Services (SSS), Francis Adeyemi Sonaike
confirmed the kidnap saying that investigations are ongoing.

A family source had
also said that the kidnappers of Mr Ekhosuehi were said to have
demanded for a ransom of N10m and N1m daily for the victim’s feeding
and upkeep.

Also, the State
Security Services, (SSS), paraded five suspects for various crimes
ranging from blackmailing, rape, extortion, threat to kill and
kidnapping.

According to Mr
Sonaike, over 50 kidnap cases are pending in various courts in the
state, but said they have asked the state prosecutors to push for
accelerated hearing and trial of all the suspects currently facing
trials for kidnap related cases.

Seven Years

A Benin City
magistrate court yesterday sentenced one Osamuyi Osunbor to seven years
imprisonment without an option of fine for extortion and threat to kill.

Mr Osunbor was
arrested on November 2, 2010 while attempting to collect a ransom of
N100,000 paid into his account by a victim he had threatened to kill.

The Magistrate, J.U Oyomire therefore sentenced him to seven years after he pleaded guilty to the crime.

The protracted
leadership tussle that has hitherto turned the Edo State House of
Assembly into a one-party assembly might soon end as the house
yesterday recalled four of its members who were suspended in February
this year.

The suspended
legislators including the erstwhile Speaker, Zakawanu Garuba (Etsako
West I) were suspended for allegedly using dangerous weapons in the
forceful change of the House’ leadership on February 22, 2010.

Mr Garuba alongside
his former deputy, Levis Aigbogun (Ovia North East I), former Majority
Leader, Frank Okiye (Esan North East I) and Blessing Agbebaku (Owan
West) were however asked to apologise to the assembly and withdraw
their cases from the court.

Spirit of the yuletide season

Majority Leader of
the House, Philip Shaibu who moved the motion for the recall of the
suspended members, explained that the decision to recall the members
was in line with the spirit of the yuletide season as well as the
spirit of unity to strengthen the nation’s democracy.

The motion which
was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Paul Ohonbamu, however listed
conditions that must be met before they could be fully re-admitted into
the House.

According to him,
Mr Zakawanu and his colleagues “must withdraw all cases in court
instituted by them against the Edo State House of Assembly or any
member thereof.

“They must formally
apologize to the House in writing, for their roles in the fracas on the
floor of the House on Monday, February 22, 2010.

“They must sign an undertaking with the State Commissioner of police, to be of good behaviour thereafter.” He said.

Meanwhile, the
House in a plenary session on Monday, swore-in the member-elect
representing Igueben constituency, Steven Idehenre of Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN) who was declared winner of the election held on April
14 by the Appeal Court last week.

The relevant oaths
were administered by the Clerk of the House, Egbe Evbuomwan under the
watchful eyes of the Speaker, Bright Omokhodion and other members.

The House also
cleared two commissioner nominees. They are Francis Osakpamwan
Evbuomwan and Ojeabu Ochei Callistus who were sent by the Governor of
the state, Adams Oshiomhole for screening and confirmation.

A federal high court in Abuja, yesterday, discharged
Uche Chukwumerije, a senator and a traditional ruler, Eze Gaius
Ihejiamaizu, as sureties for the former governor of Abia State, Orji
Uzor Kalu, because they claimed that they no longer had confidence in
him. Mr Chukwumerije and Mr Ihejiamaizu approached the court to vacate
their pledges over Mr Kalu. At the resumed hearing of the matter,
Kelvin Emeka Okoro, counsel to the senator, and Onyedika Offor, lawyer
to the traditional ruler, in their application, told the court that
section 134 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), allows a surety to
withdraw at any stage.

“The surety at any time can apply to the court to
discharge the cognizance he entered as it affects him.” Adding, that
the court should discharge their clients as sureties.

Counsel to Mr Kalu, Awa Kalu, did not object to their
withdrawal, but said having regard to sections 122 of the CPA, the
judge may consider whether it is still desirable to retain traditional
ruler as surety in the matter. “Since the date of arraignment, the
first accused has been appearing before the court, his appearance today
is 32nd.” The lawyer said Mr. kalu has demonstrated unequivocally, his
wiliness to appear before the court and face his trial.” Having regard
to the fact that the accused has never fail to appear, the court may
bend the rules requiring a traditional ruler or senator and grant him
bail on self recognizance. He is a former governor of Abia state and
understand the consequences of failing to come to court.”

Rulings

Ruling on the application, Adamu Bello discharged
Messrs. Chukwumerije and Ihejiamaizu as sureties to Mr Kalu and asked
him to look for a surety to replace Mr. Chukwumerije while he waived
the requirement of the traditional ruler to be a surety in the matter,
and adjourned the matter to April 18, 2011 for mention.

Mr Ihajiamaize, in an affidavit, said: “…Sometime
in July 2007, I stood as surety to the first accused person [Orji Uzor
Kalu] in this charge. That part of the bail condition included the
deposit of my certificate of recognition as a traditional ruler [Eze]
in Abia State issued on November 16, 1998 by the state government. That
I entered as surety to the accused person because of the confidence I
had in him then. I no longer have confidence in the first accused
person and will not stand as surety for him anymore. That for now the
first accused and myself have not been associating with each other and
I can no longer vouch for him, being unaware of his movements and
actions. That it would be in the interest of justice to discharge me as
a surety to the first accused person and return my said certificate of
recognition to me.” The EFCC had slamed a 107-count charge of
money-laundering against Mr Kalu, including mismanaging over N5billion
belonging to the Abia State government.

Two other accused persons standing trial alongside Mr Kalu including Ude Jones Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited.

Leader of the
opposition coalition within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo
state, Lekan Balogun, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of being
too weak to defend democracy.

He also issued
seven-day ultimatum to the national leadership of the party to act
right on the protracted crisis within the state chapter of the party or
force the aggrieved members to take action against them.

The Ibadan Chief
and a former Senator in the third republic, who briefed the press on
why none of the known members of the coalition showed up at a PDP
parley with Mr Jonathan in Ibadan last Sunday, said the president is
not demonstrating enough courage to portray himself as a true democrat.

The president was
in Ibadan for a stakeholders’ meeting of the PDP and to also seek the
support of delegates from the South West region for his ambition to
secure the presidential ticket of the party at the forthcoming
convention.

But Mr Balogun said
rather than invite the people of his camp properly, many of them only
got to know about the meeting through casual conversation with party
members.

“There is nothing
wrong in issuing a letter from the Presidency to us the aggrieved
members to invite us to the parley,” Mr Balogun said.

Party crisis

Tracing the crisis
of the party in the state and the consistent failure of the leadership
to right the wrongs responsible for the feud, the coalition leader
predicted that if things continue same way, the party may likely bite
the dust at the next elections.

“I do not know how
the President wants the PDP to win in a state where, for years, the
governor has frustrated the rule of democracy and the rule of law,” he
said.

According to Mr
Balogun, the state governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, in order to realise
his ambition at all cost, has frustrated all efforts to bring back
peace to the party.

Most frustrating, he noted, was the way the president has allowed himself to be fooled by the governor on the state of things.

He recalled how his
team was able to educate the president on many of the happenings within
the party in the state during a meeting with the stakeholders in Lagos
some last three weeks, but regretted that, despite that, the president
did not issue any official statement on the meeting and issues raised
there, and still held meeting with only a faction when he came to
Ibadan.

By that singular
act, the president, according to him, has already conceded votes of
members of the coalition who, by the provisions of the party’s
constitution, will participate at the party’s primaries next year.

“Obviously, the President has not addressed the stakeholders on Sunday.

He had only played to the gallery of the governor.

“That will mean a
lot to the president and the party for the 2011 election. The President
will lose the votes of our members who, by the virtue of being members
of the National Assembly and the state House of Assembly currently,
will vote at the primaries. This also means that the governor will not
return in 2011. For us, his second coming is not negotiable. He won’t
come.

We will not compromise anything on that.

“For aligning with the undemocratic elements in the state, the
President will have to work hard to show the people that he is truly a
democrat and he is truly committed to democratic principles,” he
submitted.

The Adamawa State governor, Murtala
Nyako, has told a gathering of party supporters that he will be running
for re-election. He said this at a meeting of the party convened by the
state chapter of the party under the leadership of Minjiyawa Kugama.
Also, Mr Nyako may presently be the sole candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party. The state party chairman Kugama Minjiyawa declared at
the end of a party meeting held in the state that Mr Nyako is the only
aspirant to have obtained a nomination form from the party secretariat.
Announcing his bid and urging party delegates to support him as he
would be seeking a second term in office, Mr Nyako said he was very
sure of a return to office after the 2011 election.

Mr Nyako who
however is joined in a consolidated suit involving five other state
governors who are contesting the decision of the electoral body to
conduct elections in their states, arguing that their tenure expires on
a later date other than the 2011 election date the electoral wants to
stick by. Mr Nyako told party members that whether the court ruled in
their favor or otherwise, they should be rest assured that he would be
seeking re-election under the party banner.

The state party meeting was
well attended by all the political office holders as well as elected
party members. The state party chairman Mr. Kugama reeled out figures
saying that 135 persons had indicated their interest in contesting for
seats into the state house of assembly, 41 persons for the house of
representative, 15 persons for the senate elections and only one person
for the governorship post.

Controversial aspirants

Mr. Kugama added that all those who got
nomination forms for the governorship race other than the incumbent
obviously did not get it from the state party secretariat and so only
had one aspirant for the office of the governor the incumbent. Among
those seen to have indicated interest for the Adamawa government house
are Aliyu Idi Hong the minister of state foreign affairs; Silas
Zwingina, a former party chairman of the PDP in the state; Joel Madaki
and Buba Marwa, former military governor of Lagos state. Others are Mr.
Nyako’s chief of staff Bello Tukur, and another Nyako aide, Abubakar
Madawaki, the state commissioner of local government and chieftainship
affairs.