Show respect, Tukur tells 5 Northern govs; You don't deserve respect, says Nyako

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North; Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru & Tina Akannam
ABUJA — NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday took a swipe at five governors from the North elected on the platform of the party, warning them to show decorum, humility and respect him.

One of the governors, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, however, fired back, saying Alhaji Tukur does not deserve his respect because he lacks capacity and competence to handle PDP.

The other governors are Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Mu'Azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State.

The PDP chairman in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Prince Oliver Okpala bluntly told the governors that they must embrace peace and stop dramatizing the country’s few problems, saying it could send wrong signals to Nigerians and the international community.

[caption id="attachment_406281" align="alignnone" width="412"] Wammako, Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso and Nyako[/caption]

According to him, unguarded utterances and calls by the governors were causing unnecessary political tension and overheating the polity. He added that as leaders, they were expected to show respect to him as an elder. Tukur also warned that as governors and leaders, they must desist from any action that could truncate the nation’s democracy.

It will be recalled that  a week after a meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, the governors had visited President Goodluck Jonathan last Saturday at State House, Abuja.

Tukur’s reply to the governors came on the heels of Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson’s reconciliation committee that was last week inaugurated when all the problems confronting the party were expected to be resolved.

Tukur said: "The recent visit by some governors from the North to the President has raised furore, although the discussions between the President and the governors was held behind closed doors, the media has been awash with news of the meeting and the issues discussed.

“Media reports have it that the four governors who had earlier visited former president, Chief Obasanjo and two former military Heads of State demanded the removal of Dr. Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the PDP.”

Tukur's caution

Lampooning the governors for the visit to the former leaders without using the available internal mechanism of the party to air their views , Tukur said:  "We do not know the veracity of this claim. Suffice it to say, however, that the governors have the fundamental right to meet and discuss with each other and whomsoever they like and may also have the fundamental right to freedom of speech and to air their views on any issue of national importance.

“However, in so doing, one would expect them to make comments with decorum, humility and caution. As leaders who the general public looks upon as role models, they are expected to show respect to constituted authority and the elders, which include Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who have contributed immensely to the peace, progress, development and advancement of this country.

“Much as the constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech and assembly, there are constitutional limitations to this freedom and the leaders should show wisdom, caution, prudence and good counsel in their comments on national issues as their unguarded utterances and calls can cause unnecessary political tension.

“It is also important to emphasize that the PDP, as a political platform upon which the governors were elected, have avenues and internal mechanisms for resolution of conflicts and grievances. The governors are, therefore, advised as party men to avail themselves of these avenues before seeking audience or making public utterances capable of overheating the polity.

“More importantly, the PDP has a reconciliation committee entrusted with the task of conflict resolution in the party.  The governors, by their action and utterances, have shown contempt to this committee by not deeming it necessary or worthy to take their grievances to the reconciliation committee.

“One would have expected the governors to express their grievances privately to the party leadership or the reconciliation committee instead of going public with their grievances before seeking audience with other Nigerian leaders.

“There is no doubt that the governors’ peripatetic vision has contributed in no small measure to overheating the polity. The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, has tried all in his powers to bring peace, tranquility and love to the PDP. His three cardinal policies of reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding are aimed at giving all members of the party a sense of belonging.

“The National Chairman also has an open door policy and accommodation for all shades of opinion within the party. It is unfortunate that these governors are demanding Tukur’s removal when Tukur has made immense sacrifices for the peace and progress of the PDP and had extended his peculiar kind of brotherly love to all party men and women.

“The governors are hereby advised to embrace peace and desist from dramatizing the few problems within our democracy as these can send a wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community.

“The governors, as party faithfuls and responsible citizens of this country holding exalted positions, should desist from any action that tend to overheat the polity and truncate our nascent democratic structure.

“Be it known that Bamanga Tukur is a true and committed democratic, patriotic Nigerian, a first-class nationalist and an elder statesman of international repute, whose cardinal aim is to protect our nascent democracy, protect the indivisibility of our country and ensure the progress of our great party, the PDP.”

Tukur does not deserve respect; he lacks capacity and competence to handle PDP— Nyako

Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, however, dismissed the assertion of Tukur, insisting that Tukur by his comportment and conduct does not deserve respect.

Besides, he accused Tukur of diverting attention from the core issues of his lack of competence and capacity which he said were at the root of the problems in the party. Nyako was one of the first PDP governors to oppose Tukur’s nomination for the position of PDP National Chairman and grudgingly gave in only after he was personally persuaded by the President few days to the convention last year.

“Bamanga Tukur is trying to divert attention from the core issues. It is not the issue of respect for each other, it is not the issue of age or status or international standing. The matter in question is his competence and ability to run the party, his ability to provide fairness and justice to everybody,” Nyako said in a reaction signed by his Director of Press, Sajoh Ahmad.

“He cannot come here to sponsor a group of impostors and call them executives who will disenfranchise us, disrespect us, kick us aside and he turns around and tells us about respect and status. In actual fact, if he thinks his status is not respected, Murtala Nyako has had higher attainments nationally than him,” he said in reference to Nyako who had been the country’s Chief of Naval Staff in the mid-eighties.

Continuing, he said: “If he can bring in impostors and impose them on the state PDP and cause them to disrespect Nyako, he should not be talking about respect, but that is not the issue at stake.

“The issue at stake is his competence, capacity, ability as the National Chairman of the PDP. Is he running the PDP competently enough? Is he providing level playing field? Is he fair and just to everybody concerned? That his media office will continue to remind people that he is running the PDP with peace, concord, and understanding when he knows that in the last four months now, they have had four reconciliation committees?

“A group that has peace and concord cannot definitely have four reconciliation committees in four months. I don’t think that the two tally.

“We are not arguing about respect, about age, about status or whatever, we are talking about competence to run the PDP as an inclusive party that accommodates everybody’s interests.”

 

Jigawa PDP defends govs

The Jigawa State PDP chairman, Alhaji Salisu Mamuda also defended the governors, saying that “it is not out of place for the PDP governors to seek advice from other party elders because of the present crisis within the party,” adding that the party chairman’s wisdom was not enough to solve the problems rocking the party.

According to him, Alhaji Tukur should remember that most of the party governors were elected during the tenure of former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and they still have good rapport with him. “Personally, I don’t think that the governors’ decision to meet with him for elderly advice as party stalwart is wrong. Why should our national party chairman take offence?

"Nobody is disrespecting the National Chairman, every action of some of our patriotic governors is in the interest of the party. My governor has been very loyal to the party, that is why I respect all his political moves."

2015: Northern governors report Jonathan to Shagari

….We discussed state of the nation— Nyako

Meanwhile four of the Northern governors, who are still aggrieved over certain political developments in the PDP, on Tuesday, took their grievances to the doorsteps of former President Shehu Shagari, pleading with him to intervene.

The governors, who began their meeting with Shagari at about 11:45 am, were led by Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko. The others were Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.

Vanguard learnt that the fifth governor, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, who would have been part of the delegation, had travelled to Saudi Arabia.

The governors were said to have pleaded with Shagari to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to take urgent steps to salvage the party and the nation from certain perilous individuals and agencies bent on derailing the democratic gains already attained by the nation.

The governors, who were summoned for crucial talks with President Jonathan at the weekend, appeared to still be upset by the rumoured ambition of Jonathan to run for a second term in 2015.

The northern governors are said to be angry that Jonathan is trying to repudiate a gentleman's agreement he had with them in 2010 to serve only one term after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua.

But addressing journalists after the meeting, Adamawa Governor, Murtala Nyako, explained that they were in Sokoto to brief the former President on the state of affairs in the country and to seek his advice on how to move the nation forward.

The PDP finds its undertakers

By Is'haq Modibbo Kawu
“People are saying that the PDP is dead or about to die a concerned person like me will remain in the party till it dies and give it a befitting burial. If PDP will die, let it die in our hands so we will give it a befitting burial and mourn her.” – Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako.

THE late Chief Mobolaji Bank-Anthony must be turning in his grave! It was on Igbosere Road in Lagos, if I recall properly, that he established his undertaking business in old Lagos. It was appropriately named “THE SYMPATHETIC UNDERTAKERS”.

I don’t know if the business is still thriving, because far more aggressive undertakers entered the morbid business, reflective of the arrival of vulgar money and its vulgar display in Nigeria, including the preparation of the dead for the final rites!



We can lament the passing of Sir Bank-Anthony’s more dignified business approach, but recent rumblings in Nigerian politics come with noise, blood and tears. Cloak-and-dagger is at the heart of politics, except that the PDP took vulgarity and cut throat to a height that should shame that most shameless of contraptions, Africa’s largest vote-rigging monstrosity, the PDP!

We have arrived at a critical juncture on the route to 2015; the gloves have fallen and the pugilists are revealing very ugly bare knuckles.

The struggle is for the soulless soul of the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan’s corner, is the red corner of mischief, that brought together the most eye popping and strangest bedfellows: old men Tukur, Anenih and EK Clarke; the eternal AGIP Jerry Gana and sundry political flotsam and jetsam.

They are confident, as someone once mischievously noted, that their PDP faction can seamlessly “merge” with INEC and the security agencies to show muscle. This is where Murtala Nyako comes to fore. He represents the “Undertaker” faction within the huge basket of scorpions that the PDP has always been, as Chief Sunday Awoniyi once observed.

After years of injecting political poison into Nigerian political society and ingesting collateral poisoning themselves, including DELIBERATELY herding the people of Northern Nigeria to Northern Cameroun, with their opportunistic support of Jonathan in 2011, Nyako and his colleagues in the “Undertakers” faction of the PDP are now on an offensive.

They will stop Jonathan by all means, including hastening the death of the behemoth holding Nigeria in bearhug, the PDP. They are importing political caskets, but unlike Sir Bank-Anthony, they are UNSYMPATHETIC undertakers for the PDP. The solution finally discovered the problem on the turf of Nigerian politics!

Let us be clear about it; all the tendencies within the PDP are embattled. Nigerians will give everything to chase away the party that has systematically institued underdevelopment and the pillaging of our national patrimony since 1999. The duel-to-the-death will weaken the party further; yet, I get a sneak feeling that, when all is said and done, they will somehow paper over the crack and pull from the precipice.

The fear of loss of power will nudge them back to political realism, akin to a wedding between a feuding couple: each is fed up but none can or dares walk out! But before that realisation, we are guaranteed a lot of absurdities. For example, PDP just set up a “reconciliation” committee composed of Jonathan sidekicks and headed by his number one Man Friday, Seriake Dickson. He previously added much Niger Delta petrol to the raging political fire, by serially abusing Jonathan “enemies” in the recent past. How then does he function as reconciler-in-chief?

Meanwhile, Nigeria bleeds 400,000 barrels of crude oil everyday, while Jonathan continues to pay billions of naira monthly to Niger Delta thugs “protecting” pipelines to facilitate continued oil theft, almost like a vital component of Jonathan’s “Transformation Agenda”.

Jonathan needs an extra term in 2015, to ensure that his Niger Delta constituency achieves “Resource Control” by subterfuge, through the continuing oil-theft regime. This backdrop plus a threatening political death emboldens the “Undertakers” of Murtala Nyako’s corner of the political boxing ring. Seconds Out! Bring on the political caskets!!

Ilorin: The eternal colour and taste of Ramadan

I RETURNED to Abuja from                          Ilorin via Kaduna, on Monday. I had been away for nine days. It is one of my annual rituals to spend at least a week back home during Ramadan. This is a most special period in Ilorin and I return attempting to catch a whiff of the colour and taste of the community which moulded my life and which has retained a remarkable sense of its piety and traditions, rooted in Islam.

As I have written repeatedly on this page, my forefathers were Jihadist Islamic scholars with roots in the old empires of West Africa (called Bilad as-Sudan, in medieval times). In Ilorin, Ramadan has always brought out the best of the people’s fidelity to their religious traditions. But even within the context of the month, a lot has evolved with many old ways having died out. As the saying goes, if you wait long enough, everything changes!

As a growing child of the 1960s, I recall the special atmosphere about us in the lead to the month and I think it was Ramadan, which first triggered my consciousness about the incredible energy of women in our communities. They fast just like the men, but they cooked all day, as the men either rested or attended Tafsir in the mosques. The cooking continued during Sahur, early in the morning, while in between, they attended sermons in the night, which usually lasted beyond midnight. Women just never seemed to find respite, and Ramadan magnified their roles especially.

Probing weaknesses  of the adversary

For the children, we engaged in a game that has all but become extinct today, called EPA OKUTA (a kind of bean used to make what must be an Ilorin-only delicacy called KANGU! I loved it from childhood and up till my mother’s death in 2009, she would purchase and send to me in Abuja). The game had a sophistication about it, that I still recall today, because it taught practically every element of warfare: defence; attack; preparing fortresses, building alliances and probing the weaknesses of the adversary. Children will gather from near and far, around my family’s mosque.

Often, they had accompanied their grandfathers to attend Tafsir at the mosque;  while the elderly carried on their religious business, children engaged themselves in that game. There was also the tradition of children constructing their own mosques during Ramadan. As a matter of fact, the preparation commences several days before, and it was one of the reminders that the holy month was approaching. There was a competition to construct the most colourful and most intricate mosque, which often stayed months after Ramadan; children then simulated the prayers that took place inside the real mosques.

There was not much in terms of material wealth then, but people readily shared the little they had and even the poorest families seemed to get a lot, in the spirit of Ramadan. What was lost in Ilorin, that I have continued to lament, was the way bands of young musicians (they were called AJIWERE) would roam the entire community each night, singing really beautiful songs to wake people up for Sahur. There was a finale, which brought the best AJIWERE to a night of competition to select the best musician for the year, at the Emir’s palace.

Some of the great musicians of the past included YE-BOBO; ADISA; SAKA DANFO and AREMU (SECOND DIVISION!). A couple of years ago, with the fundamentalist religious revival that caught the Muslim world, Ilorin was also brought into the sweep. Religious scholars convinced the emirate hierarchy to stop the musical extravaganza; they substituted with recitations of the Qur’an and that musical tradition gradually withered away!

I have returned for a nine-day stay to catch a whiff of this truly remarkable month in the Ilorin because it offers a poignant moment of connection with forces which helped to provide some of the building blocks of my consciousness.

The passing of Alhaji Abubakar Lah, Shettiman Ilorin

LAST Sunday, Alhaji Abubakar Lah, Shettiman Ilorin died. He was in his late 90s and was in fact, the oldest surviving alumnus of the famous Barewa College, Zaria. I think it was in 2002 that I conducted and published a lengthy interview with Alhaji Lah, as Editor of DAILY TRUST; it alerted the hierarchy of BOBA, the Barewa old boys association, that he was still alive and was their oldest member. I was in Ilorin up till early Monday morning but somehow missed the story of his passing.

I only discovered on Monday night, back in Abuja, as I checked a local Ilorin website for stories of happenings in the community. I had a very close relationship with the incredibly modest old man, who had played a central role in the education of many generations of people all over Northern Nigeria. He spoke many languages: Yoruba, Hausa, Nupe, Fulfulde and English, amongst several others.

The late Lamidon Adamawa was one of the oldest monarchs in the North, but had in fact been a student of the late Alhaji Abubakar Lah. A few years ago, the Emir of Ilorin told me an interesting story. There had been a meeting of Northern Emirs in Kaduna and the late Lamido  inquired about the late Alhaji Lah.

He was alive, hale and hearty, the Emir of Ilorin told the Lamido. A few months down the line, Alhaji Lah was made head of a delegation to Adamawa, where he met his old student, the Lamido and other former students, after over sixty years. Alhaji Abubakar Lah was a repository of the history of his times and as the famous Malian historian, Professor Hampate Ba once said, an old man or woman in Africa, was the repository of the history of our peoples, and everytime they die, it was the equivalence of the burning of a library.

With Alhaji Abubakar Lah’s death, Ilorin, the North and Nigeria, lost a remarkable son who contributed, especially in those early years that we have continued to valorize as our golden age. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljanna. Allah ya jikan Shettiman Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Lah.

 

 

RIVERS CRISIS LATEST: Four govs stoned at P-Harcourt Airport

By Jimitota Onoyume, Kingsley Omonobi, Ben Agande, Luka Biniyat & Henry Umoru
PORTHARCOURT—THE animosity between rival factions in the festering crisis ravaging Rivers State recurred again yesterday as four Northern states governors on a solidarity visit to their Rivers counterpart, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, were embarassed as their convoy was pelted with stones by protesters as they left for Government House.

Surprised by the turn of events in Rivers, the four governors — Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), who condemned the fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly, also called for the transfer of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu.

[caption id="attachment_404379" align="alignnone" width="412"] NORTHERN GOVS VISIT AMAECHI—From Left: Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State; Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers; Babangida Aliyu of Niger, and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, during the Northern governors' visit to Gov. Amaechi in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: NAN.[/caption]

In a statement issued at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, the quartet said they came to the conclusion after interacting with Governor Amaechi and other persons, adding that the way the Police were being allegedly used and abused could force state governments to reconsider their efforts towards funding the Nigeria Police.

They spoke as the office of the Inspector General of Police summoned and quizzed the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his Escort Commander. Both officers who had earlier appeared before the DIG Philemon Leha (DIG Operations) panel constituted by the IGP, to say all they knew about the fracas, were however left to go back to Port Harcourt and resume duties pending decisions by the Police High Command after interrogation. The report is expected this weekend.

Meanwhile, PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur sued for peace in the state and distanced leaders of the party from the crisis. He also denied anointing anyone for any post in the party’s forthcoming special convention as the member of the Rivers State House of Assembly who was declared speaker by the five anti-Amaechi faction of the House, Hon. Evans Bipi, yesterday declared that he remains authentic speaker of the House since he has not been impeached.

Claiming that he was elected by 23 members and not five as being acclaimed, Bipi said “the only regrettable thing is the governor coming to the hallowed chamber to supervise the beating of my honourable colleagues.”

Bipi’s claim came as the Felix Obuah-led faction of Rivers PDP faulted the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry by the state government to look into the crisis that rocked the House of Assembly, saying the action was to pre-empt the decision of the Senate Committee which would soon submit its report. Also, both the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, and Northern Elders Forum, NEF, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle political disputes.

We’re shocked by police role — Aliyu, Lamido, Kwankwaso, Nyako

The statement issued by the four governors read in part: “Having interacted with our colleague and other persons, we are shocked at the role of the Police in Rivers State and condemn its clear partisanship in the show of shame that took place at the Rivers State House of Assembly. As chief executives of our states, who have sworn to protect lives and properties in our various states, we are particularly troubled by the development in Rivers State.

“With the way the Police is being used and abused and with officers like Mbu in the force, we do not see the need for state governments to fund an antagonistic Police and may be forced to reconsider our position on the financial contribution of the states towards the funding of the Nigeria Police.

“We wish to call on the Inspector General of Police to hearken to the voice of reason and immediately redeploy and discipline Commissioner Mbu. His actions smirk of unprofessionalism and political partisanship which is unbecoming of his office. Arising from the actions of the Police and Mr Joseph Mbu in Rivers State, the call for state police as a constitutional provision has become a necessity.

[caption id="attachment_404390" align="alignnone" width="412"] PROTEST: Some members of Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, protesting at the Omagwa International Airport, Rivers State against the visit of some Northern governors to Port Harcourt, yesterday Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.[/caption]

“We commend the House of Representatives for its proactive leadership in the crisis and appreciate the Senate Committee's thoroughness in addressing the matter.”

Continuing, the governors said the alleged action of Mbu had again brought to “the fore the question of true federalism and the need for institutions derived from the Constitution to be allowed to function without undue interference. As federating units we must be allowed the space to guarantee our people's sustainable development as provided by the Constitution.

The governors, who arrived at 1.00pm did not come out to meet with reporters until about 4.15 pm. When finally they came out they declined to speak. Governor Amaechi told eager journalists that they only resolved to make available to the media a speech they had signed. Thereafter, the governors started walking to their vehicles.

A smiling Governor Lamido of Jigawa State who managed to take a question from Vanguard on allegations that they were held hostage for a while by a protesting crowd at the VIP wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa said there was nothing like that. “If I was held hostage, I won’t be here”, he said.

Ruptured peace at airport

Earlier in the day, the peaceful atmosphere at the Port Harcourt International Airport was ruptured as thousands of Nyesom Wike’s loyalists stormed the airport, protesting the visit of the four northern governors. The protesters literarily took over the exit gate of the VIP lounge of the airport, singing anti-Amaechi songs. Some of the placards they carried read: “Northern governors leave Rivers State alone!” “Amaechi must go”, “Rivers money for Rivers people”, etc.
Vanguard gathered that the protesters came in several buses mobilised to the airport as early as 5a.m. Many passengers at the airport said they were terrified by the action of the protesters.

Governor Amaechi who reportedly flew in from Abuja yesterday morning at about 10a.m. went straight to the VIP lounge to wait for the other governors. The Adamawa State Governor was the first to arrive; he was followed by the Jigawa governor. The governor of Kano State came in later while the governor of Niger State came in about one hour later.

It took the combined efforts of security men attached to Governor Amaechi and those at the airport to push the protesters back for the governors to exit the VIP lounge. An armoured personnel carrier was driven by security men into the crowd at the gate before it gave way for the convoy. Security men also fired several warning shots into the air. Meantime as the convoy was driving out, some protesters started hurling stones and other objects at the vehicles.

One of the stones, sources said, almost hit the windscreen of the vehicle conveying Governor Aliyu. “We saw him shifting inside the vehicle as if he was dodging the object”, an eye witness told Vanguard.

Rivers state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari condemned the actions of the protesters at the airport, saying it was worrisome.

The commissioner who spoke after the governors had left said some of the cars in the convoy of the governors were pelted with stones by the protesters. She said it was not true that the governors were held hostage by the protesters, adding that Governor Amaechi got to the airport and had to wait for his colleagues

“What happened at the airport was worrisome. Amaechi waited for all his colleagues; they were not held hostage. The bus carrying the commissioners was damaged and some other vehicles were smashed by the protesters”, she said.

Tukur sues for peace, exonerates PDP leaders

Pleading with warring members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the overall interest of the state, Tukur said the legislators must avoid overheating the polity by their actions as democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence and anarchy.
According to him, PDP was a united political family under one big umbrella and no true member of this united family will like to pull down the family’s political structure and existence.

Exonerating the party leadership from the crises, he said, “it is the desire of the PDP that peace returns immediately to the Rivers State House of Assembly in particular and the state in general”.
Also, ahead  of the Special National Convention of the party,  Tukur declared  that he had not anointed any aspirant for any of the positions, adding that the convention would be transparent, free, credible and fair.
I remain authentic Speaker – Bipi

Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the Presidential dinner in honour of delegates to the Abuja+12 African Union (AU) Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Abuja on Monday night, Hon Bipi said contrary to reports that only five members of the Rivers Assembly installed him, he was duly elected by 23 members after Dan-Amachree was impeached.

His words: “It is not contestable; I remain the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly because I have not been impeached. A motion for impeachment was placed on the Speaker and I emerged as the Speaker and I have not been impeached.” According to him, the House of Assembly was properly constituted and a quorum of the House was formed before he was elected.
”How would it be five? We formed a quorum. It was a full house and I was duly elected. It was over 23 lawmakers,” he said.

He denied reports that he punched one of his colleagues in the House, saying he was being framed by the Rivers State Government.
”I want to thank God Almighty for making it possible for me to serve my people once more. But the only regrettable thing is the governor coming to the hallowed chamber to supervise the beating of my honourable colleagues. It is so sad, governor of a state bringing down all the security apparatus in the Government House including his ADC and CSO, beating duly-elected honourable members in the hallowed chamber. It is so degrading and embarrassing,” he said.

IGP quizzes Amaechi’s ADC, others

Aftermath of ongoing investigations into the bloody fracas that ensued in the Rivers State House of Assembly last week in which a Police officer was seen on television manhandling a lawmaker, the office of the Inspector-General of Police has summoned and quizzed the Aide De Camp (ADC) to Governor  Amaechi and his Escort Commander.

Both officers who had earlier appeared before the DIG Philemon Leha (DIG Operations) panel constituted by the IGP, to say all they knew about the fracas, were however left to go back to Port Harcourt to resume duties pending the decisions that will be taken by the Police High Command after interrogation. Vanguard gathered that an interim report of the outcome of Police investigation may be ready by weekend.

Already, Chairman of the panel, DIG Leha arrived in Abuja to brief the IGP and the management team of the progress in the investigations so far, while the Commissioner of Police, Anti-Fraud Unit and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Anti Robbery Squad, DCP Chris Ezike were left behind to continue with other aspects of the investigations.

Vanguard’s investigations’ revealed that certain unbecoming action as captured by television stations while the fracas was going on, was said to have been occasioned by the need to protect Governor Amaechi when it became obvious that some people who mobilized thugs to the House were shouting instructions that Amaechi should be shot.

One source said the Police officers could not believe that in their presence, a member of the House of Assembly was dishing out orders to his thugs to shoot the governor of a state hence the reflex action to pounce on the member before a monumental harm was done.

Meanwhile, Vanguard learnt that Police authorities in Rivers State displayed professionalism and utmost caution in bringing about orderliness at the Port Harcourt International Airport yesterday when supporters of Governor Amaechi and those of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike both converged to welcome both personalities.

Vanguard gathered that when Governor Amaechi chose to receive the four northern governors who had come to pay him solidarity visit at the airport, at a time Wike's supporters were expected to arrive the airport to partake in a scheduled PDP function in the state, the Police had to ensure that hell was not let loose.
Sources said Governor Amaechi was persuaded by prominent citizens to reschedule his meeting with the four governors at the Government House to avoid a confrontation between supporters of the governor and those of Wike. It was gathered that Wike was expected in the state to open an office of the PDP built by the Obuah faction of the party.

Stop using the police to settle political disputes —ACF, Northern elders

Meanwhile, the ACF and NEF have called on President Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers and stop using the police to settle political disputes.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Kaduna, spokesman of the groups, Professor Ango Abdullahi, said: "The shameful and disturbing abuse of power and rule of law in Rivers State are signs that Nigeria is descending into anarchy and lawlessness rarely seen in our history.

“The hands of the Presidency are clearly visible in all these events that appear to draw inspiration from the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to stay in power in 2015. The most recent development in River State represents a new low in the shameful conduct of political office holders at the highest levels, and they should be condemned by all Nigerians.’’

“The crisis in Rivers State is a sad reminder of our experience in the Western Nigeria crisis of 1963. We call on President Goodluck Jonathan to order an immediate cessation of hostilities in Rivers State and stop using the Nigeria Police to settle his political disputes. The Police must not be dragged into the internal crisis of the President’s party. The governor and people of Rivers State and indeed, all citizens of Nigeria, deserve the full protection of the law and their rights to live in peace under the state-guaranteed security.’’

Amaechi’s panel ‘ll pre-empt Senate report – Rivers PDP faction

Picking holes in the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry by the state government to look into the crisis, the Felix Obuah-led faction of PDP, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Jerry Needam, said that the action of the state government was to pre-empt the decision of the Senate Committee, which would soon submit its report.

“Governor Rotimi Amaechi can’t be a judge in his case. Amaechi is a principal suspect in the matter. Above all, the matter is before the Senate. The Senate will give their report on Wednesday. His action is to pre-empt the decision of the Senate Committee on States and Local Governments. It is a shame that Amaechi will go this length in his desperate quest for power,” Obuah said.

Attack on govs barbaric – Hon Peterside

A member of the House of Representatives, yesterday described as barbaric, the hiring of thugs by desperate politicians to harrass Northern governors who were in Port Harcourt to pay a solidarity visit to Amaechi. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday by Dakuku Peterside, Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and representative of the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State.

He asked: “When did we degenerate to this Hobbesian and primitive state? Those who are fanning this ember of discord must be ready to reap the whirlwind."

Nigerian community in US commend Amaechi

The Nigerian Community in the United States has commended the embattled Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amechi for what they described as “his extra-ordinary courage” over the raging crisis in the state. They also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar for promptly sending a strong team to the state to ascertain the role played by his men during the crisis.

In a statement signed by its representative, Bonaventure Ezekwenna, the community, stated that they were watching with keen interest "the ugly and dangerous mutiny resulting in physical fights among state lawmakers in Rivers State House of Assembly."