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Alamieyeseigha: Police Sack Bayelsa Govt House

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
November 30, 2005
Posted to the web November 30, 2005

By Malachy Uzendu and Okey Onwuchekwa
Abuja and Yenagoa
A DETACHMENT of combat-ready mobile police (MOPOL) yesterday, took over Bayelsa
State Government House even as the embattled governor, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha denied allegations levelled against him by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The policemen who stormed the complex shortly after the governor had left
office, evicted the occupants without giving them the opportunity of taking
personal effects, including their cars.
Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haz Iwendi, when contacted on the
development last night said he had no information on the incident as he could
not immediately establish contact with the Bayelsa State Police Command.
Daily Champion observed that the offices ransacked and locked up included that
of the governor and his cousin, one Abel.
The policemen later vacated the complex.
Meanwhile, the governor has denied allegations of corruption by EFCC.
Speaking to newsmen Tuesday after inspecting projects in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa
State capital, Chief Alamieyeseigha queried the source of the crude oil in
which the EFCC claimed the refinery in Ecuador had been using.
"To unleash terror on Bayelsans, the EFCC released what it called a very
damaging report of assets owned by me, that I have a refinery in Ecuador. I've
not been to that country. Refinery is a very serious business," he said.
Alamieyeseigha, quoting the scriptures, also denied owning Chelsea Hotel as
claimed by the EFCC, noting that the property belongs to the state government.
"Bayelsa State invested in the hotel, we have never even finished paying for
it," he said, noting that it was ridiculous for the EFCC to claim that he owns
the Bayelsa Government Lodge in Abuja called Gloryland. It was commissioned by
Senator Melford Okilo this year.
Alamieyeseigha equally denied owning N1 billion shares in Bond Bank and well as
houses in Maryland, USA, and Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
"The owners are living," he said.
On the £920,000 said to have been found in his residence in London, the
governor said such money was not found in his house.
"I didn't keep such money in my house. I didn't have such money in my house,"
he noted.
On his escape from London, Alamieyeseigha said, it was a mystery.
Quoting scriptures, he said nothing happens to him without the consent of God.
"I'm always inspired by the scriptures. I am in a high spirit because I'm well.
Whoever went through what I passed through would have cause to be happy," noted
Alamieyeseigha.
In a related development, Bayelsa State House of Assembly rose from a sitting
yesterday, declaring that Governor Alamieyeseigha was still on a 120-day leave
and that the deputy governor, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, was still the acting
governor.
The resolution came after they had suspended four members of the House opposed
to the impeachment of the governor.
Those suspended were Nimibofa Ayaowei, representing southern Ijaw constituency,
Ofoni Williams representing Sagbama constituency three, Amakiri Etebu
representing Kolokuma (Opukuma constituency One and Waripamowei Dudafa
representing Kolokuma/Opukuma Two.
Moving a motion for their suspension, Mr. Nelson Belief said the four
lawmakers' conduct were unbecoming of honourable members.
The legislators said to have been flown into Yenagoa from Abuja for the
sitting, also dissolved the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Civil Service
Commission.
This has raised a fundamental issue as to who has the power to dissolve the
commission -- the executive or the legislature.
Daily Champion couldn't gain access into the Assembly to determine the number
of legislators who took the decisions, but it was learnt that 15 of them took
the decision.
The lawmakers equally resolved that Governor Alamieyeseigha should answer
charges levelled against him by the EFCC. This motion was said to have been
moved by the Deputy Speaker, Bright Erewari.
Meanwhile, soldiers have been molesting people in the state in their "stop and
search" duties.
Two journalists namely Chris Ejim of the National Interest and John Iwori of
ThisDay were molested by the soldiers.
Horsewhips were freely used on Ejim even when he identified himself as a
journalist. He had bruises from the whipping just as he reported the incident
to one Captain Abdul who in turn referred him to Lt. Suleiman, who pleaded that
a mistake had been made.
The Assembly also mandated the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Emmanuel
Igoniwari to raise a seven-man panel to investigate Governor Alamieyeseigha,
just as it called for the reinstatement of the former clerk, Mr. Kuro Peter
George.
Mr. George was replaced by Mr. Philip Ere.
Meanwhile, Gov. Alamieyeseigha has faulted the deployment of soldiers to the
state capital, Yenagoa, saying it was strange as the city and its environs were
peaceful.
In a statement signed by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Preye Wariowei,
the governor urged the commanding officers of Operation Restore Hope,
Brigadier-General Elis Zamani to restrain his men from molesting citizens.
"The presence of the troops confirm the long standing speculation in the public
mind of a conscious attempt by the Federal Government to provoke unrest in the
state to justify the proclamation of a state of emergency and consequently
occasion the removal from office of His Excellency, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, executive Governor of Bayelsa State," noted Mr. Wariowei.
He noted that this latest act of intimidation and coercion amounts to a
negation of all known tenets of democratic governance.
Governor Alamieyeseigha was quoted as saying that rumours of crisis and anarchy
used as a pretext to deploy soldiers to Yenagoa were non-existent.
He, however, urged his people to be law-abiding in the "face of this obvious
and unnecessary provocation".
Describing as a trying period for the Ijaw nation, the governor said, "the
journey ahead may be hard, long, tedious and may even appear to be
insurmountable, but as always, we should look up to God, who has always stood
by the people of Bayelsa State".
In another development, Governor Alamieyeseigha has denied rumours making the
rounds that there was a rift between him and his deputy, Dr. Jonathan.
"There is no truth in the rumour. As I talk with you, the relationship between
us is very cordial, there is no atom of strain in the relationship. We have
been working diligently together since 1999, so why shouldn't we now that our
tenure is almost coming to an end? He is like a younger brother to me and we
have been relating that way," he told newsmen in his office.
The governor described his deputy as "a loyal, humble and dutiful person,"
noting that each person has his defined responsibilities.
On the solidarity of the Niger Delta people in his period of travail, he said
it was encouraging, noting that the support was unprecedented.

   

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