Bayelsa lawmakers in rowdy session

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Headlines, State News Friday, May 6th, 2011

There was tension in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Friday, following a plot by the lawmakers to remove the Chairman of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Chief Ebikintin Dioongoli.

Our correspondent gathered that the call divided members of the house and almost led to a breakdown of legislative proceedings.

It was gathered that most lawmakers had placed the council boss under surveillance, following an allegation that he was fraternising with the leader of the state Labour Party, Mr. Timi Alaibe.

But our correspondent learnt that those who spearheaded the move had accused the chairman of financial recklessness and irresponsibility.

Sources said trouble started when a member representing Sagbama Constituency 3, Embamuagha Empere, moved a motion for the removal of the chairman.

But the call was said to have provoked reaction from six members of the house led by Ammalanyan Yousuo, who insisted that the accused council boss should be given a fair hearing and invited to defend charges against him.

However, the pleas of those in favour of the chairman were said to have fell on deaf ears, as those opposing the council boss were able to secure the support of the majority in the house.

The resolution for his removal was said to have been passed by two-thirds of the 16 members present at the sitting.

In a copy of the resolution, which was made available to our correspondent, Empere had relied on Section 24, sub-section 6 of the State Local Government Law cap.L.10.laws of the State,2006, to move the motion.

The resolution accused the chairman of consistently failing to perform his statutory functions as the chief security officer of the council.

The council boss was also accused of refusing to live within the council, thereby causing avoidable security problem. He was said to have further committed financial recklessness and borrowing from banks without due authorisation, as well as awarding frivolous contracts without budgetary provisions.

However, attempts by our correspondent to speak to the embattled chairman on mobile phone proved abortive but a close aide to the council boss blamed the plot on the deputy Speaker of the house, Mr. Fini Angaye.

The source, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the charges of fraud and gross misconduct leveled against the council boss were false.

“All they are doing is because of the claims that the chairman is loyal to Timi Alaibe and that he supported LP to win Constituency 1. Are we the voters?” he queried.

-Punchwp_posts