OBASANJO, ALI, CIROMA, DRAGGED TO COURT OVER PDP NATIONAL CONVENTION

Prospects of the People's Democratic party hosting its much talked about National Convention deemed yesterday as a faction of the Party (PDP), yesterday headed to court seeking to stop the planned March 8th National Convention on the ground that it was not properly convoked. The case would be heard by an Abuja High court today The Plaintiffs in the suit include Alhaji Abdullahi Maibirgi, Chief Iroha C. Iroha and Hajia Ceceko Asmau Ahmed.

They made 38 statement of claims pointing out that the National Executive Committee (NEC) was not the one calling for the convention but, the National Central Working Committee (NCWC), an action which they noted contravenes the provision of the constitution of the party.

In the suit, the following were named as defendants: Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali (immediate past chairman, Peoples Democratic Party), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (Chairman Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party), Chief Olabode George (Deputy National Chairman, South and Chairman and Convention Planning Committee, Peoples Democratic Party) and Mallam Adamu Ciroma (Chairman National Convention Electoral Panel, PDP) Others are Chief Bernard Eze (Immediate past National Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party), Mallam Adamu Ciroma (Chairman National Convention Electoral Panel, Peoples Democratic Party) and Independent National ElectoralCommission (INEC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Consequent upon the claims above, Alh. Maibirgi who is also National Coordinator of the Renaissance PDP (pro-rule of law and due process group within the party) together with the duo of Chief Iroha and Hajia Asamu Ahmed asked the court, through their lawyer, Festus Keyamo, to declare that it is only the NEC of the party that can validly and legally call for national convention and not the NCWC.

They specifically sought the court to declare that by virtue of the provision of Article 12.72 (a) both the 2001 and 2006 1st defendant party's constitution and section 1(3) A-C of the Guidelines for the year 2007 Special Congress and Special National Convention which are extant and applicable, to the 2008 Convention and Congresses, only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the 1st defendant can convene the National Convention and appoint a Convention Organizing Committee, Congresses, Appeal Panels and Convention Monitoring Committees of the 1st defendant party.

Similarly, they prayed the court to declare that Chief Ahmadu Ali, Chief Olabode George and Chief Bernard Eze could not legally constitute and participate in the NEC meeting of 28th January, 2008 which purportedly set the dates for the national convention and congresses having duly resigned from their respective positions as National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, South and National Secretary of PDP.

They also asked the Abuja High Court presided by Justice Ishaq Bello to declare that that the trio of Ali, Geroge and Eze could not have legally participated in the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of PDP that purportedly convened the National Convention and Congresses and consequently the decisions taken at the meeting to organize the national convention and the appointment of any congresses, Convention organizing Committees, appeal Panels and Convention Monitoring Committees are illegal, irregular unconstitutional and null and void and to no effect whatsoever.

However, the plaintiffs noted that the December 16th 2006 convention of PDP conditions precedent to the amendment of 2001 constitution as provided in Article 26 were violated stating that ""No motion was passed by any 2\3 majority of members present, No notice of the proposed amendment was given by the National Secretary at least two months before the date of the convention and for these, the no amendment would be deemed fit to have taken place.

Justice Bello, after the Originating Summons had been taken, ordered that they should go and serve all defendants in the case through PDP secretariat at WADATA House. He adjourned till March 4 for hearing on the motion.

WHY WE LEVELLED ODI COMMUNITY – DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS

Military authorities on Wednesday, explained that the Joint Task Force, Operation Restore Hope (JTF ORH), in the Niger Delta region, attacked the Odio-ama community in Bayelsa State three years ago, in self defence.

Pioneer Commander of ORH, Brigadier General Elias Zamani (rtd), who stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, said while two other communities, namely Obiaku and Ibedi, cooperated with the force during their operations, Odio-ama confronted its members.

Zamani’s appearance was sequel to a petition to the House by the Odio-ama community, which was sacked by the Joint Task Force in November 2005.

The community, in the petition signed by Ambrose Alfred and Theo Onu demanded N1 billion compensation.

According to Zamani, “Obiaku was cordoned without resistance, either from the community or suspected cult members. Consequently, our troops deployed without any problem. Similarly, Ibedi posed no threat to our troops.

“However, at Odio-ama, which was noted as a sanctuary for cult members, and centre of illegal bunkering, the story was different. In contrast with the peaceful entry into Obiaku and Ibedi, at Odio-ama, the deadly cult members laid in wait for the troops.

“They were fully aware of our coming and were prepared for armed confrontation against our men. The people knew we were coming, so, the cultists were in wait for us.

When our boys approached the jetty from the waterways, the cultists open fire, and you can imagine how precarious it would be for one to be on the open waters, with no place to take cover.

“What would you have done, if you find yourself in such a situation and you have weapons? That weapon is meant for self-defence and for the protection of law-abiding citizens, so the soldiers retaliated,” Zamani said.

The former ORH boss dismissed insinuations that the soldiers attacked the community as a result of an existing communal crises over oil, in the area, adding that the force merely came into the area to restore law and order, because the police had tried unsuccessfully to do so.

Zamani added that the impact of the operation was enormous because of the fuel products, which the people of the community had stored in their houses.

NAVY KILLS SUSPECTED PIRATE, ARREST 1

A suspected pirate was gunned down and another arrested, yesterday, by naval men of the NNS Pathfinder, along the Bonny Waterway, while escorting a vessel loaded with petrol.
Vanguard gathered that the sea robbers, who have become a menace to travellers on the sea route attempted to hijack the vessel as it sailed along the channel even as it was being escorted by naval soldiers.


A security source said the vessel, which was conveying no fewer than 400,000 litres of petrol, was “initially accosted by the pirates who ordered the vessel to divert its route.


“A tugboat and a barge were sailing towards Saipem along the Bonny Channel when four suspected pirates hijacked and attempted to take them to an unknown destination.


Fortunately, a member of the crew in the boat was able to make a call to the company that owned the boat. The company in turn sent a distress call to the NNS Pathfinder.


The NNS Pathfinder sent a gunboat in search of the pirates and later found them along Bakana creek. One of the suspects was arrested with a riffle and brought back to base while the others escaped.


The suspect has since been handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for thorough interrogation”, but naval authorities could not be reached on the matter.


Confirming the incident, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, said he was aware that “naval men on patrol killed a suspected pirate and arrested another suspect along Bonny Channel”.

DELTA COMMUNITY ATTACK POLICE

A team of policemen attached to the Oleh Police Station, Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State narrowly escaped death last week when Aviara community youths and indigenes allegedly attacked the team with assorted weapons, resulting to the severe damage of the Police vehicle's front windscreen. Trouble was said to have started when the crack team invaded a long time dreaded popular den of Indian hemp in the community to effect the arrest of the operators of the den which sources alleged had for some time been kept secret by the community. Reports have it that on their (police) arrival to the dreaded den, the youths and indigenes allegedly trooped out having sensed that the team was in for arrest and suddenly, the angry youths and the indigenes had already lunched the unexpected attack on them, leaving their patrol vehicle windscreen severely damaged and fled to the bush.It was also alleged that the youth's effort to snatch guns from the team proved abortive, and when it dawned on the youths that it might result to an unpleasant circumstances they fled. Meanwhile, a huge amount of money was alleged to have been paid to the police by the community to replace their patrol vehicle windscreen allegedly destroyed by the youths and indigenes. A visit to the community revealed that the matter was being tackled in the Ovie's Palace by the community monarch, President General, Community leaders and the police representative in attendance where according to a source, the huge sum of money was paid to the police for the replacement of the windscreen. However, before he left the palace, the police representative (names withheld) warned some of the persons present not to disclose to any one about the settlement reached so far but vowed that those involved will face the wrath of the law accordingly.In a related development, crisis may be brewing at Aviara community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State over the alleged chaining and locking up of an indigene by the community's president-general, one Mr. Idume, for over 24 hours in a self-made private cell alleged to be operating by him. Community sources who condemned the president general's action in its entirety described it as unlawful and inhuman. It was reliably learnt that a boy, who was having a problem with a fellow indigene who bought for him a motor bike for commercial purposes was brought to the community in a bid to settle the issue and at that point, he was alleged to have been chained and locked up in a self-made private cell by the president-general when he was brought before him in the midnight of that fateful day. Investigations revealed that the following day when the president-general got to his private cell to see the boy, the boy had, however, been rescued by his relations. When contacted for comments, the president-general declined, but the community monarch, HRH Emaviwe I, who spoke through one of the community leaders, told our reporter in his palace that the matter was before a court of law.

BAYELSA, DELTA BOIL AGAIN OVER PDP CRISIS

There may not be an end to the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State as a faction yesterday (Thursday) out-smarted the rest factions in the party to hold a marathon State Congress to elect new officials. Similar situation was at play in Delta State.

Former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, the incumbent Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Chief Mrs Maryam Ali, wife of the National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Ahmadu Ali shared the state's PDP positions to their cronies. The Bayelsa State Working Committee had penultimate week directed that as a panacea to the initial confusion that engulfed the party, following the declaration of Mr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa for the state chairmanship of the party, the status quo be maintained by all factions.

The SWC had resolved that because of the good performance of the present executive council, they were going to be rolled over to serve for another two year-tenure. But a faction believed to be the loyalists of Governor Timipre Sylva within the PDP and led by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. George Fente on Thursday, re-ignited the crisis in the party by conducting the State Congress at the Gender and Social Welfare Auditorium, Yenagoa. Although Governor Sylva was not present at the State Congress, it was learnt that Fente had to ensure that it was carried out as directed by the governor.

At the end of the State Congress, which did not last more than 45 minutes, a contractor in the state and an ally of Governor Sylva, Mr. Rufus Abadi emerged as the state chairman, while Darius Obiene retained his position as the vice chairman. Others were Mr. James Akari, secretary, Mr. Ketebu Enei, publicity secretary, Mr. Sopere Appah, youth leader and Mrs. Nengi Ebitimi, women leader.

The State Congress was witnessed by the PDP 5- man National Monitoring Committee led by Mr. Augustine Adesina Buraimoh-Ademuyewo, Independent National Electoral Commission representative, Chief Austin Okonkio and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bayelsa State . However, members of one of the factions had claimed they were not aware of the emergence of the "so-called new executive council", adding that to the best of their knowledge, no state congress held, not to talk of new officials.

The displaced state executive council led by the chairman, Chief Fred Agbedi and the secretary, Dr. Tarila Tebepah, under which Mr. Obiene also served as vice chairman, have rejected the entire process that led to the emergence of the new executives. Mr. Kikile Esueme, who has been replaced by Mr. Sopere Appah as the youth leader said he was not aware of the State Congress and emergence of new officials but Mr. Alfred Itiedu, who has been replaced as the publicity secretary told our correspondent that he was now "a chieftain of the Action Congress".

A party source, who pleaded anonymity, informed our correspondent that the emergence of the new executive council would never be accepted by the stakeholders of the party. According to the source, the absence of the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, (Bayelsa Central) Senator Hienekin Lokpobiri, (Bayelsa West) Senator Nimi Barigha Amange (Bayelsa East) including Hon. Seriake Dickson, Hon. Clever Ikisikpo, among other big wigs of the party in the state, was a pointer to the unacceptability of the new officials.

When contacted by our correspondent on the phone, Mr. Seriake Dickson, who represents Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, denied knowledge of the Congress. Dickson, who sounded agitated, described it as "a kangaroo Congress which has no legal backing.

He added that as far he was concerned, there was not even Ward and Local Government Congresses, saying that those who organized the Congress on Thursday were jokers in the park.

The lawmaker said: "I heard Mr. Fente organized a State Congress, but the authentic party executives led by Agbedi and Tebepah would issue a statement rejecting the State Congress". Speaking however, at the end of the state congress, the chairman of the National Monitoring Committee, Mr. Augustine Adesina Braimoh described the exercise as peaceful through which new state party officials had emerged. Braimoh urged those who lost out at the election to accept the process, stressing that it might not have been a perfect one but it was all geared towards correcting certain anomalies in the party.

In his statement, the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Sylva, Dr. George Fente said "he was particularly grateful to the over 3,000 delegates from the 105 Wards and eight Local Government Areas in the state for their comportment and orderliness during the congress". Fente said the "peaceful election of the executive members by voice votes was an indication of the desire of the party hierarchy to effect a change in the leadership of the party".

He expressed confidence in the ability of the new officials, adding that they would bring about effective and positive change in the PDP so that the party could witness cohesiveness in coming years. Fente also commended the roles played by the 5- man monitoring committee from the national secretariat of the PDP led by Chief Augustine Adesina Buraimoh-Ademuyewo and the Independent National Electoral Commission headed by Chief Austin Okonkio and the state Resident Electoral Commissioner during the election.

The Bayelsa State PDP has been engulfed in deep crisis since the 4th February when Mr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, under the aegis of The New Phase of Bayelsa State, declared at a campaign rally that he had been adopted by Vice President Jonathan and Governor Sylva as the consensus state chairmanship candidate of the party.

But his claim was quickly rebuffed by the Seriake Dickson-led Transparency Group, comprising loyalists of Vice President Jonathan, which insisted that Dudafa had not been adopted by anybody just as the party hierarchy had not anointed anyone as consensus state chairman of the party. Subsequently, Dudafa, Mr. Michael Ogbolosingha, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, other PDP members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly were suspended.

This suspension resulted in counter suspension by another faction led by the Speaker, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu. But Seibarugu was later purportedly impeached by yet another faction in the House even as the imbroglio consumed the former General Manager of Radio Bayelsa, Mr. Brighten Sorgwe following his sack by Governor Sylva.

The State Congress by a faction of the PDP in the state, observers pointed out, had widened the gulf of bitterness amongst party topnotch which may take a longer time to be resolved. At the Cenotaph in Asaba yesterday, and before a quickly arranged crowed, the Delta state PDP Chairman chief Emmanuel Ogidi addressed the gathering thanking members for supporting him during his tenure as Chairman of the party in the state.

Afterwards, the PDP National Committee Representative came out with a list and announced that after consultations on consensus has been reached with the Chief Peter Nwoboshi elected as Chairman PDP Delta State, Chief Ighoyota Amori Deputy chairman, and Chief Solomon Ogba elected as secretary. Information gathered revealed that Chief Nwoboshi is an associate of Mrs. Ali. He was the former Political adviser to Ibori and later Commissioner for Abuja.

He later joined the Ebielum faction before cross-carpeting to Ali' s side. Chief Amori is Ibori's man and was constantly in Kaduna to sympathise with Ibori during his recent detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC).

Amori was until now not in the good books of Uduaghan. The release of Ibori brightened his political fortunes. Solomon Ogba elected as Secretary is Uduaghan's man. Already PDP stakeholders in Delta led by Chief Patrick Bolokor have dissociated themselves from what took place at the cenotaph. They questioned the rationale for such an arrangement when it is known across the state that there was no ward and