There is palpable tension in Bayelsa state following the sack of five out of the eight local government Council Chairmen in the state as there are fears that youths and politicians who are not comfortable with the sack may enter the streets of Yenagoa, the state capital to protest against the action.
There is also heavy security build up in major parts of the state capital to guide against the rumored protest by youths as mobile police men especially the new state security out fit known as Operation ‘Doo-Akpo’ are strategically mounted at every corner of the state capital.
The Chairmen are accused of alleged gross misconduct and failure to render proper account of stewardship to the State House of Assembly when they were invited by the House to defend their service.
The Sacked Council Chairmen are; Chief Tiwei Orunimighe(Southern Ijaw), Ngo Sylva (Brass), Eddy Julius (Ekeremor), Pere Pereotu (Sagbama) and Sammy Boy(Ogbia.), all have almost six months to the end of their tenure as Council Chairmen.
The sack of these Chairmen is part of the recommendations of the report by the State Assembly on the last week probe into the accounts of the Councils on the floor of the House.
247ureports.com gathered that the members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Kombowei Benson came to the decision on the suspension of the affected Council Chairmen on Tuesday after six hours deliberations, after which recommendations were forwarded to the office of the State Deputy Governor.
The Vice Chairmen of the affected Councils were immediately sworn-in by the State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri at a brief ceremony in the Government House Wednesday night as substantive Chairmen.
Those sworn-in on Wednesday night as Chairmen include Yousuo Oberiakuna (Brass), Felix Ayah (Southern Ijaw), Ibegu Richard (Ogbia), John Ebikake (Ekeremor) and Tony Ogola (Sagbama).
In the statement issued from the office of the State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah and signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Ebi Evisson,”the affected chairmen were removed from office by the State House of Assembly on account of gross misconduct in accordance with section 24(6) OF THE State Local Government Law 2000 as amended.
According to the Statement, the Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, represented by his Deputy, had warned the newly sworn-in Chairmen to execute projects that will develop and impact positively on the lives of the people in their respective Local Government Councils.,“Don’t abuse the opportunity given to you to serve the people effectively and turn around the fortunes of the council.”
Meanwhile, there is every indication that the affected local government Chairmen would head to the court of law to prove their innocence, just as many believe that the affected Chairmen were those who were close allied to the former Governor Timipre Sylva.
