Politics
PDP Blames Lalong For Political Crises In Plateau
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State on Monday raised an alarm over tension in the State House of Assembly, following the purported impeachment of the Speaker of the House, and the apprehension in Langtang North LGA, where the incumbent chairman has not been allowed to settle in office despite a Court judgment.
Also, the embattled Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, Joshua Laven, said the action of the state government had raised serious tension in the council, saying it took the intervention of the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, to stem the tide in the council, if not there would have been a crisis.
The State House of Assembly has been in crisis since the impeachment of Abok Ayuba from his position as Speaker by eight members over a week ago.
Recall that Laven contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Amos Nanloh, for the chairmanship seat of Langtang North local government in 2018 and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) declared Nanloh elected and he was sworn in.
However, Laven went to court where the election was ruled in his favour and he was sworn in as duly elected chairman on October 9, 2019, for the period of three years.
But after spending two years in office, PLASIEC declared his seat vacant by an advertisement in the media which led Laven to approach the Court.
Delivering his judgment last Tuesday, Justice Ishaku Kunda of the State High Court, asked Laven to resume office immediately without delay to complete his three-year tenure which terminates on 9th October 2022 as he took an oath of office on the 9th of October, 2019.
Kunda described the whole scenario where Laven was stopped from completing his tenure as an act of “impunity, illegality and executive rascality which must end forthwith”.
The Judge said, “Laven’s tenure cannot be arbitrarily aborted before his tenure elapses.
“The election held thereof (9th October, 2021) was a nullity. Laven shall go back to the local government to complete his tenure as the Executive Chairman of the council. I hold and warn that the defendant (PLASIEC) should not disobey this judgement.”
Briefing journalists at the party secretariat in Jos, the PDP state chairman, Chris Hassan, said, “It is regrettable that, as a lawyer, Governor Lalong has embraced impunity and is conducting himself like a bull in a China Shop.
Hassan said, “Lalong is orchestrating this breach of the law and desperation in Langtang North barely over a week after he sponsored seven members of the State House of Assembly to commit illegality in the name of impeaching the Speaker.
“The PDP will continue to explore the instrumentality of the law against the brazen desperation and lack of direction of the APC-led administration in our dear State”, he stressed.
Also speaking, the State Legal Adviser of PDP, Barr. Binchen Jamtur, said, “Despite Justice Ishku Kunda’s declarative judgment reinstating Hon. Joshua Laven as chairman of Langtang North Local Government Council, Governor Lalong has continued to use his agents and cronies to obstruct the course of justice and forcefully aid the ousted APC candidate to remain in office as chairman.
“Justice Kunda’s judgment granted the applicant five reliefs, and summarily indicated that judgment is declarative, meaning Hon. Laven is restored to his office with immediate effect, without any procedures or protocols associated with executionary judgment.
According to him, “Lalong is wilfully ignoring to create a crisis of legitimacy and identity of leadership in Langtang North and precipitate confusion and possible bloodshed”.
In his remarks, Joshua Laven, commended the newly posted Commissioner Police in the State, Batholomew Onyeka, saying, “He moved quickly to seal the Local Government Secretariat to avoid a clash between the two parties which may have led to bloodshed.
“However, we want the world to know that if there is any breakdown of law and order, Governor Lalong should be held responsible”, he stressed
A grassroots organisation known as Sir Siminalayi Fubara Peace Initiative, Friends For Good Governance, has passed a confidence vote on the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara over his development strides in the state within a short time in office.
Apart from the numerous development projects embarked upon by the governor in the state, the body expressed delight over the recent payment of N85,000.00 minimum wage to civil servants in the State to reduce the economic burden of workers and their dependants.
Spokesperson of the organisation, Chief Felix Ologara, who addressed newsmen in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area described Governor Fubara’s administration as the most compassionate, peace-loving and labour-friendly in Nigeria.
Coordinator of the NGO, Comrade Felix Nnaa, also lauded the governor of Rivers State for staying focused on the development of the state despite the challenges by detractors of his administration.
The NGO also commended the newly elected local government chairmen in the state, particularly the chairman of Khana LGA, Hon Martin Nwigbo and his Tai counterpart, Hon Mathew Dike for modelling their leadership style after Governor Fubara’s in providing essential services to the people.
On his part, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Martins Nwigbo, who also spoke with the press assured that his administration will give priority attention to the development of Khana, particularly in providing security, economic empowerment, human capital development and restoration of power in the area.
Former President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Atuboyedia Obianime, has called for a people centred governance in Nigeria.
Prof. Obianime said this at the Rivers Liberation Summit and Awards organised by the Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide in Port Harcourt.
He said projects execution are good but government must come up with policies that will create employment opportunities for the people.
The former INC president particularly urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to revive all moribund industries with the view to creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and stressed the need for the revamping of the agricultural sector in the state.
Also speaking, a former chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Sam Sam Jaja, said the Ijaws will never surrender their rights for any reason.
“We know where we come from and we know where we are now; we know the battle we fought and we know the battle we are still fighting and one thing is very important among us, we will never surrender our rights for any reason”, he said.
Dr Jaja said the Ijaws have been known to fight against oppression and marginalisation and commended the Ijaw Wari Initiative for complementing the INC.
“What we are doing today is to honour Ijaw sons and daughters who deserve to be honoured and of course we have one of our elderly sons to tell us what we have done in terms of pursuing leadership”, he added.
He also described the Ijaws as symbols of leadership, adding: “it starts from us and it will continue to remain with us for a long time”
Dr Jaja also declared that with an Ijaw man at the saddle of leadership in the State, the people will see a new phase of governance, adding that areas neglected will be touched, while expressing optimism that the event would equip the participants to face the challenges ahead.
In his welcome address, the president of Ijaw Wari Initiative Worldwide, Somina Wokoma, said the event was to “commemorate the October 30th, 2023, failed attempt to impeach our dear Governor which marked a turning point in our democratic journey”.
“As we converge on this epoch making occasion, we celebrate the triumph of democracy, people oriented leadership and the resilience of Rivers people”, he said.
John Bibor
A non- governmental organisation in Rivers State, the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force ( (NDPVF), Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, has tasked Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the State to urgently focus on aggressive infrastructural and human capital development projects.
This is contained in a statement released by the group in Port Harcourt shortly after her Chapter Executive Council ( CEC) meeting in Opobo Town, and signed by its Coordinator, Commander Idawari Brown; Secretary, Comrade Success Dinne Ebranga and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Lucky Ubani.
The group urged the chairmen and councillors to be proactive in the discharge of their assignment of dispensing quality service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction and admonished them to follow the leadership example of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“There is need for the Chairmen of various Councils in the state to ensure that they emulate the leadership style of the governor by building bridges of transformation, human capital development and youth inclusiveness in governance of their LGAs”, the statement said.
The group further admonished the chairmen of the various councils and their Councillors to put in their best in the leadership of their local areas for the well-being of the people.
“The people are in dire need of your contributions for better development bridges in terms of even distribution of development projects and programmes that will have direct- bearings on the people’s welfare and lives.
“They should include those who have what it takes to develop the areas through their contributions to move the area forward developmentally.
“We urge the chairmen of various councils and their councillors not to appoint anybody on political patronage in order to siphon the treasury of the councils.
“We would not tolerate this lackluster attitude from any council chairmen Councillors. The real thing should be done through those with leadership expertise and are ever ready to join forces with them to build a pleasant and virile Local Government Areas administration for posterity.
By: Bethel Toby