News from Across the States

By Annette Edo
Monday, August 04, 2003

Ondo: Ondo Govt Accused

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, in Ondo State has accused the state government of trading with their May and June salaries rather than paying them. Deji Akinwalere, who disclosed this to journalists in Akure last week, said the state government had collected the allocations but held on to it under the pretext of carrying out inquisition on the activities of past transition committees in the councils.

He said the union was disappointed because some states had already collected their allocation for the month of May and June while other states were delaying the payment saying that "they are awaiting the report of the technical committee on council reforms." He added: "Some said they received a directive from their parties to down-size the workers hence the delay in the payment of the salaries." But the union has noticed that the delay was deliberate on the part of the state government who now trades with the council funds coupled with infighting between deputy governors in some states, their finance commissioners and commissioners for local government on who should preside over the disbursement of councils' allocation," he said.

Sokoto: Governor's Election Upheld

The Sokoto election petition tribunal has upheld the election of Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa of Sokoto State and Aliyu Magatakada Wamankko, his deputy. Justice Tijani Abdullahi, chairman of the tribunal while delivering judgement during the last sitting recently said the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the three-point allegations on the gubernatorial elections conducted April 19, 2003. He stated that on the first count, the petitioners alleged that the said election was characterised by electoral fraud and open bribery of voters prior to and during the elections. On the second count, he said the first and second respondent were not elected by the majority of legal votes cast by the electorate in Sokoto State and thirdly that the petitioners alleged that the state gubernatorial election was also characterised by over-voting and under-voting respectively and therefore, called for the nullification of the said election result.

Abdullahi noted that out of all the witnesses brought by the petitioners, none was able to present and prove these cases beyond reasonable doubt. He explained that after carefully listening to the arguments of both counsels and analysing the available evidence before the tribunal, it came to the conclusion that "the election was conducted in compliance with the electoral procedure of 2002.

Edo: An Invitation to Anarchy

The National Conscience Party, NCP, and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in Edo State have described the recent swearing-in of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidates in the forthcoming local government election as chairmen of transition committees of the 18 local government areas in the state as " a clear fraud and an invitation to anarchy."

In a statement issued by Osagie Osariemen Obayuwana, NCP national deputy chairman, South-South zone in Benin, last week, the two parties said the recent move by the state governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion to foist the PDP chairmanship candidates on local government councils of the state in the name of caretaker committee was a dangerous development. "We see it as a devious move which constitutes a danger to democracy as part of a consented effort by the ruling PDP to do all it can to demobilise and overwhelm other political parties and make them on-lookers," the statement read. Obayuwana said "the move was to ensure that the PDP was in control of all the 774 councils in Nigeria and part of its grand design to ensure that Nigeria became a one-party state." This dangerous plot being played out by the PDP is condemnable and shameless," Obayuwana said.

Similarly, ANPP on its part had in a statement issued by Godwin Erhahon, the state publicity secretary, said the action of the PDP could lead the state on the path of lawlessness and inhumanity. "Although, ANPP realises that the PDP cannot rule with sane minds, having robbed its way to power, we see the need to call President Olusegun Obasanjo and his party men to order before they plunge the country into chaos," he said.

Lucky Igbinedion, the governor of the State had, at the ceremony, described the appointments as a reward for loyalty and patience with the party. But Erhahon said "such statement is unlawful and anti-multiple party system." "We see the utterances as an invitation to anarchy. His utterance betrayed the insensitivity of the PDP to the interest and feelings of other political parties and the electorate as stakeholders in the local administration," he said.

Benue: Concern Over Security

The Benue State Government has been asked to fully implement the law on the establishment of vigilante groups in various parts of the state. Ralph Igbago, deputy speaker of the Benue House of Assembly, who expressed concern about the security in the state said the police could only succeed in this area with the cooperation and assistance of the various vigilante groups in the state. He said it was left for the executive arm of the government to ensure that the various local governments implemented the law on the establishment of vigilante.

Igbago appealed to the government to fully monitor its implementation, adding that if need be, the House would revisit the issue of security of the state with a view to giving the law on the establishment of the vigilante groups more jobs to do. He said the problem of security in the state could be solved only by the police because criminals live among the people. And as such, he urged the various communities in the state to ensure that criminally-minded people were not appointed as members of the groups.

He accused politicians of compounding the security problem through the recruitment of thugs who, thereafter, became idle after the elections. According to him, politicians who think they were wealthy enough to maintain supporters should cater for their welfare during and after elections. "I think politicians should prove their worth at the polls independent of any other person or group of persons. My appeal is that those who armed youths to intimidate people during elections should retrieve those arms and handover to the police or in the alternative, the police should intensify their search for arms because many are likely to be caught within or outside their homes," he said.

Gombe: More Policemen Needed

The Gombe State Police Command has called for more policemen saying the 3,000 policemen currently serving in the command were not enough to provide adequate security in the state. Kelvin Opoke, the state commissioner of police, who disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office at the command headquarters in Gombe, said more police were required for the provision of peace and order in the state.

Opoke said the command had "mapped out strategic areas to deploy mobile policemen in case there was any crime in the state." He appealed to both government and individuals in the state to assist the command with adequate fuel, saying that the command could not successfully operate without enough fuel for its vehicles.

Lagos: Tinubu's Threat

Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State has threatened to ban the Eyo festival in the state if the perennial violence that often graces the annual festival continued. Tinubu, who said this while receiving the staff of office from the leadership of the Eyo group at the Government House, July 27, frowned at the incessant bloody rivalries among the various Eyo cult groups.

Tinubu said the festival might be banned if the violence continued and "I am warning everyone of you to be careful during this year's festival." I have the power to ban it, but I want to use brotherhood and subtle method. Don't ever allow violence to happen again. It is a tradition that has its value," he said.

The governor disclosed that the government was planning to turn the festival into a tourist attraction that would yield dividends to the government and promised to support the festival so long as peace was maintained.