Posted by From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
The Bayelsa State caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, has intervened in the crisis engulfing the state chapter of the party and the House of Assembly, directing that a committee be set up to look into the crisis.
• Truce committee raised
The Bayelsa State caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, has intervened in the crisis engulfing the state chapter of the party and the House of Assembly, directing that a committee be set up to look into the crisis.
The crisis had been triggered following the suspension slammed on the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Werinipre Seibarugu, the House committee chairman on Information, Robert Enogha, Amalanyou Yousou, Ruby Benjamin and Ayobegha James by the party for fraternizing with Dudafa Waripamo-owei alleged to be a Labour Party (LP) member but who campaigned to become the PDP chairman in the state.
The crisis had deepened on Monday when the camp of Seibarugu, in a bid to forestall his impeachment, suspended six members of the House believed to be plotting his removal. The suspended members, with others sympathetic to their cause, in turn, announced the impeachment of Seibarugu and his Deputy, Nestor Benabo. They elected Ebiotu Seleketimbu as speaker pro-tempore, while suspending eight members in Seibarugu's camp.
At the state caucus meeting, attended by Vice President Jonathan, Governor Timipre Sylva, Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi, senators, House of Representatives members and the party executive members, a committee, headed by the chairman of the party, Chief Fred Agbedi, was set up to look into the issues and resolve the crisis.
A source at the meeting, who craved anonymity, told Daily Sun that Jonathan was not happy with the developments in the state, especially when it involved his supporters and those of the state governor.
He was said to have passionately appealed for peace among members of the party in the state.
The source said the party was likely to lift the suspension on Seibarugu and others, which would pave the way for the resolution of the crisis in the House of Assembly.
The source said the two factions of the House of Assembly attended the meeting and that Seibarugu and Seleketimbu agreed to allow peace to reign.
A member of the House of Assembly, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the setting up of the committee to resolve the crisis in the House.
He, however, said the only crisis to be resolved was that of the suspension of the six members, adding that the issue of the impeachment of Seibarugu was no issue because he was never removed from office.
According to him, the law stipulates that only two-third of members can impeach the speaker and wondered why 10 members would claim they had impeached the speaker.
'Where did they hold proceedings to say they have impeached the speaker? The law stipulates two-third and in our case, 16 members. How then can 10 members say they have impeached the speaker? Was the mace, the symbol of authority, in the chamber and was the clerk of the House present? That impeachment was a joke," he said.
The Secretary of the party, Dr. Tarilah Tebepah, also confirmed that a committee had been set up to resolve the issues.
'Yes a committee has been set up to look into the crisis and the party is looking into the issue of the suspension of the speaker and the crisis in the House of Assembly. The party will resolve every issue," he said.
Dr. Tebepah said the issue of Dudafa Waripamo-owei did not come up at the meeting because the party had already made its stance known that he was a member of LP and not PDP.