Posted by By Isaac Olamikan on
Moves are on by the presidency in Abuja and some elements in the National Assembly to swear in, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Deputy governor of Bayelsa State, to replace his embattled boss, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, who is presently facing court proceedings in London on allegations of money laundering.
Moves are on by the presidency in Abuja and some elements in the National Assembly to swear in, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Deputy governor of Bayelsa State, to replace his embattled boss, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, who is presently facing court proceedings in London on allegations of money laundering.
Impeccable sources told Telegraph in Abuja that the idea to replace Chief Alamieyeseigha with his deputy was actually mooted by elements loyal to President Olusegun Obasanjo as a way of getting even with the embattled "Governor-General" who has never hidden his affinity to the equally embattled Vice-president Atiku Abubakar.
With the current travails of governor Alamieseigha the hawks in the Presidency feel it is the right time for them to move and replace him with his deputy whom they believe will be more friendly with the presidency in contrast to Alamieyeseigha's militant posture especially as it relates to Obasanjo's third term bid and the resource control war.
To show the Presidency's love for Dr. Jonathan's ascension to power, we gathered that Bayelsa State's allocation for the month of September was held by the Presidency and was only released when the Ogbia born deputy governor accompanied by some influential individuals stormed the Presidential Villa (Aso Rock) Abuja to confer with the President.
Weapons the anti-Alamieyeseigha elements in the Presidency are said to be getting ready to use in bringing down the embattled governor include soliciting for the backing of lawmakers both in the state House of Assembly and the National Assembly.
To this end, we reliably gathered that the Presidency have sought for the support of some state governors loyal to the President Obasanjo agenda to co-opt lawmakers representing their states in the legislative chambers in Abuja to endorse any legislation that would be used in achieving their aim.
Also note-worthy is the recent arrest of Hon. Boyelayefa Debekeme, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a move many see as a way to brow beating the lawmaker and ensuring he galvanise his colleagues in the House of Assembly to commence impeachment moves against the governor.
One area which the anti-Alamieyeseigha group are believed to be planning to exploit to their advantage is said to be related to a section of the constitution which concerns a governor who is jailed while in office or who has been deemed to be too poor in health as to continue to exercise his official responsibility. To actualize their plan of changing the old order, the pro-Obasanjo elements are said to be patiently waiting for the outcome of Alamieyeseigha's ordeal in London.
According to a source, "if the governor (Chief Alamieyeseigha) is not off the hook within 90 days (i.e. December 13th) of the commencement of his ordeal in London or he ends up being jailed, then the provision dealing with his replacement by his deputy would be given teeth".
Meanwhile, mum is the word in Yenagoa, the state capital, as court proceedings against the governor commences on allegation of money laundering.