Posted by Chioma Anyagafu on
ARCHBISHOP of Lagos, Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie is a man of God who does not shy away from speaking out his mind on any issue. He says that justice should be allowed to take its shape in the case of Alamieyeseigha.
ARCHBISHOP of Lagos, Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie is a man of God who does not shy away from speaking out his mind on any issue. He says that justice should be allowed to take its shape in the case of Alamieyeseigha.
All I can say is that it is a big disgrace on the governor, his wife, his children and everyone who bears that name. It is also a big disgrace to Nigeria and Nigerians. People are making fun of us as a people and a nation. But what do you expect? We have a Head of State who ought to have spoken out on many issues but who prefers to keep quiet.
The president should have made some announcements on the matter but he didn't and I know when silence is not golden. Keeping silent on that matter was not golden on the part of the president. We are in a democracy, and now look at the allegations: he jumped bail, he disguised himself, he forged documents. That's what I call grave allegations and if they are true, they would attract grave consequences. That is what they call international crime.
Now, any Nigerian who travels abroad will be subjected to serious embarrassment because of this. Our green passport will become an embarrassment to us. What this is also telling us is that our democracy has no solid basis and everything not built on solid basis collapses.
Look at all the political parties in Nigeria. Which of them has solid foundation? Take them one after another and scrutinise them. It is the same problem that is going round. The National Assembly now constitutes a national embarrassment due to allegations of bribery for the president to have another term in office. This is the man that took over from Murtala Muhammed as a military Head of State. He came back under civilian dispensation and has served one term and serving his second term. And he does not want to leave. He wants to stay back.
On two occasions, he has said he will hand over in 2007; that his chickens in Ota farm are missing him. Yet, he has not said anything to stop sycophants who are campaigning for his third term in office.
I think a time has come for us to read the handwriting on the wall. We cannot cheat God. We should learn from the Abacha experience but power intoxicates and a drunken man cannot reason. If President Obasanjo is disregarding our constitution to plan another term in office, then, he cannot stop Alamieyeseigha. The governors are only borrowing from him.
It is indeed a strange thing happening to Nigeria. And even the past Heads of State are keeping quiet because they are equally guilty. Ordinarily, they are the ones to speak up. Things are really going bad in this country. But God loves Nigeria. He has a way of giving people what they deserve at the end of the day.
Other nations are watching us and laughing. I just came back from Ghana. They have their own problems but the governor and so many people in positions of authority ought to have resigned. So, in the case of Bayelsa governor, let justice take its cause.
Oyetibo: Only way Alams can be arrested in Nigeria
Chief Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), in this encounter, looks at the constitutional implications of Governor Alamiaseigha's charges.What is the constitutional way to tackle the problem in Bayelsa State?
It is very unfortunate really but only the rule of law can prevail in this matter. Nothing else can be done and we have to face the truth of the matter and that is, that DSP Alamaiseigha is still a serving governor and under section 308 of the constitution, enjoys immunity. The federal government has no powers to arrest him and cannot do so or have him extradited under the circumstances. The only way out of this problem is for the Bayelsa State Assembly to have him impeached and it is only the Assembly that has the constitutional right to strip him of this immunity. It is only then that he can be extradited.
Is there no other way?
There is an alternative. If by any chance, the governor enters the premises of the British High Commission here in Nigeria, he can be arrested. But how to get him into the premises of that Commission is the big question. Inside the British High Commission, it would be adjudged that he has entered the United kingdom. From there, he can be arrested and driven in the official car of the British High Commissioner in Nigeria from the premises of the High Commission to the airport and to Britain.
That is the alternative but the unfortunate thing is that no one can force him into the British High Commission. Besides this alternative, only the Bayelsa Assembly can strip him of his immunity and put him in a situation where he can be arrested anywhere. But two-third of the Bayelsa Assembly has to support the impeachment.
Now, some members of the state legislature were in Lagos this week and began an impeachment process. Is it legal to shift its proceedings from Bayelsa State to Lagos State and begin the process of impeachment?
Impeachment process can begin from anywhere. But they have not come to impeach him from Lagos, only to start the process and that is legal. Notice of impeachment can be served from anywhere. The most important thing is that it must get two-third support of members of the state assembly before a governor can be impeached. Yes, they can serve a notice of impeachment or begin a process of impeachment from anywhere. It is constitutional. What is important is the two-third support.
Is there no way the federal government can intervene in the matter?
Absolutely none. It's unfortunate. Federal Government has no role to play in this matter. The governor is governor of Bayelsa State, elected by the people of the state. So, only the people of the state through their constituted assembly can remove him. Nothing else can be done about it. The federal government cannot intervene in any way. It has no role to play. It has no say in the matter. Only the people of the state can do something through their state assembly. Or if the governor enters the premises of British High Commission here in Nigeria.
Falae: He's brought shame to all of us
Chief Olu Falae, erstwhile finance minister, secretary to the federal government and presidential candidate of AD/ANPP says that the allegations against the governor are grave.
The allegations against the Bayelsa State governor are very serious and should be handled as such. If he stole money as alleged, he should go to prison.
I think what the British police needs to do is to apply for extradition, pleading that the governor jumped bail and forged documents. Then, I think impeachment procedure against him as governor should start immediately because the allegations against him are grave.
Everything should be done to ensure he is sent back to London because this has become too much on us. It will not only affect him and his family members but the entire country, every Nigerian should bear the consequence of that action in the way or manner Nigerians would be treated overseas and the manner the Nigerian passport would be regarded. So, let the British police apply for extradition and then, it is important that impeachment procedure starts immediately against the governor.
There's urgent need to beef up security - Omilani
Senator Yinka Omilani is the national vice-chairman of the PDP, South West senatorial zone. He calls for security to be beefed up in the troubled state.
It is the constitutional right of the Bayelsa Assembly to handle this matter. But money speaks volumes in Nigeria and the way things are going, members of the state assembly need protection to be able to carry out this constitutional right. The state assembly has served the governor notice of impeachment but the governor is claiming he did not receive anything. The deputy governor has also gone under. There is a serious need to be done. There is need to beef-up security around the state and members of the state assembly. The lawmakers need protection from being kidnaped or killed.
Ordinarily, the police commissioner in the state should handle it but you don't know his preferences. Only the Bayelsa Assembly can bring about justice and under the circumstances, they cannot do it because in that state, they say their lives are in danger.
We don't need a fugitive as governor in Nigeria, says Sani
Comrade Shehu Sani, a delegate to the confab in this encounter calls for the extradition of Alamieyeseigha to UK to face criminal charges.
We really have a big problem in our hands but the thing to do is follow the due process. The governor of Bayelsa State should resign or be impeached because he has very serious allegations against him. I think the federal government should ensure he is extradited to the United Kingdom to face criminal charges levelled against him.
The state assembly on its part should quicken the impeachment process because there is no need of having a fugitive at the helm of affairs of the state or any state for that matter. It is a big shame to Bayelsa State, to the federal government and to every Nigerian. It should not be condoned at all by the state assembly or by Nigerians because it is a big embarrassment to all of us.
Gov is under absolute immunity - Ozekhome
Chief Mike Ozekhome is a Lagos lawyer, human rights activist and a delegate to the last national conference on political reforms.
Constitutionally, it is not possible to bring the governor back to London to face trial. This is because, under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, the governor enjoys absolute immunity and the absolute immunity prohibits his arrest, detention or imprisonment. The immunity also prevents any court processes from being served on him or from even being applied at all. The immunity, therefore, is total and absolute. But he loses this immunity after serving as governor in 2007.