Posted by By Jacob Edi, Abuja and Val Okara, Owerri on
After four hours of meeting, more than 20 state governors, who converged on Akwa Ibom governor's lodge, in Abuja, on Wednesday, endorsed an ultimatum that President Olusegun Obasanjo should make a choice between supporting the retention of immunity clause in the proposed constitution amendment or forget their support for the third term project.
After four hours of meeting, more than 20 state governors, who converged on Akwa Ibom governor's lodge, in Abuja, on Wednesday, endorsed an ultimatum that President Olusegun Obasanjo should make a choice between supporting the retention of immunity clause in the proposed constitution amendment or forget their support for the third term project.
Governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, however, stormed out of the meeting, saying he opposes the choice given to President Obasanjo. He left the meeting more than 35 minutes before it ended.
Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State also left about 20 minutes into the parley, saying he was going to pray. He never returned.
Although none of the governors accepted to make comments after the meeting, it was learnt that the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah, who is also chairman of the conference of governors, had hurriedly summoned his colleagues to the meeting so they would take a position on the third term project before the National Assembly reconvenes next week.
He had sneaked out of the governors' lodge after the meeting and reportedly drove to the presidential villa to brief President Obasanjo.
Sources at the meeting hinted that the governors had told Gov Attah to let Obasanjo know that if he wants tenure elongation, they should also enjoy the same benefit.
Some of the governors, it was further learnt, expressed displeasure that Obasanjo was considering cutting them off the third term plan as well as supporting the removal of immunity clause from the proposed amendments to the 1999 constitution.
The governors reasoned that with the removal of immunity clause, it will be easy for the President to deal with them, especially those not in his good books, using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Meanwhile, political leaders in Imo State on Wednesday lent their support to constitution amendment and tenure extension for the president and governors.
In a joint briefing by three senators from the state, Chief Francis Arthur Nzeribe, Ifeanyi Ararume and Eze Ajoku, held in Owerri, the state capital, the forum said that only governors adjudged to have performed well in office would secure the ticket for third term.
In a communiqué issued and jointly signed, at the end of the meeting by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who chaired the occasion, senators Nzeribe, Ararume and Ajoku commended the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for taking a bold step by declaring the party's support for the extension of the tenure of the president and governors.
The communiqué read by Senator Ararume representing Okigwe, challenged those who are paying lip service to the third term and constitution amendment to declare their stand and stop deceiving the people of the state.
'This forum adopts the presentation of our senators on behalf of Imo State people supporting the on-going process of amending the constitution of the Federal Pepublic of Nigeria. Particularly, we support the amendment of the tenure clause to allow a third term of four years for the president and governors," he said.
The forum commended president Obasanjo on his current structural and economic policies which, it said, have ensured democracy dividends and urged him to present himself for re-election in 2007 if the constitution prescribed a third term tenure.
The forum supported the creation of additional state from the South East zone and demanded that the new state be created out of the recommendation of the National Assembly South East caucus committee on state creation.
It further condemned last Tuesday's burning and looting of the senatorial office of Senator Nzeribe at Orlu town by hoodlums and called on both the state government and security agencies to ensure the safety of life and property of the people of the state.
Daily Sun gathered that the police had earlier locked the main gate into the hotel where the politicians met, asking those invited for the forum to go home.
When eventually the meeting started, thugs and about 30 mobile policemen manhandled and turned back the state's top govrnment functionaries.
Among those stopped from entering the venue of the conference were, House of Assembly members, local government chairmen, executive assistants to the Governor, and Special Adviser, Special Duties Sir George Eguh.
A Superintendent of Police, Mr. Edenna Moses, who led about 30 other mobile policemen to physically stop the government functionaries said he was under instructions to screen and stop those not expected at the conference. His words: "I am not a politician. The organizers are screening those invited and I have been asked not to allow you enter".
Asked by Chief Atan Ogu, one of the Governor's Executive Assistants, why government officials were not being allowed to attend the conference even when they were invited, Mr. Moses said, "I don't know, I am not a politician. We are only here to maintain peace so if you try to force yourself in I will stop you".
While the argument between the policemen and the government officials raged on, some hoodlums who were obviously hired were busy rough-handling some of the government functionaries. In the process many of them were dispossesed of their handsets, and wristwatches.
When it became clear that no amount of logic will persuade the policemen to let them in, the government functionaries led a delegation headed by Sir George Eguh, to the Commissioner of Police Mr. Hezekiah Dimka who after speaking with the Deputy Commissioner at the venue asked them to go back to be led into the venue by the Deputy Commissioner.
However, on getting back to the venue, the Deputy Commissioner told the bewildered government officials that his duty at the venue was "to maintain peace, not to lead people into the hall".
A second attempt to enter the venue by the functionaries, was still resisted by the mobile policemen stationed at the entrance gate of the third floor of the hotel.
Among other government functionaries turned back were ALGON chairman, Chief Mayor Eze and chairman Orlu LGA, chairman Orsu LGA, Chief Charles Okeke, chairman Owerri West LGA, chairman Onuimo LGA, chairman Ideato South LGA, chairman Ideato North Barr. Chris Okewulonu, former Commissioner for Information and a host of others numbering over 40.