Boko Haram has 60,000 fighters- Insider

ARTICLE | NOVEMBER 17, 2014 - 3:13PM

By Yakubu Salisu
There are indications that the Boko Haram sect has about 60,000 fighters, including underage insurgents.
A top source, who is central to the initial peace talks with the sect, gave these rare insights.
The source explained why the war against Boko Haram is difficult and what the government can do to tackle the insurgency.
The source said: “Boko Haram has nearly 10,000 ideological army and over 50,000 conscripts, including 40 per cent underage. We are not even counting numerous sect members in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and in different parts of Nigeria, West Africa and as far as Sudan.
“Most of them prefer to die in battle than to be back to their camps safely due to the endemic indoctrination within the cult group.
“This is the reason why I always say here and everywhere that this crisis is far from over. The only thing for now: Ya Allah protect us and unite us to defeat our enemies.”
The sect is also said to be operating active cells in Kogi, Lagos with many members in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and in different parts of the country, West Africa and as far as Sudan.
The source decried the increasing insurgency in the North-East and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
According to the source, “The crisis is far more serious than it is being reported. Last week, his father’s friend and former DSS colleague was slaughtered by Boko Haram in Hawul, his son drove to the scene to pick his father’s corpse and he was killed too.
“Yes, they are now in Hawul, few kilometres to Biu. My mum’s twin sister is missing in the past two days, she ran away from Boko Haram to the bush in Garkida. Many of my relatives have fled to the mountains, some barefooted. Nigeria is at war.
“There is indeed a silent humanitarian emergency in the North-East that is being shielded from the rest of the world.”
The highly-placed source asked all Nigerians to come together, irrespective of political leanings, to address the insurgency in the North-East.
The source added: “Gwoza, Sambisa and Mandara mountains are the vortex of Boko Haram insurgency. Until we take these areas, we have a lot more to do. Boko Haram has very active cells in different parts of the north including Lagos and Kogi.
“What is important in my opinion is for Nigerians (leaders and the led) to figure out what is responsible for the problem in the first place.
“The blame game started from Jonathan and everyone and political parties started pointing fingers at one another.
“When I spoke to the Commander-In-Chief in May/ June, I saw the level of his ignorance, I was alarmed. This ignorance is not only with the president alone, even our religious and traditional leaders in the north have continued to miss the live wire that feeds the insurgency.
“We have reached a stage where we can no longer manage this problem, not only because of an important leader like Jonathan but he inherited failed institutions.
“Today, Boko Haram and IS are in contact and people are even surprised when it was confirmed. But some of us said it repeatedly in the media. This is a problem that needs all Nigerians to be on board. I blame the National Assembly the most for not insisting on accountability from the military and the executive arm. Alas, they are equally not accountable to Nigerians.
“The people in the North-East do not care about the conspiracy theories we peddle here, they just want to survive another horrifying day.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/boko-haram-has-60000-fighters-insider

Enugu guber: Calm in Enugu as Chime, Ekweremmadu settle differences

OUR REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 10, 2014

…As coast clears for Ugwuanyi

BY WILLY EYA

Peace is gradually returning to the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the two major contenders in the power struggle for the party structure, Governor Sullivan Chime and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, may have finally resolved their differences.

Daily Sun gathered at the weekend that Governor Chime and Senator Ekweremmadu resolved the deadlock, which almost tore the Enugu PDP apart in a highbrow meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A top member of the PDP in the state told Daily Sun that in the meeting, which was held at Abuja, the president told Governor Chime to allow Ekweremmadu to go back to the Senate while he controls the remaining party structure in the state.

Our source informed that with the trade off, Chime, who initially wanted to replace Ekweremmadu at the Senate, sacrificed his ambition but would now control the structure that would produce his successor, Senators of Enugu North and East and other elective officers of the state.

It was gathered that with the development, the coast is now clear for Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who has been adopted as the popular governorship candidate of the PDP in the state.

Yesterday, it was gathered that in spite of news reports, suggesting that a faction of the party appeared to have had a better part of the fight, feelers on the outcome of the Abuja meeting doused the tension, as it was learnt that Chime and Ekweremadu have made up their differences.

Our source said: We gathered that whereas the close supporters of the two gladiators, who have been at daggers drawn over the Enugu West senatorial ticket of the party seemed to have carried on as if war was imminent, even at the weekend, the truth is that the two alongside some top leaders of the party in the state have reached a truce in Abuja and that they did that in liaison with Mr. President.

He said that perhaps, the agreement to work in harmony once again, was the reason the deputy chairman of the party, Elder David Aja, who has been claiming to be the acting chairman since the resignation of Chief Vita Abba, was reported to have signed the statement releasing the result of the special local government delegates billed to hold last Saturday.

Many of those who made the list in the Enugu North zone, it was gathered are said to be allies of Chime.

Aja has been fighting the factional war on the side of Ekweremadu, a reason those who would not know what has transpired between the leaders of the factions were wary of the name of Aja associated with the list published yesterday.

At the weekend the candidature of Hon. Ugwuanyi was further boosted as the Enugu State chapter of the Nigerian Councilors’ Forum joined several other groups in support of him.

According to the statement of the forum signed by Hon. Hyginus Makata, chairman of the Enugu chapter and its secretary, Barrister Francis Ani, the councilors expressed their support for the zoning of the governorship seat to Enugu North zone (Nsukka) by the party in the state even as they joined all the levels of authority of the party in the state in endorsing Ugwuanyi, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport.

“We express our support to the leadership of the party in the state on the zoning of the governorship seat to Enugu North senatorial zone in fairness and equity and thank Governor Sullivan Chime for all the programmes he has been midwifing to ensure a smooth political transition in the state.

“We are not just supporting the endorsement of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi but are part of his endorsement by the state caucus of our party, PDP, and the entire stakeholders in the state”, said the group.

The leaders of the councilors said the choice of the consensus candidate “is one singular action that has saved the state from what onlookers thought was going to be a very knotty governorship race that would have torn the party very much apart in our dear state because he has remained a solid bridge builder whose main attribute is calmness in the face of all provocations”.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=90154

You’re not fit for legislative position, Enugu professionals tell Chime

BY OUR REPORTER ON OCTOBER 18, 2014 ·

Enugu professionals resident in various parts of the world has asked the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime to pullout of the senatorial contest saying he is not fit for the legislature, in order not to jeopardise the com­parative advantage which Ekweremadu’s continuity in the Senate would bring to the State and the South East.

This was contained in an open letter to the Gov­ernor signed by thousands of Enugu professionals across the globe. The princi­pal signees of the letter are Uchenna Nnamani for Enu­gu East Senatorial District; Desmond Ugwu for Enugu North, and Moses Chine­gwu for Enugu West.

Writing under the aus­pices of Enugu Concerned Professionals Worldwide, they asked the Govenor to think of the interest of the State first and “listen to the collective voices of reason and to consider the distrac­tions and great loss inherent in your contest for an elec­tive position”.

The group said: “As a lawyer, we will not bore you with the constitutional provision of no-term limit for the legislative arm of our presidential system of gov­ernment. The importance of no-term limit must override the need for zoning, which is not constitutional.

“The increase in effec­tiveness of legislators is due to experience: the more you do something, the better you get at it. Experienced legis­lators make good laws. The Senate and House of Repre­sentatives have incumbency and seniority rules, which favor greatly reelected and experienced representatives. Examples abound world­wide.

“The Enugu West sena­torial zone has one senate position and two House of Representatives positions. The ranking senator is also the Deputy Senate Presi­dent and the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament. The people of this zone will be grossly short-changed if the incumbent senator is de­nied the opportunity to be re-elected. Apart from loss of seniority, a change in the Senate wipes away the power and influence of the exalted office, which is fifth in the succession ranking in Nigeria”.

Continuing, the global community of Enugu pro­fessionals insisted Chime’s presence in the Senate would short-change State as a whole.

They further reasoned: “Enugu State houses the cap­ital of Southeastern Nigeria, the home of Ndiigbo.

 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=86727

Enugu Politics: Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi can end dichotomy of state

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The festering dichotomy in Enugu state politics is on the verge of coming to an end if the analysis of the situation developing in Enugu by Nigerian political watchers last weekend was anything to go by. The in-fighting between the juggernauts of Enugu politics – Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime and Deputy Senate President,  Ike Ekweremadu (both from Enugu West Senatorial District) was threatening to overspill into a major political crisis, but the announcement of the preferred candidacy of House of Representatives’ Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the Governor of Enugu in 2015 by PDP stakeholders in the state might just spark off a peace initiative to calm the dangerously frayed nerves of the combatants.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is simply the politicians’ politician. His toothy smile is another name for magic. He can end the dichotomy in Enugu by talking sense into the principal combatants and if Governor Chime means business in this endorsement, the whole state will rally around him as we are witnessing in Anambra State where Willie Obiano is taking the state to another level following the passing of the baton by former Governor Peter Obi in the APGA government. But one must sound a word of caution straight away, and that is that endorsement should not mean that the endorsed must be subservient to the endorser on the long run.

Historically, political endorsement or ‘god-fatherism’ does not work in Nigerian politics. Starting with the immediate example in Enugu, former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani who endorsed Chime for governor lived to regret that endorsement as both of them hardly talk to each other these days, let alone does Chime appreciate the gift. Jim Nwobodo endorsed Chimaroke Nnamani who charmed him with his Americanese on the return of the ‘foetal’ surgeon to take a shot at the Government House, Enugu. We all knew that the great Zik blessed Governor Jim Nwobodo and never expected anything in return, which is as it should be and Jim had all the free hand to run the old Anambra (Ebonyi, Enugu and the present Anambra states). It will be noted that as soon as Jim endorsed Chimaroke, campaigned for him and installed him as Governor, their relationship ended dramatically on a very sour note. At the federal level, Obasanjo endorsed Yar’Adua who but for his death was going to probe the Otta general. Examples abound everywhere.

But why this endorsement should be supported by all is that gubernatorial candidate Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a good candidate that can be sold easily to the other two senatorial districts of Enugu – that is Enugu West and East. Those who know Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi say that he is humble and works really hard which has reflected positively in his brief at the House Committee on Marine Transport. His leadership in his constituency is revered and the rest of Enugu state will benefit from his dogged approach to legislative governance.

We ran into each at the PDP Presidential Campaign Office once and he disarmed me instantly with his friendly smile before we could even say hello. I told him that his billboards on the Enugu – Nsukka road was a constant reminder of the love he has for his people. Never have I seen a politician who after winning an election, bothered to thank the people that voted for him. I cannot remember exactly what the billboards read but it was to the effect that Representative Ifeanyi, alias Gburugburu thanks all for voting for him. Those bill boards remain in place as you pass through his constituency of Igboeze North and Uduenu Federal Constituency in the neighbourhood of Oboloafor and Enugu Ezike in Enugu North senatorial district.

God has a way of looking after the people of Enugu state. When Chimaroke Nnamani concluded his tenure in Enugu, the Almighty gave us Chime who used his four point programme of roads and infrastructure development to wipe out our tears during his first term as Governor. Today Enugu can be said to be a developed state, though there were sour tastes here and there as the Udi-born Chime conclude his eight year term of office. Although it should be left for historians to assess the merits and demerits of the Chime government, many contemporary writers have tried to make their quick assessment. Writing in last Sunday’s ThisDay newspaper, Okwudili Edeh painted an uncharitable picture of Sullivan Chime which to a large extend was over the board. Yes, Chime may look ‘Hitlerian’ by adopting the Furher like moustache and looking like a dangerous dictator, but it has not made the state “slide into dangerous anarchy and impunity” as Edeh’s piece suggested. By his reference to the incident concerning the governor’s marital situation it was totally unnecessary because there is evidence of rapprochement within the family following two newspaper advertisements placed by the estranged Enuigu First Lady who has not only apologised for the unsavoury incident but placed adverts in Daily Sun congratulating the husband ahead of his conferment of the national honour by President Goodluck Jonathan last week with the Commander of Nigeria honour (CON).

Among other charges by writer, Okwudili Edeh, he points out that “Chime’s dislike for the media was perhaps most pronounced by the ban on media from covering the chicken impeachment trial. Despite protests by Onyebuchi’s counsels, the media, and the civil society pointing out that the Nasarrawa impeachment trial was broadcast live, Chime’s kangaroo panel went ahead to sit in camera”.

Okwudili continued his diatribe against Chime: “Currently, the government decides what the people read. Its agents cart away from distributors every edition of newspapers and magazines meant for Enugu and environs that carries items government considers offensive. The press muzzling is directly connected with Chime’s obnoxious game plan for 2015. Besides wanting to singlehandedly anoint his successor, he has decreed that Enugu NASS members doing second term and above must retire in 2015. The media and political analysts have lampooned it as a dangerous expropriation of franchise. It is also seen as self-serving since Chime himself wants to move to the Senate after doing two terms as governor”.

I do not hold brief for any governor and I know that every leader has his own style of governance as all leaders have the penchant for their use and abuse of power and Chime is certainly not an exception. I do not agree with the so called policy of disenfranchising current members of the National Assembly from re-contesting their seats and I made this clear in my comments on the issue published in the Daily Sun andSunday ThisDay some months ago. In fact for most Nigerian governors heading for the Senate at the end of their two terms obviously is a symptom of abuse of power.

They will eventually fail as I also pointed out because successful governors never make a good career in legislative affairs and I did not hesitate to say so about Chime. I gather that the Chief of Staff to Enugu governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo is also going to the Senate just as the Governor is planning to do. The ‘Iron Lady’ as she is referred to in Enugu government circle, I gather, is the de facto Chief Executive in Enugu because of the tough way she has successfully managed the government in the long absence of the Governor during the period of his health challenge. Grape vine reports insisted that this was the genesis of the impeachment of the former Deputy Governor though I agree with former Senate President Ken Nnamani’s grim assessment of Onyebuchi’s chances in his Senate bid as a non starter. The Enugu East senator, Gilbert Nnaji is doing a good job in the senate and does not deserve to be changed, so is Enugu North’s Senator Ayogu Eze though he is targeting Enugu Government House. I can attest that Nnaji has empowered many graduates not just from Enugu East, but North and West and have always given a good account of himself in the House of Representatives before moving to his current senate seat. What makes the current Chief of Staff think that she will make a better senator than Gilbert Nnaji is another question of abuse of power that is certainly condemnable.

I also believe that former Information Minister and Nigerian Economic Summit group’s Frank Nweke is dreaming of a senate berth in the same Enugu East and his former boss, Chimaroke Nnamani can’t wait to return to his former hunting ground in the red chamber. That too could be a disaster because Frank’s performance in the Summit group as well as the World Economic Forum Africa seems more rewarding than wasting his hard earned resources, trying to get to the senate. Chimaroke is better off running his huge new hospital in Abuja’s Area 11 and save Nigeria the foreign exchange that would rather go into medical tourism as I know the hospital will be one of the best in the continent.

I urge Enugu state politicians to learn from its elder statesmen, Senator Jim Nwobodo and the amiable former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani who should both be getting ready for a 2019 shot at the Presidency and stop seeking irrelevance in the National Assembly where they will end up as misfits.

Tony Amadi is based in Abuja (tonyamadi2009@yahoo.com)

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=84980

Enugu guber: Nsukka zone picks Ugwuanyi as PDP zonal consensus candidate

R REPORTER ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 ·

POLITICS

Enugu Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday night emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus candidate of the Enugu North Senatorial District for the 2015 governorship election in Enugu State . Ugwuanyi popularly known as Gburugburu is the Chairman House Committee on Maritime of the House of Representatives.

Governor Sullivan Chime had called a PDP caucus meeting of the Enugu North Senatorial zone (Nsukka zone) where the governorship slot has been zoned to in order to avoid ran- cour in the selection of a candidate. At the meeting, Amb. Fidel Ayogu moved a motion for the adoption of Ugwuanyi, which was seconded by a one-time deputy governor of the state, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi.

A source at the meeting told Satur- day Sun that the governor then asked the other 12 aspirants who were at the meeting if they had a contrary opinion and none said yes. It was said that the PDP chairman who was also an aspirant, Engr Vita Abba was the first to step down for Ugwuanyi and was followed by nine other aspirants. The source said that Ugwuanyi would now be presented to the PDP caucuses in the two other senatorial zones after which he would be presented to the state caucus for endorsement.

Rumour that Ugwuanyi may be the prefered candidate of the PDP in Enugu State emerged last week when Governor Chime and other PDP stake- holders returned from Abuja, where they met with top party officials. It was also gathered that Ugwuayi topped the list as he was said to be neu- tral in the  fight between Chime and the Deputy Senate President Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and would not to pose any problem in the two camps struggling for power in the state.

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BY OUR REP

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=83599#prettyPhoto

Removal of Enugu dep gov senseless —Falana, Sagay

AUGUST 27, 2014 BY ENIOLA AKINKUOTU

Mr. Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has condemned the removal of the Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, describing it as “senseless and childish.”

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said impeaching the deputy governor for running a poultry at his official residence and allegedly refusing to represent the governor on two separate occasions, was hypocritical.

He wondered why the state Governor, Sullivan Chime, was not also impeached when he was accused of illegally detaining his wife for several months.

He said the seven-man panel which was set up by the chief judge at the instance of the state House of Assembly, operated illegally.

He, therefore, urged Onyebuchi to seek redress in court.

Falana said there was a need to revise the laws guiding impeachment as it was too ambiguous, giving politicians the opportunity to manipulate it.

He said, “When the governor was sick last year and travelled out of the country, he did not handover to his deputy even though the law demands that a governor most handover to his deputy if he is incapacitated or absent. Why did the lawmakers not impeach him for that? Why didn’t they impeach him for running a piggery?

“Also, the lawmakers impeached the deputy governor because the governor claimed the deputy refused to represent him at two events. Does the governor have evidence of this? The deputy governor should seek redress in court. Because the impeachment is nonsensical.”

Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Itse Sagay, condemned the removal of Onyebuchi, describing it as unfortunate.

He said, “The impeachment based on poultry and other ridiculous matters is dragging the country down the path of shame which the country has been going through for quite some time because of leaders who act like children. There is a clear evidence of immaturity all over the place. It is obvious that the governor does not want the man again and just decided to look for anything and then came up with the poultry idea which is so ridiculous.

“I understand from the man’s defence that because he was considering contesting as a senator and the governor did not like it, he was removed. This is the level of political intolerance that this country is going through, where people who are in office think that they are the alpha and omega and determine the finality of all things.”

http://www.punchng.com/politics/removal-of-enugu-dep-gov-senseless-falana-sagay/

Enugu govt withdraws impeached dep gov’s vehicles

on August 28, 2014   /   in News 12:56 am   /   Comments

By Tony Edike

ENUGU—Barely 24 hours after Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, was removed from office by the State House of Assembly, heavily armed security operatives stormed his private residence at GRA, Enugu, yesterday, to recover eight vehicles.

Five of the vehicles were those he used as his official convoy, while two others were his official cars from the previous administration.
The car officially allocated to his wife, Nneka Ada Onyebuchi, was also taken away.
His security aides were withdrawn shortly after he was impeached on Tuesday.

Chime and Onyebuchi

One of the personal aides to Onyebuchi, Mr. Onyeka Nnaji, said over 20 security operatives from  Government House, Enugu, led by the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Mr. Fidelis Ogarabe, came to the residence to demand for keys to the vehicles.
He said the former deputy governor was not available when the CSO and his men came to the house but “when he was contacted, he directed that we should allow them take the vehicles and that we should not deny them access to the compound because he has nothing to hide.”

According to him, the vehicles removed from Onyebuchi’s residence included one Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV; two Toyota Prado SUVs;  two Toyota Hilux Pilot vehicles; two Peugeot 406 cars he used during his tenure as Commissioner for Works under the Chimaroke Nnamani administration and a Nissan Tiena car belonging to Mrs. Onyebuchi.

“We are surprised by what is happening because we have never heard anywhere in this country where the official vehicle of an impeached elected public officer was recovered.
“It is strange and the former deputy governor will speak at the appropriate time,” the aide said on phone yesterday.
Efforts to speak with the ousted deputy governor on the development proved abortive as he did not pick his calls.

Meanwhile, the impeachment of the number two citizen in the state has continued to dominate discussions in public places in Enugu, even as the people are eagerly waiting to know who the governor has nominated to occupy the vacant seat of the deputy governor.
Efforts to speak with officials of the government on the development also proved abortive as those contacted declined comment.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/enugu-govt-withdraws-impeached-dep-govs-vehicles/#sthash.12lWGGbv.XuZB3ZYt.dpuf

Enugu’s chicken impeachment: My story, by Onyebuchi, dep gov

Enugu’s chicken impeachment: 

My story, by Onyebuchi, dep gov

on August 22, 2014   /   in Politics 7:00 am   / 

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

THE seven man panel instituted by the Chief Judge of Enugu State to investigate allegations of misconduct levelled against the deputy governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi concluded its hearing on the issue with testimonies from the accused last Wednesday.

MR. Onyebuchi who had earlier appeared before the panel penultimate Wednesday, however, truncated proceedings when he took ill midway into his testimony on that day.

The impeachment process against Onyebuchi which has so far been dubbed the chicken impeachment on account of the allegation that he, Onyebuchi kept a poultry farm in his official quarters has also ruffled feathers, especially given the claim that it is politically motivated.

The processes against Onyebuchi and allegations that they are masterminded by the governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, have come with shock to many stakeholders, given the claim that the embattled deputy governor had been more than loyal to Chime.

Peak of controversies

At the peak of the controversies over the illness of the governor last year, Mr. Onyebuchi had been urged by some of Chime enemies to move against the governor, but he remained steadfast and was duly commended by the governor over his loyalty when he, the governor returned.

Onyebuchi

Concluding his testimony before the seven man panel headed by Barr. Frankln Uche Oraekeiyi, Onyebuchi averred that his major sin against the governor was his ambition to contest the Enugu East senatorial seat against the alleged intentions of the governor’s chief of staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo. He claimed that it was from that point that their relationship began to sour.

The controversy over the issues against Onyebuchi were compounded by the decision of the investigative panel to sit in secret against the tradition of many previous impeachment panels in the country.

However, Vanguard gathered the testimony of the deputy governor from those who had access to the panel.

On the allegation that he maintained a poultry in his official residence, Onyebuchi alleged that the Government House inhabited by the governor also maintained a poultry and kept other animals for which money was provided for from the annual budget of the state.

“I am familiar with the Agric Unit Government House, Enugu. From the gate of the Government House, you have the office complex by the left, directly facing the gate is a poultry house, to the right from the gate is a cattle ranch, behind the poultry house is a piggery section. I have had something with the Agric Unit in the Government House. As a civil servant working in Government House, I used to buy cow meat, chickens and eggs from the Agric Unit.”

“Between 2012 and 2013 I acted as the Acting Governor of Enugu State. In my capacity as the Acting Governor, I did something in respect of the Agric Unit. A memo was brought to me by the Chief of Staff to the Governor requesting my approval for the sum of N3,000,000 for the purchase of consumables for the Government House poultry and piggery sections and I gave approval as requested.”

“As at today 20/8/2014 there is a poultry house in Government House, Enugu but I am aware that on Tuesday the 5th August 2014 the birds in the poultry house were evacuated between 3pm and 12 midnight in anticipation of a possible visit by the Panel.”

Challenged that he opposed the removal of his birds by agents of the state government through newspaper interviews including comments published by Vanguard on the issue, Onyebuchi said:

Evacuation of the birds

“It is not in doubt that I spoke to the Newspapers. Two journalists came to me at 8:30pm on 27/1/2014 with a copy of the press release. I know Vanguard came and I think Guardian. I don’t know the names of the journalists but they introduced themselves by the Newspapers they represent.”

“I do not know where my birds are now. They were not returned to me. Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory who supervised the evacuation of the birds said that he did not know where the birds were kept.”

REFUSAL TO REPRESENT THE GOVERNOR ON ASSIGNMENTS

“My functions as the Deputy Governor is that I represent the Governor in functions as directed by the Governor. In addition, statutorily, the Deputy Governor is the chairman of the State Boundary Committee. The Governor conveys directives to me in person or through a phone call or a Governor’s manifest which states the function that I am to represent the Governor. In the absence of these two channels I get an invitation letter with the Governor’s minutes directing me to represent him and such letters are sent to me by the director of protocol.”

He subsequently tendered to the panel letters of invitation to the governor with minutes by the governor directing him to represent him at such functions.

“My 1st tenure came to an end on 28 May 2011. The Governor (had) invited me to his lodge and told me that we had worked so well in the preceding four years and that for that reason he has decided to continue with me for the next four years. Thereafter he gave me nomination forms and I thanked him.”

“It has never been the practice that the Governor will issue a directive to me through a third party orally. It has never been my practice to take oral directives from subordinates as to what the Governor wants me to do.”

“There was a situation when the Governor was on vacation specifically in 2012. He instructed me that his Chief of Staff will be telling me what to approve and what not to approve. The Chief of staff is Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo. My official designation within this period was the Acting Governor of Enugu State.”

“The Governor was away for a little less than five months. From Exhibit H3 the Governor was away from 17 September 2012 to 8 February 2013. During this period there was no approval that Mrs. Ifeoma Nwoboido presented to me that I refused to approve.”

“The Governor wrote the House of Assembly that he is back and I have a copy of the letter as it was copied to me.”

“After the Governor came back I received some reactions from those I worked with in the absence of the Governor. Most members of the State Executive Council came to me personally and commended me for the matured and able way I had handled the affairs of the State during the Governor’s absence. A few of them who could not come sent in their commendations in writing.I have a letter from Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jude Akubuilo.”

On the allegation of failing to represent the governor at the flag off of the construction of the second Niger Bridge, Onyebuchi produced video evidence to show that he was there.

However, on the failure to represent the governor at the South East Governors meeting on July 6, 2014, he said:

“Around 8pm on the night of the 5th of July 2014, the director of protocol, Emeka Asogwa called me on phone and asked me if I would represent the Governor at the meeting of the South East Governors’ Forum scheduled to take place the next day since the Governor was on vacation. I told him that he knew the rules that if the Governor asked me to, that I will do so since I was in town and I was healthy. He said that he thought that the Governor had called me. I told him no that I will attend the meeting if I get the order from the Governor. Emeka Asogwa said that he will get back to me. Around 9:45 pm of the same day, he called me and said that he was at my gate and I asked him to give the gateman the phone and he did and I asked the gateman to allow him in. He came in and told me that he spoke with the Governor and that the Governor asked him to tell me to represent him.”

“I told him that I have tried the Governor’s phone numbers and that they were not available. But since he knew how to reach the Governor, will he please call the Governor so that I will hear from him and also ask him what I will say at the meeting. He said he would not do that at that particular time and I told him that he knew that it was wrong for me to take any action without hearing from the Governor. He agreed with me and left.”

“It was inside this Panel sitting that I heard from Emeka Asogwa that he sent me a manifest. I will say that he did not send me any manifest, that would be the first time since 2007 that there would be a Governor’s manifest when the Governor was on vacation. When the Governor was on vacation in 2012 and 2013, the manifests he prepared read “Acting Governor’s Manifest”. The summary of my submission is that contrary to the allegation in the impeachment notice, there was no explicit directive from the governor asking me to represent him and that he did not tell me that he will pass instruction to me through a third party.”

“On 18 June 2014, the Governor (had) announced at the State Executive Council Meeting that he will be commencing his annual vacation the next day the 19th of June and that he would be travelling outside the country specifically to USA for a Ship Cruise. On 6 July, he had not come back from the vacation.

Call data record

“Mr. Asogwa said that on the 5th of June 2014 that he did not see me but it is not correct. I was in the Panel when Asogwa told the Panel that he did not remember speaking to me on the 5th of July 2014. I did something especially when he said he did not call to know whether I was around. I applied to MTN to supply me the Call Data Record of that day,” Onyebuchi said as he tendered the Call Data Record from MTN.

“Between July 5 and now I have represented the Governor at some occasions. On the 11th of July 2014 I joined the Governor in receiving the Vice President of Nigeria. On the 18th of July, 2014, I represented the Governor at the commissioning of the Power Trading Institute at Oji River with the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.”

Intention to travel

“On the 16th of July, 2014 I went to the Governor’s office to inform him of my intention to travel out of the country for six days and he asked me to give him one reason why he should approve it. I told him that I did not know of any reason but if there is any that I would like to know. He then said that I did not represent him at the South East Governors’ Forum Meeting that took place in Enugu on the 6th of July 2014.”

“I told him that he never instructed me to represent him. He now directed me to resign immediately from my office or he will make my life miserable. I told him that not representing him at that meeting was not enough reason for me to resign.”

“He said yes that there are other reasons. That while he was on vacation in 2012 and 2013 that I suggested to him that his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo should be removed from office. Another reason he gave was that I was interacting with his enemies. All these took place in the presence of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Intergovernmental Affairs, Rita Mba.”

“I told him “Sir please May I explain”, and he said that if I did not leave his office immediately he would call the security men to carry me out of the Government House. This was after I told him that I noticed hostile attitude from him from the day I informed him of my desire to contest the Senatorial Seat of Enugu East Senatorial Zone. He repeated the threat and I left his office. I have no reason to resign from my office as Deputy Governor of Enugu State.”

Performance  of duties

“I have done nothing to deserve removal. I have for the past seven years and two months carried out all that is assigned to me diligently, efficiently and effectively to the admiration of the Governor and most people in Enugu State. I have not in any way breached my oath of office or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I have displayed obedience even to the point of slavishness or stupidity. I have not in any way been reprimanded by the Governor in the last seven years and two months. I am happy that no serious allegations especially any bothering on financial impropriety, corruption, fraud were levelled against me. I am happy too that no accusation of lack of capacity or incompetence in carrying out my functions was levelled against me. I do not see from the allegations in the Notice of Impeachment where I have committed what would amount to gross misconduct as to warrant or justify my being removed by impeachment.”

“I decided to appear before this Panel and risk being impeached rather than resign because I am convinced that in Nigeria today we can still find men and women who will stand by the side of truth and justice,” he said to the panel of seven that includes four lawyers, one of whom is also a pastor.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/enugus-chicken-impeachment-story-onyebuchi-dep-gov/#sthash.rzuf6tX4.dpuf
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/enugus-chicken-impeachment-story-onyebuchi-dep-gov/

Enugu Dep Gov, Onyebuchi, slumps before Impeachment Panel

Enugu Dep Gov, Onyebuchi, slumps 

before Impeachment Panel

on August 13, 2014   /   

By Tony Edike
Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, slumped at about 11.35 am Wednesday while testifying before the Impeachment Panel probing allegations of misconduct leveled against him by the State House of Assembly.

He was rushed out of the court hall at about 11.38 am by his wife, Mrs. Nneka Ada Onyebuchi, his children and some of his aides present for medical attention.

The Deputy Governor had arrived the court in company of his lawyers Wednesday morning and began his evidence at 9.30 am but three hours five minutes later he reportedly collapsed and his wife and others present rushed forward to rescue him.

One of the defence counsels, Mr. Peter Eze, said the Deputy Governor collapsed five minutes after the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo and the state Attorney General, Mr. Anthony Ani, SAN, came into the court.

Eze said that the Deputy Governor was immediately rushed to the hospital while the proceeding was stood down till 2pm.

Mrs. Nwobodo was accompanied to the court at about 11am by the State Attorney General in response to the summons served on her on Tuesday to appear before the panel.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/impeachment-enugu-dep-gov-onyebuchi-slumps-testifying/#sthash.gX0DpOdK.dpuf
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