Daily Independent Online.
Sunday, February 12, 2006

Impeachment saga in Edo and Oghiadomhe’s burden.

Uwakwe Abugu, Benin City

In the past few days, a thick foul mood has hung very menacingly in the atmosphere at Edo State Government House on Dennis Osadebey Way, Benin City. This prevailing mood was clearly engineered by a political bombshell thrown by Professor Omo Omoruyi, who raised an alarm penultimate Sunday that there was a grand design to impeach Governor Lucky Igbinedion of the state.

Omoruyi, who is the Chief Executive of the Abuja-based Advancing Democracy in Africa (ADA), had addressed some newsmen in Benin City last January 29, saying "the state swoops in danger" And he was unequivocal in announcing that he drew inspiration in raising the alarm from former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

He had said, "I came to the state, on the advice of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida who expressed concern about what he heard about the state. What did he hear about the state? He heard that there were plans by some elements within the PDP (People’s Democratic Party) opposed to the government of the state headed by Governor Lucky Igbinedion to cause disorder in the state with the view to causing or bringing about an unconstitutional change in the state".

Omoruyi claimed that getting into the state he embarked on consultations which yielded some eight findings that prove that the alleged plot to impeach the governor was real. The findings include:

That the threat to government of the state is real bordering on the "I" word; hat it is pursued within the politics of faction within the PDP; tThat it has the blessing and support of the PDP; that it is coordinated and funded from the South- South state of Bayelsa; tThat the Edo South PDP leaders are involved; they went to faction leaders it Abuja to complain that unless the government of the state was changed, the faction stood no chance with the impending election to the local government later this year; that, the Abuja leadership of the faction opposed to the government then advised the Edo South leaders of the PDP opposed to the governor to embark on the "I" word; that there is an active recruitment of House Members, especially from those loyal to the government, in order to secure the required number to commence the "I" word; that there is an active recruitment of the DG.

Whereas about six of the said findings could be said to be a familiar refrain for those who have been keen observers of the factional war in the fold of the PDP in the state, certainly curiosity in the allegation is embedded in items four and eight of Omoruyi’s findings. For instance, item four states that the plot ‘is co-ordinated and funded from the Southsouth state of Bayelsa, while item eight makes a tacit reference to an alleged connivance of Governor Igbinedion’s deputy, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, when it points out "that there is an active recruitment of the DG".

Since that fateful day, the political atmosphere in the state, which had continued to harbour a dangerous cold war in its underbelly, degenerated into a frenzied situation. And the worst hit is the seat of government - the Government House - where the acrimony that has since bedeviled the party in the state has never been clearly seen. It is believed that both Igbinedion and Oghiadomhe have had the best of a warm relationship as governor and deputy governor respectively due largely to what is also seen as a complete loyalty of the latter.

All through last week, the tension generated by this development was so palpable once in the premises of the Government House. For instance, the area which had been notorious for being bereft of activities most of the time further slumped into coma. Most staff, political appointees and political jobbers sighted in the premises for most part of last week continued to analyze the development arising from Omoruyi’s allegations. And, of course, they did that standing in groups or in their offices and in hushed voices. Ironically, however, what is being hushed up by these officials has since become the only cardinal talk of the town, especially in Benin City. Not even the issue of crime wave in the state which used to occupy the psyche of the populace gets as much a mention these days.

Expectedly, reactions to Omoruyi’s bombshell have continued to pour in since the two-page text, which he personally read to some newsmen. Of course, the leadership of the State House of Assembly reacting through the Speaker, Chief David Iyoha, denied any knowledge of the plot. Iyoha, who has been loyal to Igbinedion in the factional war in PDP in the state, told newsmen that as far as the Assembly is concerned, there are no plans whatsoever to impeach the governor.

But apart from just stating that Iyoha and other House members loyal to the governor are being actively recruited to carry out the plot, there were further explanations that recent overseas trips by some of the legislators could have been arranged to help them catalyse speedy execution of the impeachment plot without having it leaked to the governor.

Again, speaking on the matter, the leader of PDP in Edo South, that is, on the Chief Tony Anenih side of the factions within the party, Hon. Sunny Uyigue, denied ever telling Omoruyi that any plot was being hatched to remove the governor. He explained that though Omoruyi visited him on Saturday, January 28, a day before he (Omoruyi) briefed newsmen, he (Uyigue) had told him that there was no such move to impeach the governor. Yet, the professor had explained that "I came to the state on Friday and went into action with consultations with parties in the various camps in the PDP"

He maintained that his consultations showed that "the ‘I’ word was in the air and freely used by them". But Uyigue has since denied giving Omoruyi any clue as to the existence of such a plot.

Looking at the camp of the deputy governor where the shoe currently pinches intensely in view of the grave allegation that he is being actively involved in the said plot, sundry permutations come into play. Although in his address to the newsmen, Omoruyi did not actually go beyond saying that there is active recruitment of the DG" meant to be the deputy governor, the categorical statement that the plot "is co-ordinated and funded from the Southsouth state of Bayelsa" is a big source of worry to Oghiadomhe.

His letter congratulating Governor Goodluck Jonathan for his emergence as deputy governor after the impeachment of former, Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State, is one harbinger of sleepless night for Oghiadomhe as this allegation of plots against his boss thickens. That letter was published in four national dalies, including the Guardian, Thisday, The Punch and Vanguard. And the reference to Bayelsa as the co-ordinating point and source of funding for the alleged plot has made Igbinedion’s camp begin to believe that, perhaps, his deputy could have been involved in the deal.

However, Oghiadomhe’s Chief Press Secretary, Dan Aigbovboa told Sunday Independent that "it was a private letter written to Governor Jonathan as a goodwill message as he was sworn in as governor following the impeachment of the former governor" He said the letter was not made public by the office of the deputy governor. And this means that the governor publicised it. On the letter itself, Aigbovboa explained that both Jonathan and Oghiadomhe "have been good friends since 1999 when they became deputy governors. As deputy governor, Jonathan always stayed in Oghiadomhe’s house each time he visited Benin City and if he shows solidarity with him as the political crisis in his state foists leadership on him, why should it be seen as unusual and why should it be linked as a contact point for a plot to unseat Edo State governor with whom his deputy has enjoyed the best of relationship as boss and subordinate since 1999?" queried Oghiadomhe’s spokesman.

He also explained that "when I did a documentary on my boss when he clocked 50, I visited Jonathan and he spoke eloquently about him. So, it has been no secret that they have been good friends since 1999.

So, what could have been responsible for the accusing finger being pointed at Oghiadomhe with whom Igbinedion has never had any known dispute or rift since they started in May 29, 1999? Those close to the now embattled deputy governor have attributed the situation to plans to stop his ambition to succeed Igbinedion. For instance, shortly after Omoruyi’s alarm, the speculation became rife that the deputy governor, who was abroad, may have been holding secret meetings on the said plot with some state legislators who had also traveled. But Aigbovboa told our reporter that "the allegation is part of the design to stop my boss who is seen as having a rising profile as someone who can completely succeed his boss come 2007". He explained "for two years, he (Oghiadomhe) had not gone on annual vacation. So, the governor graciously approved a one-week vacation for him, which he spent abroad".

Yet, other sources have linked Oghiadomhe’s trouble to a highly-placed and influential aid of the governor, who is also nursing the ambition to succeed him. One source said Uyigue had told somebody that Omoruyi had left his house during his consultations and that he (Omoruyi) had apparently gone to the house of the said governor’s aide.

Again, in the factional war in the state PDP, there has been pressure by many in Igbinedion’s camp to get the governor to pull his supporters out of PDP. It was gathered that Oghiadomhe has always opposed that move; that he has always tried to prevail on his boss to remain in the PDP, since he believes that in real calculations, his camp has the greater majority of the party faithful in the state. Said one source: "Oghiadomhe has continued to urge the governor to pursue the option of reconciliation since we have the greater number of PDP faithful in the state and those opposed to this viewpoint and want to pull out to join new party, especially MRDD, the deputy governor must be rubbished".

By Wednesday of the penultimate week, Oghiadomhe had returned from his vacation abroad. But he did not come out to address the situation personally. Aigbovboa told our reporter that he has not decided when to speak on the matter. According to him, he will have to study the situation first and talk when it is appropriate.

Hence, the only official reaction from the office of the deputy governor has been statement issued by Aigbovboa, stating that "Chief Mike Oghiadomhe is shocked and surprised that such an untrue statement could be made by such a highly placed person as Prof. Omoruyi. The deputy governor wishes to make abundantly clear that the allegation is entirely false".

He also challenged "all those behind the rumour to come up with details of the alleged meetings in Abuja and Benin City where the purported impeachment plot was planned".

However, a pressure group, the Benin National Congress said last week that the alleged plot to impeach Igbinedion is real. President of the group, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolor, said the plot was also confirmed to his group last December 30, from abroad by another Pan-Benin body, Binis in Diaspora Organisation. He said, "it is not new to us. Omoruyi is not an alarmist. We smell the hands of some godfathers. So our stand is that if it is borne out of the disagreement between the godfather and the governor, we will never allow it to happen. But if it is owing to non-performance of the PDP government in the state, we will support it", said the Benin National Congress which also urged the state legislators "to review the intention of the plot alongside the desired end of those hatching the plot".

In a statement signed by both Edokpolor and secretary of the group, Maxwell Uwuilekhue, the Benin National Congress contended that "any attempt to impeach the governor based on the directives or instructions of Edo political godfathers or godfathers from elsewhere will be resisted with the last drop of our blood.

On his own part, the governor has not reacted officially to the development. So, it has not been possible for newsmen to get him to react to allegation that he catalysed Omoruyi’s activities in the state in recent days which have caused a further degeneration of the charged political atmosphere in the state.

What is known, however, is that the alleged plot is taking a toll on the activities of government as it is believed to be doing on the governor as a person. For instance, newsmen who were at Igbinedion University, Okada, a few days ago got a large dose of the foul mood that now harangues the state. The hapless journalists had gone for a public function but inexplicably got a verbal bashing by the governor even when they did not seek to interview him.

Meanwhile, the uneasy calm gets thicker by the day, even as some state legislators opposed to the governor believe that the bubble will burst when they resume from recess on February 13.