News
Govt. frowns at incessant communal clashes in A’Ibom, sues for peace
Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Moses Ekpo, on Monday in Uyo appealed to warring communities to live in peace and end incessant destruction of lives and property.
Speaking with newsmen, Ekpo, also the Chairman of the state’s boundary committee, expressed displeasure at recent boundary disputes in the state.
He noted that forebears of the communities involved had lived peacefully with one another in the past without disputes.
“I appeal to our people to try and live with one another in peace and utilise what is available for everyone because land is enough for everybody,’’ Ekpo said.
On Nkari crisis in Ini Local Government Area, he assured that government was working hard to put an end to the crisis which had consumed lives and property.
The deputy governor said also that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed to end the 55-year-old community crisis at Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi and Onna.
There had been at least five communal skirmishes in Akwa Ibom this year alone leading to loss of several lives and destruction of property.
There was also a major inter-state clash in March, between the people of Oku Iboku and Ikot Offiong in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom and those of Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River in which many persons were reported missing and houses burnt.
On Jan. 22, Akwa Ibom waded into clashes between Okopedi and Amamong communities in Okobo Local Government Area, urging the warring communities to live in peace when it distributed relief materials to victims.
About the same time, several communities were displaced on account of cult-related crises in Inen clan of Oruk Anam Local Government Area,
Ekpo who visited the area then said it was necessary for the warring communities to sheath their swords and tolerate one another for peace to reign.
On Jan. 27, clashes erupted in Ammamong in Okobo local government area, a predominantly farming community, followed by some skirmishes in Uda community in Mbo local government area and similar eruption in communities in Nkari, Ini Local Government Area.
Ini Local Government Area is a major food basket of the state with rice, cassava and cocoa as leading agricultural products.
On Feb. 3 Ekpo held a meeting between Uko Akpan Enwang and Uko Ntighe Uda villages in Mbo Local Government Area, in Uyo over their boundary disputes.
Ekpo expressed displeasure at crisis in parts of Mbo which he acknowledged had claimed innocent lives and property.
He noted then also that the situation could have been averted if both parties had followed the path of peace and caution. (NAN)
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has directed all four emirates in the state to begin preparations for the upcoming Sallah Durbar Celebration.
The governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed this in a statement, emphasizing that the event is a cherished tradition where citizens gather to witness Emirs on horseback and celebrate in grand style.
Tofa assured that security agencies will be fully engaged to ensure the safety of both residents and visitors during the festivities.
Governor Yusuf also praised the Emirs for maintaining a harmonious relationship since their appointments, describing it as unprecedented in Kano’s history.
Additionally, the Kano State Emirate Council is set to be inaugurated in April. The governor stated that its operational guidelines and ethics would be outlined on the inauguration day.
Impeached Governors in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
Before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and state lawmakers over the ongoing political crisis, there were already moves to impeach Fubara.
Had he been impeached, Fubara would have joined a list of Nigerian governors removed from office since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. Below is a list of impeached governors and the circumstances surrounding their removal:
1. Diepreye Alamieyeseigha (Bayelsa State, 2005)
Alamieyeseigha was Bayelsa’s first civilian governor in the Fourth Republic, elected in 1999 and reelected in 2003. However, in 2005, he was impeached over allegations of corruption, including theft of public funds and money laundering. Two years later, he pleaded guilty to six charges and was sentenced to prison.
2. Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo State, 2006)
Ladoja governed Oyo State from 2003 until January 2006, when state lawmakers impeached him. Christopher Alao-Akala was sworn in as his replacement. However, Ladoja was reinstated in December 2006 after a court ruling nullified his removal. He later claimed his impeachment was due to his opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s third-term bid.
3. Ayo Fayose (Ekiti State, 2006)
Fayose, elected in 2003, was impeached in 2006 alongside his deputy, Biodun Olujimi, over allegations of corruption, including embezzling funds meant for the state’s poultry project. Twenty-four out of 26 lawmakers voted for their removal. Although Fayose fled at the time, he later returned and contested again. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that his impeachment was unlawful.
4. Peter Obi (Anambra State, 2006)
Peter Obi, who later became the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, was impeached just six months into his tenure as Anambra governor. He claimed he was removed for refusing to inflate the state budget. He challenged his impeachment in court and won, returning to office in February 2007.
5. Joshua Dariye (Plateau State, 2006)
Dariye faced impeachment proceedings in October 2006 after being linked to money laundering. Only eight out of 24 lawmakers initially issued an impeachment notice, which he contested. However, the following month, he was removed, and his deputy, Michael Botmang, took over. The Supreme Court later reinstated him, but his tenure ended in 2007. That same year, the EFCC accused him of diverting N1 billion in state ecological funds.
6. Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State, 2014)
Nyako was removed in 2014 over allegations of misappropriating N17 billion, illegal salary deductions, and misusing local government funds. He and his deputy, Bala Ngilari, received impeachment notices in June 2014, and a month later, he was removed from office. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the state’s house speaker at the time, was sworn in as acting governor.
These impeachments highlight the political turbulence that has shaped Nigeria’s democratic governance over the years.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “unconstitutional and reckless.”
In a statement on Wednesday via X, Obi accused Tinubu of undermining democracy and disregarding the rule of law. He described the move as a dangerous attempt to tighten control over the state.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs,” Obi stated.
He further argued that the political crisis in Rivers does not justify suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers. Obi accused the federal government of selectively interpreting Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution to serve its own interests.
“A state of emergency does not mean an elected Governor can be removed unilaterally. This decision does not align with democratic norms or good governance. Instead, it appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria,” he said.
Obi warned that the move could set a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. He also linked it to previous electoral irregularities, stating that such actions would push Nigeria toward lawlessness and anarchy.
He urged the National Assembly and other stakeholders to reject the emergency declaration, emphasizing that allowing it to stand would deepen the culture of impunity and weaken democratic institutions.
Kano gov approves Sallah durbar preparations for emirates
Nigerian governors that have been impeached since 1999
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