There were strong indications on Monday that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, is un-willing to enforce the order to reopen Ogun State House of Assembly within seven days by the House of Representatives.

T[b]he assembly has been unable to sit for over four months due to an internal crisis.
[/b]
On September 6, a group of nine lawmakers had suspended the Speaker, Mr. Tunji Egbetokun and 13 other lawmakers indefinitely for alleged gross misconduct.

A court later nulified his impeachment and affirmed him as the authentic Speaker.

Despite the judgment, the house has not resumed its legislative function, a development that led the House of Representatives to direct the IG to provide the necessary security for the assembly to re-open for business under the leadership of Egbetokun.

Egbetokun had followed up the directive by writing to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, to comply with the directive.

The lower chamber also said that it would take over the functions of the state assembly at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum in line with the 1999 Constitution, if it failed to recovene.

[b]But the Police Public Relations Office, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, in Abuja evaded questions on the readiness of the IG to comply with the decision of the House.

Ojukwu in a telephone interview directed our correspondent to go through the Constitution and see whether the House has powers to give orders to the Police or not.

He said, “Well, we will work within the ambit of the law to ensure peace and security; protect lives and property.”

[size=14pt]But when pressed to clarify his position, he added, “Go and check the Constitution and see whether the House of Representatives has powers give orders to the police.”[/[/size]b]

The anticipated sitting of the lawmakers did not hold on Monday as the Assembly Complex remained shut by security agents.

The Speaker had in line with the directive of the lower chamber fixed the sitting of the committee of the House for yesterday while the plenary session was slated for today (Tuesday).

Our correspondent who visited the assembly complex, saw security men positioned at strategic locations of the complex while the gates remained under lock and key.

Not only this, the two gates to the Governor’s office were manned by security agents as those that have appointments to keep were screened before they could enter the secretariat.

Egbetokun, while speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, said he was still awaiting the reply to the letter written to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Daura, to provide security for the lawmakers.

He said, “But the feelers I have been able to get is that the security agents are still there and the place still remain lock. We are waiting for the reply to our letter before we take the necessary steps.”

He stated that the failure of the House to sit has hindered deliberations of the matters listed for the day.

When contacted on the telephone, Daura said, “I’ not confirming anything. If he said he wrote a letter, go and confirm from him.

“He is the author of the letter and not me. So, I can’t confirm to you whether we received any letter or not.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201010192594570

All because of N100bn bond, Jonathan and his cronies are refusing to do the right thing. So sad, no wonder PDP is losing ground. I am sure they will not be re-elected in Ogun next year. Jonathan is setting a bad precedent and record because he doesnt want to offend Gbenga Daniel and lose Ogun state, but i think he will with the way he is going. Too bad for him if this is how he will handle the South West, as we have seen in Ogun and Oyo. Its ACN all the way. No more looters and N100bn bond money sharing.

There is currently no greater sign that Jonathan will be a disaster , if given a further four years as President, than the Ogun State impeachment crisis. I have said it time and time again that folks should simply forget any talk from Jonathan because it is delivered with 100% insincerity. Numerous actions/inaction from Jonathan , to those not blinded by ethnic sentiments, show undoubted insincerity. Jonathan will not move Nigeria one inch forward because he will be more than happy to allow his numerous nefarious cronies and acolytes to hijack every National good cause for personal aggrandizement and benefits. Gbenga Daniel has "hijacked" the judicial integrity of Ogun State. Jonathan , rather than do what is right , is happy to watch so that , as per his desperate and limited thinking, he does not scupper the chance of winning in Ogun State. Mr. President you have lost Ogun State already . Accomodate Gbenga Daniel's gangster excesses all you want but that will still not deliver Ogun State into your compromised and incompetent hands.

We know you did not hire Ringim for his competence. We now clearly see what you deployed him for i.e partisan usage that benefit you and the PDP. To be honest what is going on in Ogun State is a disgrace and a serious indicment of the danger Jonathan's leadership portend for Nigeria.

I really don't know what Jonathan has to do before most Nigerians , including his own kinsmen, see him for the insincere, undemocratic and opportunistic leader he actually is. I guess we have a big problem with ethnic bias in Nigeria . We have those who outrightly ignore all the wrongful actions of Jonathan because he is from their region and we have those , even though not from his region, naively support him because he is keeping power out of the hands of those "lousy abokis" . Jonathan fans continue to hail him as popular yet at every opportunity to test that popularity we get duplicity, arm-twisting ,deciet and a shameless attempt to bribe folks to gain support. Nigerians , wake up and see what is glaringly visible before it is too late. We have suffered enough . The last thing we need is another President being promoted by the set of "awon boys" who have totally decimated Nigeria. We see the desperation of all the ruinous hands behind Jonathan with the undemocratic actions of Mr. President in the quest to gain power at all cost.

http://www.dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4969:ticket-bargain-jonathan-mps-fail-to-agree&catid=1:news&Itemid=2

On their part, majority of the lawmakers had resolved to oppose a proposal by President Jonathan to make ministers, aides and other political appointees at all levels automatic delegates at congresses and conventions.

The President’s move is seen as a deliberate calculation aimed at enhancing his chances of clinching the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest in the 2011 presidential election ahead of his staunch rivals.

When the bill seeking to alter the provisions of the 1999 constitution to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time extension came up for second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, members complained that they do not have copies of the amendment bill because the National Assembly printer was faulty and postponed it to tomorrow.

Sources however said the move was aimed to give more time for negotiations between the lawmakers and the President’s lobby group through a secret meeting in Abuja last night which was however, deadlocked.

The President’s move has suffered set back as members see it as an opportunity to also demand for automatic tickets without which they are threatening to scuttle the President’s proposal.

A senator told Daily Trust off record that the move to delete Section 87 is “Similar to third term agenda and will fail. I can tell you that our only fear is that if the PDP assures lawmakers of automatic tickets to run in 2011, many will support the amendment.”

But Senate spokesman Senator Ayogu Eze, said there is no such issue as ‘right of first refusal’ being considered by the National Assembly Constitution Review Committee.

The proposal to delete Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 by the President is to allow political appointees at all levels vote as delegates during political parties’ congresses and conventions for the purpose of electing candidates for elections.