By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State House of Assembly has sacked the chairman of Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area, Mr. Ebikitin Diongoli citing alleged financial recklessness.

The House also accused the sacked chairman of awarding frivolous contracts without budgetary provisions and borrowing from banks without due authorization by the legislative arms of the council.

But the embattled Diongoli yesterday declared he remained chairman saying  his removal was unconstitutional and would be challenged in court. His supporters accused the members of the House of Assembly of violating the procedure for the removal of an elected council chairman and that his purported removal was on account of on his alleged romance with the Labour Party governorship candidate, Mr. Timi Alaibe.

The resolution calling for the removal of Diongoli, was moved Thursday on the floor of the House by the member representing Sagbama Constituency III, Ebamuagha Empere. Some members of the House kicked and said the council boss be given a fair hearing and invited to defend charges leveled at him.

The position of the minority was said to have been overturned by the majority and a resolution for his removal was passed by two third of the 16 members present at the sitting of the House of Assembly.

In the copy of the resolution released yesterday, the mover of the motion, Ebamuagha Empere, relied on Section 24, sub_section 6 of the State Local Government Law cap.L.10.laws of the state, 2006, and accused the council Chairman of persistent failure to perform his statutory functions as the Chief Security Officer of the Local Government.

Besides, Diongoli was accused of not resudubg within the local government area thereby causing avoidable security problem.

Reacting to his removal the embattled chairman in a phone chat denied the allegation. He said at no time did he borrow from banks or stay away from his domain as alleged but “everything surrounding my alleged removal was purely political.”

He said, “during the conduct of the State House of Assembly election, the governor called me, then I was in Ibadan, alleged that my men were working for the Labour Party but I made him to understand I was not aware of such development.

“During the conduct of the Presidential election, my people voted for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, same thing happened during the State House of Assembly election. I delivered my ward, even though the Party lost in constituency I.

“If I have any problem with any one of the political leaders, I ought to be invited but this did not happen. Members of the House of Assembly summoned me to appear, but that day, I have appointment with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and sent my Secretary to inform them but surprisingly, instead of reasoning along, they decided to do otherwise.