Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva (2nd right) congratulating the new Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibauru (2nd left) after his swearing in by the state's Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kate Abiri (right). On the left is the wife of the new Deputy Governor, Mrs Iyorozite Sebauru

By Samuel Oyadongha & George Onah
YENAGOA—BAYELSA State Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, yesterday, administered the oath of office on the state’s new Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu, even as most of the invited guests could not witness the ceremony following a sudden change in the scheduled time.

Until his elevation as the Deputy Governor, Seibarugu was Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

He replaced the former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, who was removed from office by the state House of Assembly over alleged gross misconduct on June 24.

The swearing in of the Deputy Governor was earlier scheduled for 2.00 p.m at the Gloryland Castle inside the Government House with invited guests directed to take their seats at 1.30pm.

But most of the guests who thronged the venue to witness the inauguration, were disappointed as the event was held at about noon.

Though no reason was given for the shift in time which denied most of the invited guests the opportunity to witness the swearing in ceremony, Vanguard investigation revealed that it might not be unconnected with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, that the status quo be maintained in the state pending the determination of the suit before it.

Governor Timipre Sylva in his charge, handed over the supervision of three key ministries in the state  to the new deputy. These are ministries of agriculture, sports and local government.

The governor who said the role of the deputy governor was purely to assist in the running of the state noted that the three sectors were the main focus of the present administration.

Responding, the new Deputy Governor, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu, promised to work harmoniously with the governor in piloting affairs of the state adding that they would all work to avoid recurring political crisis in the state.

Appeal Court orders status quo

Meantime, the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, yesterday, ordered all parties involved in the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Peremobowei Ebebi to “maintain the status-quo-ante bellum” until the determination of the appeal brought to the court by Ebebi.

Ebebi had approached the court with two motions through his counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN, with an appeal for interlocutory injunction requesting the court to set aside his purported or planned impeachment as well as for a speedy hearing of the matter.

Ruling on the two motions, Justice Suleiman Galadima, assisted by two justices, told counsel to Bayelsa House of Assembly, Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, and Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, for Attorney-General and Chief Judge of the state that “all the parties must maintain the status quo ante bellum till the determination of the case.”

Galadima then adjourned further hearing to 13 October, 2010, stating that the sanctity of the temple of justice must be maintained and the court must be seen to have demonstrated that it could and has done justice.

Sanctity of temple of justice

However, Hon,  told the press after the ruling that his clients “are not opposed to the motion of appeal brought by counsel to Ebebi” but that he had been reliably informed that a new deputy governor was being sworn in before the pronouncement of the judges.

But counsel to Ebebi said the pronouncement of the court meant that all the parties should revert to the position which they were until the matter had been resolved and that “the swearing-in of a new deputy governor for Bayelsa State would be seen as disobeying a court order”.

He explained that the event in Bauchi State where a new deputy governor was sworn in “even when a motion challenging the action was still in court may come to play in this matter if anything to the contrary of the court order is carried out”.
Izinyon alluded to the fact that Bayelsa State may later have two deputy governors if the matter was resolved in favour of Ebebi.