US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1814

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001814 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NI 
SUBJECT: BAYELSA GOVERNOR'S IMPEACHMENT MOVES FORWARD 
 
REF: LAGOS 1811 
 
Classified By: Management Officer Matthew Spivak for Reason 1.4 (D) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) The Bayelsa State House of Assembly suspended four 
assemblymen for improper activities, and directed Chief Judge 
Emmanuel Igoniwari to form a panel to investigate the charges 
listed in Governor Alamieyeseigha's impeachment notice.  The 
House also voided Governor Alamieyeseigha's replacement of 
the House Clerk, and stated Deputy Governor Goodluck Jonathan 
was recognized as acting governor while Alamieyeseigha's 
120-day leave of absence continues.  Alamieyeseigha's 
spokesman denounced the House actions as unconstitutional. 
End summary. 
 
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HOUSE SUSPENDS FOUR MEMBERS, EMPOWERS CHIEF JUDGE 
TO INVESTIGATE IMPEACHMENT 
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2.  (U) The fifteen pro-impeachment members of the Bayelsa 
State House of Assembly met under tight security for just 
over an hour on Tuesday to advance the impeachment of 
Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.  The Assemblymen suspended 
four of the five assemblymen who had initially endorsed the 
impeachment but later claimed coercion by the Economic and 
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  The four were suspended 
indefinitely for acting "...dishonorably by their covert and 
overt acts and utterances."  There was no explanation for why 
only four of the five assemblymen were suspended.  Once 
passed, the suspension reduced the number of voting 
Assemblymen from twenty-four to twenty, so the fifteen 
pro-impeachment members now had the required two-thirds 
majority to move ahead.  The House immediately then empowered 
Chief Judge Igoniwari to investigate the impeachment of 
Governor Alamieyeseigha.  Deputy Speaker Bright Erewari 
introduced the motion and noted the constitutional basis for 
their actions. 
 
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HOUSE AFFIRMS DEPUTY GOVERNOR IS ACTING 
GOVERNOR, REINSTATES CLERK 
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4.  (U) The House also rescinded an action taken by the 
Governor on Monday.  Alamieyeseigha had put Clerk of the 
House Peter George on compulsory leave, appointing Phillip 
Ere as acting clerk.  However, on Tuesday the House declared 
the Governor's action null and void as it violated of the 
Bayelsa State House of Assembly Act.  House Speaker 
Peremobowei Ebebi further stated that the House did not 
recognize Alamieyeseigha's actions as governor since the 
120-day leave of absence he requested two weeks ago was still 
in force, making Deputy Governor Goodluck Jonathan acting 
governor. 
 
5.  (U) The Governor's spokesman Preye Wariowei quickly 
condemned the House's actions, stating the suspension of the 
four anti-impeachment assemblymen did not follow House rules 
and the direction to the Chief Judge violated the impeachment 
process proscribed by the constitution. 
 
6.  (C)  Comment:  The House's actions are further evidence 
of State and Federal Government determination to remove 
Alamieyeseigha from office.  End comment. 
BROWNE