Again, explosions rock Bayelsa •It’s a calculated attempt to attract state of emergency - Govt •Dep gov asked to account for N29.6m medical allowance

Written by Soji Ajibola, Yenagoa Friday, 04 June 2010

REPORTED explosions in three different locations in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday are now sending jitters down the spines of the residents. The affected areas, according to police source, are Etegwe, Baybridge Hotel Road and De-Prize Hotel, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, the state government has condemned the use of explosives in settling political scores, describing it as a calculated attempt by aggrieved politicians to force the Federal Government to declare state of emergency.

Making this known in a statement, the Overseer, Ministry of Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mr Nathan Egba, said the current administration had the political will to deal decisively with the situation.

This is the second time in less than two months that the state had recorded explosions.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Solomon Omoemin, said based on the report, the incident happened at three different locations, adding that no arrest had been made.

He said the incident was still being investigated, while assuring the residents of the safety of life and property.

Reacting to the incident, Egba described the spate of explosions in the state as worrying, stating that it had become the pattern of aggrieved politicians to resort to the use of explosives to settle political scores.

He, therefore, warned that the Governor Timipre Sylva-led administration would not accept the spilling of innocent blood for whatever reason.

In another development, the embattled Bayelsa State deputy governor, Peremo-bowei Ebebi, has been asked to account for N29.6 million medical allowance for overseas treatment, as the House of Assembly, in listing 10 alleged impeachable offences against him, said though he did not travel, he did not refund the money to government coffers.

Also, the House, on Thursday, dropped Robert Enogha as its chairman, Committee on Information.

Seventeen out of the 24 members that constituted the House on Tuesday signed an impeachment notice, which the Speaker, Werinipre Seibarugu, ordered to be served on all the members of the House, including the deputy governor.