Bayelsa Speaker denies
link with hard drugs
By Emma Gbemudu
Correspondent,
Yenagoa
Speaker
of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Prince Boyelayefa Debekeme, has denied
claims of his involvement with hard drugs, describing the allegation as not
only malicious, but also false and orchestrated by his political detractors to
rub mud on his image.
At
an interactive session with journalists over the weekend in Yenagoa, the state
capital, Debekeme denied ever being a drug addict or associated with drugs.
His
words: “I have never been a drug addict. I have never in my life being
associated with drugs. The police have never arrested me in my life not to talk
of drugs. When I was coming back from the UK (United Kingdom), some persons
attempted to sneak in hard drugs into my luggage but they failed.”
An
embittered Debekeme alleged that some politicians and highly placed government
officials in the state were behind the present character assassination,
describing the development as unfortunate.
The
legislator noted that his detractors were trying to blackmail him in a bid to
destabilise the political group he belongs to because of the 2007 elections.
“These
detractors of my political group should seek other ways towards the 2007
elections rather than engaging in blackmail antics,” he advised.
The
Bayelsa Speaker also denied reports that his political patron, Chief Abel
Ebifemowei, was influencing decisions in his handling of affairs of the state
legislature.
“Chief
Abel Ebifemowei does not influence the decisions of the House. Does he know how
to pass a Bill? No individual can influence an arm of government. Do I look
like someone that is influenced? Nobody influences the assembly,” he
asserted.
He
further dismissed claims that the House was fractionalised over alleged marginalisation
of some members.
“Nobody
is marginalised in the House. Have they complained to you that I have not paid
them their money? We don’t have division in the House. As human beings,
we are bound to have problems, because of differences in ideology,” he
explained.
