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Former Bayelsa State deputy governor and also speaker of the state assembly, Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi delights in playing football whenever the need to relax arises. Segun James writes Forget the fact that he was Speaker of the state House of Assembly, and later, a two-time deputy governor of the state under Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Timipre Sylva, whenever it comes to playing the game of football, Peremobowei Ebebi is no less a star player.
The truth be told, Ebebi is an imposing figure. His physique is massive, but do not be deceived by this. Whenever he is on the field of play, Ebebi moves effortlessly. And he is good at this passion of his.
Three times every week, come rain or shine, even when he was deputy governor, Ebebi never misses training sessions at the Samson Siasia Stadium in down town Yenagoa. That is how committed the man is to fulfilling his health regimen. And not surprising, more than three years after he left office as the deputy governor, he is still seen at the stadium doing his business of football.
As a leading member of the elitist Allstars Football Club of Yenagoa, even as the number two man in the state, except when state matters compels otherwise, he was a regular face at every club training sessions and matches.
Ebebi who plays defence can be likened to the coach, player and captain of the club. Not that he holds any such position, but check him out on the field of play as he shouts, yells and even barks out instructions, subtly assuming command of his team. He is that good!
God help you if Ebebi schemes to the frontlines and as goalkeeper you prevent his ball front entering the net. The cry of anguish that bellows from the beefy lawyer will be so loud, and can be heard across the length and breadth of the stadium that the goalkeeper would be left wondering if he had not made a mistake catching the ball in the first place.
Even as he now keeps a low profile since he left government, one joke that still resonates is when as a newly appointed deputy governor, Ebebi went with his boss, Jonathan, to be introduced to President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Aso Rock Villa.
“Sir, I am Peremobowei Ebebi, the new deputy governor of Bayelsa state,” he was said to have introduced himself.
The President looked at the giant of a man for a few seconds and then retorted: “I am Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, a bomboy. If you are a “baby”, then I am a bomboy.”
Suffice it to say Ebebi’s days as Bayelsa deputy governor under Sylva was turbulent as characterised by events that led to his impeachment by the State House of Assembly. The tension at the time was allegedly exacerbated by the resolve of the government not to heed the judgment putting a political cloud on the direction of the affairs of government with two deputy governors in place.
Ebebi was however impeached by the state assembly over allegations of impropriety. He was immediately replaced by the then Speaker of the assembly, Mr. Werinipre Seibarugu. The impeachment was effected in the midst of sharp political disagreements between Sylva and Ebebi over the PDP structure in the state.
Ebebi had through his counsel, Alex Iziyon, SAN, approached the appeal court to protest the manner of his impeachment citing irregularities after a High Court in the state had declined jurisdiction on the matter.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Vantijo Mohammed, affirmed the setting aside of the appointment of Seibarugu as depouty governor, and the impeachment process that led to the ouster of Ebebi.
It was gathered that the appeal court verdict was in three parts which bordered on the processes that led to the impeachment of Ebebi as deputy governor, the appointment of Seibarugu as his successor and the order empowering the State High Court to hear the suit filed before it by Ebebi.
Counsel to Ebebi, Mr. Wodu Kemesuode, had said the pronouncement by the Court of Appeal simply affirmed that the impeached deputy governor should be returned to office and the present one removed.
The state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy at the time, Hon. Nathan Egba, said the Court of Appeal judgment directed the parties to maintain status quo and for the lower court to hear Ebebi's earlier suit.
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