Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The cold war between the Chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Juan Governor and members of the legislative arm on Friday blew open following a brawl at the council secretariat, Aboh.
Sources at the council said suspected thugs invaded the secretariat and allegedly attacked the leader of the legislative arm, Justice Uwa, and another councilor.
The brawl, according to sources, caused pandemonium among workers and visitors who wondered what was amiss.
Our correspondent gathered that the brawl was triggered by the councilors’ request that Mr. Governor should furnish them with the income and expenditure profile of the council.
It was learnt that the request pitched the councilors loyal to the chairman and those sponsoring the motion.
A version of the brawl had it that the attack by thugs was the height of the lingering crisis, while another version claimed that an attempt to forcibly suspend some councilors loyal to the council boss resulted in the violence.
The House Leader, Mr. Uwa, said he was in the chairman’s office to deliver an invitation for his grandmother’s burial, alleging that the chairman rejected the invitation card and drinks only for him and majority leader to be beaten up.
He alleged he was stripped naked and N50,000 he had on him stolen by his attackers.
“I went to the office of the chairman with my majority leader and another councilor to invite him (Juan Governor) to my grandmother’s burial with a bottle of whiskey.
“The chairman returned my card, accusing us of plotting to remove him but the majority leader tried to debunk the allegation.
“Before we knew it, thugs numbering about 50 started unleashing blows on me. I was stripped naked and about N50,000 cash was stolen from me by the thugs.”
When contacted, Mr. Juan Governor confirmed that there was a brawl within the council premises, stressing that the councilors were fighting among themselves.
He said some councilors who felt their leaders were perfecting plans to suspend them invaded the legislative chambers and engaged them.
On why he rejected an invitation from Mr. Justice Uwa, the chairman simply replied: “I do not know anything about that.”