Members Not Comfortable With Nyiam Continued Membership Of NC

 

There is a growing concern among members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue over the continued membership of  Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd), who led suspected party thugs on Monday to heckle Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin City.

The members, who were not happy with Nyiam's decision to rebuff their entreaties for him to resign in the wake of his misconduct, it was gathered, met yesterday to consider how to handle the situation.

One  of the steps they took was to call the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who, it was learnt, summoned Nyiam to Abuja.
Nyiam, who had initially agreed to resign his membership of the committee, seemed to have made a U-turn as he sought to take further part in the committee's activities.

Although he went with his colleagues to Enugu State on Tuesday during which they received memoranda from stakeholders in the state, he did not participate in the public hearing as he sat out at the car park of the Government House, Enugu, while other members were meeting with the stakeholders.

He was also not with them yesterday as they visited Abia State to receive input from stakeholders on how to organise the national conference.
A member of the committee said that they "met yesterday to  deal with Tony's case- that he had withdrawn his resignation, that his lawyer and people have told him that we cannot stop him from participating. He was visibly agitated.

"We had to call the SGF who has now summoned him to Abuja. Members had told the chairman that they felt uncomfortable with his suspicious movements and one had already received a threatening text message."

Nyiam's misconduct continued to generate more reactions as the Edo State Government faulted his defence of his action in Benin.
Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed opposition to suggestion that the delegates to the national conference should be drawn from ethnic nationalities, among others.

As the committee continued its consultations in the South-east zone yesterday in Umuahia, without Nyiam, the people have expressed support for the need for  dialogue in order to build a true nation where equity, fairness would reign supreme.

Nyiam was not among members of the committee who paid a courtesy visit to the governor, Chief Theodore Orji and when the sensitisation session commenced, he was not seen.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, refused to explain the absence of  Nyiam as he just blurted out “no comment” when he was asked about the retired officer by reporters.

However, it was gathered Nyiam did not come to Umuahia with his colleagues while two of the members who responded to enquiries about the whereabouts of Nyiam said he did not follow them  to Abia State after the Enugu forum.

“He (Nyiam) was with us at Enugu but he didn’t come with us here,” one of the committee member said.