Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

9 Responses to “Militants kidnap 10 PDP chieftains in Ondo”

1. # Omotayloron 11 Sep 2007 at 12:43 pm

   I will implore the militant youths to have respect for human life, irrespective of whatever reasons they have for kidnapping these people, be they 3 or 10. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, what goes round comes round. The most important lesson here is that people should really beware their actions for as it is clear to all, PDP definitely has a case to answer with these militant youths for services rendered. If Dr OLUSEGUN AGAGU promised them money to help him usurp someone else’s mandate, he should please pay up and respect human life. He shouldnt have dined with the devil in the first instance. For there is no fire without smoke, or is there? God will keep on exposing all hidden secrets and evil works of the enemies of progress, truth and democracy in Ondo State. AMIN.

2. # Omotayloron 13 Sep 2007 at 5:25 am

   Thinking about this issue over and over again, I just wonder hy the Militant Youths have not been arrested from the onset when they demanded money and stormed government meeting at Akure and Ondo. Agagu is always quick to running to Police and military for help, so why is he shying away from doing this this time around. Shows he has something to hide, for if you compromise your position, you can be dictated to, even by the devil. It’s time Agagu and Ondo PDP start owing up to their actions and stop trying to pull a wool over peoples faces!

3. # Omotayloron 14 Sep 2007 at 10:23 am

   AS THE SAGA CONTINUES, WHERE IS THE INVOLVEMENT OF LP/MIMIKO IN THIS? PDP SHOULD JUST CLEAN THEIR ACT AND STOP POINTING FALSE FINGERS. Please read on:

   Group refutes report of PDP, militants pact in Ondo
   By Dayo Johnson
   Posted to the Web: Friday, September 14, 2007

   AKURE—A Group under the aegis of Niger Delta Peace Network yesterday described as false, the claim that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State were abducted by militant youths because of the failure of the party leaders to honour an ealier agreement reached with them.

   In a statement in Akure yesterday, signed by one Godwin Ebiowei, National Coordinator, the group put the blame of the entire saga on the “unbridled selfishness” of some leaders of the PDP in Ese-Odo local council of the state.

   “While we describe the ransom request as very debasing, as it ridicules the genuine fight of the people of the Niger Delta region for government attention, it is regrettable that we have since discovered some of the masterminds of the action of the militants”.

   It however put the blame on the internal wrangling between the PDP over the forthcoming council polls, the group said its investigations have shown that the demand for N500 million was only a blackmail as there was no such pact with the militant youths.

   It would be recalled that three of the leaders have so far been released, leaving eight others in the custody of the kidnappers.

   GOD WILL REVEAL THE TRUTH IN ALL MATTERS

4. # Omotayloron 14 Sep 2007 at 10:53 am

   DO NOT SAY I TOLD YOU SO BUT I DID DIDNT I? Please read on about Agagu and the Militant Demand:

   Agagu versus Ondo militants
   By Okey Ndiribe
   Friday, September 14, 2007

   A NEW dimension was introduced into the hostage-taking saga, which has been spreading in the Niger-Delta like wild fire, when a group of politicians in Ondo State were recently kidnapped by militants youths. The incident was a departure from most similar incidents of the past which had involved abduction of expatriate oil workers and lately children. Most past cases of abduction were restricted to Delta and Rivers States.

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   However, last weekend, 11 chieftains of the ruling PDP in Ondo State were abducted by the militants who promptly demanded a N500 million ransom from the State Governor Dr. Olusegun Agagu before the kidnapped men could be released.

   So far, three of those kidnapped have been released while eight others are still in the custody of the militants. Those who are still in the custody of the militants are the Care-taker Committee Chairman of Ilaje-Eseodo Chief A. Akan; a commissioner in the State Local Government Service Commission A. Nanaopiri; the Financial Secretary of the party Ken Semudara; the Special Assistant to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barrister Monday Perebo. Others include a member of the state’s Board for Technical Education, B.O. Ominidougha; Chief Onyeme Abise, Hon. Peter Jeremaiah. Among those who have regained their freedom are Suffy Ugboji, Chief Aroju Eregba and Sunday Tundighima.

   Nevertheless, the declaration by the Ondo State Police Command that a PDP councilorship aspirant is one of the suspected kidnappers in the unfolding macabre drama seems to have confirmed that there is a link between the abductors and the state chapter of PDP. Media reports midweek indicated that the militants were talking tough and had warned the State Government and law enforcement agencies against resorting to the use of force to secure the release of the kidnap victims.

   One of the militants had reportedly through a telephone call warned that any attempt to use force to secure the release of the remaining hostages would result in the killing of all of them. The group was said to be ready for negotiations with the state government or any of its agents.

   The militants were also reported to have reiterated their earlier claims that the N500 million they demanded for the release of the politicians was in line with the agreement they reached with agents of the State Governor for the purpose of helping him to rig the last governorship election in the state.

   The incident has no doubt renewed the political tension in the state as some of the opposition parties have seen the development as a vindication of their claim that the last governorship poll in the state was massively rigged.

   For instance, the Labour Party (LP) which has consistently and stoutly rejected the result of the last governorship election in the state has chided the state government and state chapter of PDP over the affair. In a statement issued by the LP’s State Director of Press, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, the party noted that the recent development had made nonsense of Governor Agagu’s claims last week in the media in which he gleefully told the world that he did not strike any deal with any of his supporters in Ese-Odo to rig election stressing that he won based on his performance during his first term of office.

   Olabisi further stated that : “We have told the whole world how election was massively rigged in Ondo State. Indeed, in the entire six local government areas that constitute the Southern Senatorial District of the State, Agagu and his minions did not allow election to hold. There was massive carting away of election materials which were later thump printed at locations other than designated polling stations. That was the reason why we cried foul and went to court to retrieve our stolen mandate.

   Now that the ugly events of April 14, 2007 are being exposed albeit by the grace of God Almighty, the proverbial wind has blown and we have seen the rump of the fowl. Dr. Agagu should have the grace to confess and throw in the towel. He should know that the game is up and step down so that history will judge him alright.

   The statement continued “… Since those who kidnapped his (Gov. Agagu’s) people in Ese-Odo are members of his party who felt short changed by his not fulfilling his own part of the bargain, that is paying them the stipulated N500 million, he should pay up his debt as a gentlemen and allow peace to reign in the area. A child who brings home an ant infected faggot should learn how to bear the consequence of his folly. A word, they say is enough for the wise.”

   Although the Ondo State Government has denied the claims of the militants, watchers of the political arena believe that the development is further confirmation that most politicians in the country recruited and armed thugs to help them rig the last poll. It is believed in some quarters that many of such thugs who were not paid off but left with the arms they were given by their mentors have resorted to hostage-taking, armed robbery and other acts of brigandage.

   Those who hold this view have pointed to the sudden surge in crime wave in many parts of the country to butress their position. Senior security officers and experts across the country have expressed serious concern over the situation. It is believed that some of the cultists who recently unleashed mayhem on Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital belonged to rival groups that are loyal to top politicians in the state.

5. # Omotayloron 15 Sep 2007 at 12:08 pm

   READING BETWEEN THE LINES IT IS CLEAR SOMEONE PAID UP, IN SPITE OF THE LIES AND DENIALS: Please read on:

   Militants free 8 kidnapped Ondo PDP leaders
   By Dayo Johnson
   Posted to the Web: Saturday, September 15, 2007

   AKURE — EIGHT remaining Peoples Democratic Party PDP leaders kidnapped barely one week ago by militants in Ese Odo area of Ondo State were yesterday released .

   Police Commissioner in the state Mr Sheu Babalola confirmed that they have been released when contacted yesterday by Saturday Vanguard in Akure. They were said to have been released to the Secretary of the Federal Government committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Hon. Kingsley Kuku. But as at the time of filling in this report they were still being expected in Akure, the state capital by leaders of the party and other state government officials.

   The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Isaac Kekemeke however said that the state government did not sign any pact with the militants before the remaining eight leaders were released yesterday. Kekemeke, who insisted that there was no pact with the militants disclosed that contrary to the demands of the youths, “not a dime was paid to them because these are nothing but a pack of miscreants who thought that by lying and blackmailing government, they will be paid.

   He had earlier described the militant youths as criminals who are broke and hungry. Three others have earlier regained their freedom following intervention from leaders of the party in the state. Saturday Vanguard learnt that top security officials went to the hide out of the militants on Thursday and met with their leaders to effect the release of the remaining eight party leaders.

   The move according to investigation was sequel to a directive from the Presidency that the top security personnel in the state should ensure their released this weekend.

   It would be recalled that eleven leaders of the party were kidnapped a week ago by the militants following alleged failure of government to honour an agreement. But government had denied entering into any agreement with the youths in the area before the elections. The militant youths after the kidnap claimed they belong to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

   Meanwhile, the release of the captives came on the heels of calls by the Ijaw Rights Protection Vanguard that the Federal Government should put a stop to the criminality that has taken over the entire Niger Delta region.

   In a press release signed by its leader, Atimati Oju-Oju, the group said concerted efforts should be made by governments, traditional and political leaders to create a mechanism that will effectively control the unbridled criminality “that is now the lots of some of our youths with the attendant negative effects on our socio-political existence”.
   It would be recalled that the police authorities in the state had also declared two leaders of the group wanted with a pledge of N2 million cash award for anybody that can offer information that could lead to their arrest and freedom of the hostages.

   Indications that the hostages will be freed yesterday emerged on Thursday when through a text message to newsmen the militants said “after serious passionate appeal by highly respectable Ijaw leaders, the council of MEND in Ondo State is considering their release shortly”.

   The Ijaw leaders named in the text were the Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and Senator David Brigidi, Chairman, Federal Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta. But the state government speaking through the SSG yesterday said the names mentioned by the armed militants “are too high to be part of their criminality, they only wanted to make noble their ignoble act.”
   “We thank the security agents and all those who are involved with the release.

6. # Omotayloron 16 Sep 2007 at 7:09 pm

   MORE ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ THE WHOLE OF THIS POST AND THEN DECIDE FOR YOURSELF WHO OR WHAT TO BELIEVE. IS THIS HOW LOW AGAGU HAS REALLY FALLEN? O MA SE O. THE EARLIER ONDO STATE GETS RID OF THIS MAN THE BETTER. HE IS A CHEAT, THIEF AND LIAR AMONGST SO MANY OTHER THINGS. PLEASE READ ON:

   Militants, Ondo Govt to swear before Egbesu
   … over N500 million deal
   Sunday, September 16, 2007

   Wearied by the kidnap saga of last week, elders of Arogbo-Ijaw communities of Ese-Odo Local Government area have reportedly embarked on steps aimed at cleansing the land.

   A source in Opuba, one of the troubled communities in the locality, confided in Sunday Sun that the first such step being contemplated was to discover the truth out of an allegation that the state government promised to reward the Ijaw militants with N5oomillion to rig the last governorship election in the area.

   Following “a tentative settlement”, the militants had Friday released the remaining eight hostages who happen to be leaders of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Three other were let off earlier in the week.

   The source informed that officials of the Ondo State government and members of acclaimed Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta (MEND) would soon be invited to swear before the dreaded Egbesu deity, to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of their respective claims.

   The MEND, shortly before it kidnapped the 11 leaders, had alleged that agents of the state hired the group to rig the last governorship election, with a promise to grease its palm with a whooping N500million.

   But stridently, the Ondo State government has denied the allegation, describing it as cheap blackmail.

   According to our source “any representative of either side that comes before Egbesu to make a false claim should just go and write his will as Egbesu’s judgment for lying is instant death”.

   But in an exclusive interview with Sunday Sun last week, Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, an Arogbo Ijaw native, challenged the militant to a ‘swear-duel’ before the Egbesu deity as he would stop at nothing to prove the innocence of the state government.

   “Egbesu is a respected deity in Ijawland, let them come and swear before it that government had even an oral agreement, much less a written one, with them.

   “If they can do this, the whole world will know who is lying”

   Speaking further, Kekemeke said he took exception to media branding of members of the acclaimed MEND as militants. “They are not militants but criminals,” he said.

   “Is robbing people of their hard-earned money a militant act? No. Is barging into people’s homes and raping their wives a militant act? No. Is storming the market place and maiming innocent traders a militant act? No. Is engaging in oil bunkering and living like princes a militant act? No. Certainly, these boys who are not MEND members, are criminals and not militants,” Kekemeke averred

   He also sneered at the allegation that the state government was owing the group N500million being payment for election rigging contract.

   “Does it make sense for any government or anybody to pay N500million for election rigging in two wards out of 203 wards that make up the state?” the SSG asked rhetorically.

   He, however, disclosed that information reaching him indicated that the militants had made their captives to sign documents under duress, implicating the state government in the alleged N500million election rigging deal.

   He blamed a faction within the PDP in the locality for the kidnap incident, saying the opposition party did not have a hand in it

   The government, he vowed, would not be cowed by the development.

   Meanwhile, wife of Mr. Corporal Nanaopiri, one of the kidnapped PDP leaders, told Sunday Sun on phone that she was in the hospital. She also said that she was not in the mood to react to her husband’s kidnap.

   In the same vein, shortly after the kidnap last weekend, family members of the kidnapped PDP leaders in Arogbo-Ijaw area decamped apparently afraid that they too could be kidnapped.

   Although Kekemeke vowed that government would not pay any ransom to secure the release of the PDP chieftains, it was gathered that Mr. Kingsley Kuku, a former member of the House of Assembly in the state, “was empowered by the governor to negotiate with the militants towards the release of the leaders”.

   Another top government source said family members to the kidnapped men put Governor Agagu under pressure. “Wives to some of them would phone the governor and cry, cry and cry, without any conversation,” the source disclosed.

   But Kuku in an interview with Sunday Sun, denied giving money to the militants to secure the PDP chieftains’ release.

   “They did not demand for money and we did not give them money. They only complained about the attitude of a government official. We’ve resolved the disagreement and we are forging ahead,” he said.

   Already, the Ondo State Police Command has lamented that it could not forestall the kidnap because “the people did not give police information early enough”.

   Giving the excuse in a chat with Sunday Sun, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Aremu Adeniran, urged the Arogbo-Ijaw people to cultivate the habit of tipping off the police ahead of any fore-known crime.

   He said the state Commissioner of Police, Shehu Babalola, had beefed up police presence in the area, adding that a joint patrol of the water ways by the police and the Navy was already complementing security arrangement in the area.

7. # Omotayloron 16 Sep 2007 at 7:28 pm

   I’M REALLY FASCINATED WITH THESE STORIES AS IT DOES GIVE A CLEAR PICTURE IF YOU CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES. THIS IS FROM SUNDAY PUNCH AND IF YOU ASK ME, I BELIEVE AGAGU DID EMPLOY THESE PEOPLE TO CHEAT HIS WAY INTO POWER. MIMIKO SHOULD BE GIVEN HIS MANDATE BACK, SOONER THAN LATER. AGAGU, PLEASE RESIGN AND HIDE BEFORE NEMESIS CATCHES UP WITH YOU FULL TIME. PLEASE READ ON:

   Abducted PDP leaders describe stay in militants’ den as wonderful

   By Femi Makinde

   Before now, their activities were limited to only a few states in the Niger Delta area, where many have fallen victim of their mafia-like operations. But at the time the nation is expecting a cease-fire, they have surfaced in Ondo State. And in just a single strike, 11 leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, fell straight into their net.

   The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta that claims to be fighting for the improvement of the standard of living of the people of the oil-rich region, publicly ‘inaugurated‘ its kidnapping operations in Ondo State on September 8.

   It had probably waited for an occasion that would bring together its targets in one place, and it struck on the day the PDP was holding its primaries for the forthcoming local government election in the area.

   The MEND had about a month before the incident demanded N500m from the state government. It said the money was meant to demobilise the ‘boys‘ it recruited to ensure electoral victory for Dr Olusegun Agagu and the PDP during the April general elections.

   The self acclaimed General Officer Commanding of MEND in Ondo State, one Chief Ibeseikumo Biku, said in an unsigned statement that over 500 militants were mobilised from the entire Niger Delta (i.e. from Akwa Ibom to Ondo State) to ensure Agagu and the PDP’s successes at the poll. He alleged that some Ijaw leaders in the state, like the current Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Mr. D.I. Kekemeke, Mr. Kingsley Kuku and others, represented the governor in reaching the said agreement with the militants. But the duo that were alleged to have reached the agreement with MEND on behalf of Agagu denied ever reaching any agreement with the group.

   Kekemeke, who is also from Arogbo Ijaw in Ondo State, described the boys as a bunch of criminals, who were broke and looking for cheap money to sustain their nefarious activities. But the militants have persistently claimed that Kekemeke is saying this to save his face.

   The spokesman of MEND, who identified himself as Lord when some selected journalists visited the militants in their den, said, ”The issue that led to the adoption of the PDP leaders in Arogbo Ijaw in Eso-Odo Local Government Area of the state was as a result of a far-reaching agreement between this group and Kekemeke. Prior to the election, having known the fact that there is no way the Labour Party would be defeated, the current SSG, who was then the Commissioner for Works and Housing came to have a discussion with us so as to ensure that the PDP government led by Agagu records a landslide victory. It was on this premise we agreed to work with him. The arrangements on the ground, which I cannot disclose openly, now were not fulfilled by the SSG. That is what led to the situation we are witnessing today.”

   Lord said that the PDP got the best results in the elections from Ese-Odo, because the militants honored their promise and delivered 100 per cent, but the SSG reneged on his.

   According to him, the 11 PDP leaders were abducted in place of the SSG, saying that if the PDP leaders were abducted, there was no way Kekemeke would not come out to discuss with them. Lord said that out of about 500 units of houses awarded to the victims of the Ijaw/Ilaje crisis, only 80 were given to the Ijaw whose houses were destroyed. “This is one of the issues we want to discuss with the SSG,” he said.

   The opposition party in the state promptly condemned the PDP-led government for entering into a pact with the militants and therefore asked Agagu to resign.

   However, one of those the MEND claimed reached an agreement with it on behalf of the governor, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who is also the Secretary of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta, denied the allegation while answering questions from journalists inside the den of the militants.

   Kuku, who is also a Special Assistant to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr. Timi Alaibe, on Peace and Conflict Resolution, said he was called by his boss to intervene and ensure that the abducted leaders were freed and ensure the restoration of the peace to the Ondo State axis of the Niger Delta.

   Kuku, who was instrumental to the release of all the abducted men said, ”When I first got there, I told them that the issue of N500m, which I read in the papers, was a laughable matter. I have never seen a place where after any election a government like Ondo State will pick N500m or N50m or N20m and give to a group of persons who took part in an election. If the Ondo State Government does that to one, two, three groups in a local government or two, the state government will not perform again. It will begin to ‘settle‘ every three or four groups each month and the government will ‘settle‘ people until 2011 and beyond. Even other administrations will surely inherit from where it stopped. My party (PDP), myself, the SSG and entire members of PDP in Ese-Odo Local Government never met informally or formally with anybody to, discuss or negotiate with any group of persons in the Local government on the issue of N500m or even N1m.

   “So it is not a matter of agreement. It is not the matter of N500m or N2m. I confronted them to say that what they are doing now is not fair and they have not been fair to us.”

   Kuku, who was in the militants‘ den about 14 hours before the remaining eight PDP leaders regained their freedom said the only way to get out of the current situation was to dialogue with the aggrieved militants. He said using force would not help the matter because anything could happen if force was employed to liberate the victims from their captors.

   One of the abducted politicians, Mr. Thompson Aka, who is the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Ese-Odo Local Government, told journalists while in captivity that the Patriots (i.e. the militants) came to him at about 8am on the day he and other leaders were captured. ”The Patriot group got to me and asked me to come down to their place, that is, where I am now. They came to my residence at Upe town. That is how I got here. When I got here they told me how they said they negotiated with the SSG concerning some developmental issues of which he failed to adhere to and it was on that basis that they decided to bring me to this place.

   “I want to say that this issue on ground now is not connected to kidnapping at all. These Patriots are only unhappy with the way the SSG treated them after the April 14 governorship election. That is the reason we are being taken hostage here.”

   A member of the newly constituted board of Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Corporal Nanaopiri, said, ”We are coming for a meeting and because we have some scores to ‘settle‘ with MEND. We were invited to the camp here. Before the time, they had wanted the SSG, Barrister D. I. Kekemeke, who of course is the political leader of the PDP in the entire Ese-Odo, LG, to be here to sort out things with them. He was not around and they said that we would be here until he comes and that is why we are here. We got here on the Saturday morning of September 8, 2007.

   “Our stay here has been wonderful; we have heard all that is happening outside this place. Let me tell you, the people never held us hostage, that is the truth of the matter. If you call them kidnappers, hostage takers or whatever, they are not! That is not their name! Everybody will come here and say this is the goose that lays the golden egg and after exploiting our resources, they will go back and say well, the place is ‘unhelpable.’ Go to Lagos, go to everywhere in the world, you see bridges, roads on water. MEND is out to tell the world that story. We have woken up, our place is developable, and you are saying it is not developable.

   “MEND provided all it had in the last elections. They came out and said ‘yes, Yar‘Adua and Agagu are our men, let us do everything that is humanly possible for their success, and ensure that these people are enthroned’.”

   He added that the Ijaw lacked roads. In recent times, the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission was established and because the Ilaje are Yoruba, the commission is constructing a road from Igbokoda to link Ayetoro. But he said that a road could equally be constructed from Agadagba-Obon through Arogbo to other Ijaw communities.

   He said that it was wrong for the police to have declared his captors wanted because according to him, ”You declare somebody wanted when the person is on the run. These people are not on the run. They are here in their residence. Let the police come here, let the whole world come here, the people are here. How do you declare them wanted and say a ransom of N2m would be given to anybody that finds them? That is unfair to the people.”

   The abducted leaders, after praising their captors, were released to Kuku on Friday, but it is possible they might change the theme of their song after emerging from a week long captivity.

8. # Omotayloron 19 Sep 2007 at 10:40 am

   YES O, PROBE ONDO STATE ACCOUNTS QUICK. WHO FOOLS WHO. HOW WOULD MILITANTS JUST RELEASE CAPTIVES AND EVERYONE LAUGHS ABOUT IT WITHOUT MONEY CHANGING HANDS. AGAGU AND HIS PEOPLE REALLY THINK THEY ARE DEALING WITH FOOLS IN ONDO STATE. LETS SEE WHO LAUGHS LAST, TRUTH OR LIES.

   Monday, September 17, 2007 Printer Friendly Version

   Ondo govt paid militants N25m ransom –LP

   By Femi Makinde, Akure

   Contrary to the claims of the Ondo State Government, the Labour Party in the state has said that the state government paid N25m as ransom to free the 11 Peoples Democratic Party leaders abducted by militants.

   The LP’s Director of Press, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure on Sunday, said the State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, had to effect the payment of N25m before the PDP leaders were released on Friday.

   However, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, has said that the state government did not pay any amount to secure the release of the captives.

   The Secretary, Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee in Niger Delta, Mr. Kinsley Kuku, who negotiated the release of the abducted politicians, said on Friday that no ransom was paid to the militants.

   Meanwhile, the LP has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe Ondo State Government’s accounts

9. # Omotayloron 20 Sep 2007 at 1:21 pm

   HMMMMMM…..INTERESTING. PLEASE READ ON CURTESY ALLAFRICA.COM:

   Nigeria: MENDing Agagu’s Skeletons

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   Vanguard (Lagos)

   COLUMN
   18 September 2007
   Posted to the web 18 September 2007

   Rotimi Fasan

   Several weeks ago the militant group noted, until then, for its abduction of foreign workers working in the oil industry and their families in the Niger-Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND), issued an ominous statement warning the Ondo State government of Governor Olusegun Agagu to make good its promise and pay up some N500 million, being the agreed sum for an undisclosed undertaker job during the last governorship election in the state.

   Whatever was the nature of this job whose minute details were not revealed, it was certainly one enterprise that would not bear scrutiny given the apparent secrecy in which it was shrouded. But like the inscrutable voice of a forbidding egungun all MEND would volunteer by way of information was that the money being demanded was for the assistance it gave the Agagu administration to win the April 14 polls in Ondo. Full stop. What kind of assistance could this be? Wise Nigerians- it was not as if they needed MEND, a group notorious for its strong-arm approach to the resolution of the Niger-Delta crisis- it was not as if Nigerians needed somebody to tell them in plain terms what MEND meant.

   They very well knew what monkey business must have been afoot. Aren’t they aware of the controversy that continues to trail the last election in the State? A controversy that is still raging in the State’s electoral tribunal. No matter this controversy Nigerians, particularly Ondo State indigenes, must have wondered where the connection was between a hawker and a lunatic. In other words, they would have been hard put to understand what could have serve to throw the Ondo State government and MEND together in one boat.

   Nigerians would be pardoned to imagine that MEND’s activities were limited to Port-Harcourt, Bayelsa, Warri and other communities of the geographic Niger-Delta of Nigeria. Apart from the fact that the Nigerian coastal line stretches as far as Ondo State and that the State has a healthy mix of Yoruba and Ijaw communities along its southern belt, the idea of the Niger-Delta is now in Nigeria both geographic and political.

   It is perhaps, now, even more political than geographic. This was one reason Ondo State, proud claimant of 10% of Nigeria’s crude oil production, was quick to reject the attempts by some players at the recent Newswatch summit on the Niger-Delta to exclude it from the region. How much does this tell us about MEND and Agagu? Pretty little, I presume. Unsurprisingly therefore many, including the government of Ondo, brushed aside the ominous warning from MEND.

   This was why, perhaps, we were all caught flat-footed when, as the week began last week, the group made good its threat by abducting eleven members of the PDP in Ese-Odo and Arogbo in Ondo State. The Agagu government has been vehement in its denial of any link with MEND, calling them names and all what-not. But it would need more than all the sea water of Ese-Odo and Arogbo to wash itself clean. Its denials ring hollow.

   The feet of the hurriedly buried corpse of the last gubernatorial election in Ondo State is now hanging out for the world to see and Agagu must explain how this came about. It’s a fact that prior to the April 14 election in the State, the PDP was not expected to have a good showing much less win. The Labour Party, led by Olusegun Mimiko, was the leading party whose victory was already seen by many as a matter of course. This was for reason of PDP’s poor performance record in the State and not out of any personal dislike of the governor. But somehow the PDP government managed to wangle a victory for itself.

   For days after the election the result could not be announced, following fears that the State, known for its volatility, might erupt in electoral violence. Contrary to the electoral law that only the State electoral commissioner could announce the result, the result would be announced from Abuja even before the resident commissioner that was mandated by law to send the result to Abuja could make it official in the State.

   The people of Ondo and the other political parties cried murder. (Some of these parties have since jumped ship to go and ‘chop’ with the party in power.) Most contentious were the result from the southern part of the State where Agagu comes from. It is this same area that MEND now claims it assisted Agagu to snatch victory from- victory, as it were, from the jaws of death. The question remains what sort of assistance this was? It couldn’t be to canvass for votes or count them after the election, which is the job of INEC. So what assistance did MEND give Agagu? If Agagu and his people in government claim no connection with MEND how come they are so far the only government that group is claiming to have assisted in this manner? Agagu or is it Isaac Kekemeke, the Secretary to the State Government, must do more than resort to name calling.

   All they have so far been doing is trying to mend the broken skeletons from their electoral cupboard. But trying to mend such a brittle structure would only make it easy for somebody to bend. After all said, one thing is clear from all this: Nigerian politicians are clearly behind the many cases of lawlessness that have seen outlaw groups holding the rest of society to ransom. The world knows now why they are the new bride of kidnappers. The Agagu and MEND case is not the first. It certainly would not be the last.