Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, June 18, 2015
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Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Checking waves of kidnapping
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t looks like no day passes in Nigeria without the incidents of kidnappings in one part of the country or another. What started as minor irritant has now assumed a dangerous and alarming dimension and if nothing is immediately done to check the menace could pose another serious threat to the country’s stability after that of Boko Haram. In the past two years, Nigerians have watched with trepidation the waves of kidnappings by all manner of persons who in turn demand ransoms for the release of their victims. Increasingly, kidnapping has become a lucrative business that is unwittingly spurning an entire industry around it. Every day, the media is awash with news of people being kidnapped and taken to unknown destinations by their captors who then demand for huge sums of money for their freedom. Curiously, some of those involved in this nefarious business include relatives, nannies, domestic servants, neighbours and even couples seeking revenge against one another. The list of victims continues to lengthen with each passing day. Recently, the Regent of Akungba in Ondo State, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowom and four others were rescued from kidnappers den at Igbonla village in Owo Local Government Area of the state after spending two weeks in captivity. Three days ago, a Pastor with the Winners Church in Calabar, Cross River State, Seyi Adekunle was kidnapped by some unknown persons who are now asking N80million to secure his release. Earlier, two maternal cousins of former President Goodluck Jonathan,
Patience Egbeni and Kate Eni were abducted at Akimpelai, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Before this, the paramount ruler of Biokpuga in Nembe local government area of the same state, Chief Thirdman Lambert, was said to have been abducted by yet unknown gunmen. We recall that sometime ago, Professor Kamene Okonjo, mother of Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, the ex-Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, was abducted from the Ogwashi-Uku royal palace in Delta State and though later released. In Ibadan, some gunmen abducted Mrs. Tayo Rotimi, wife of Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States, Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd). In May, the father of famed author, Chimamanda,Prof.James Adichie was kidnapped and later released, not after his captors had asked N50 million to secure his freedom. This list excludes the number of kidnapped expatriates, especially in the Niger Delta. According to NYA International, specialist crisis prevention and response consultancy, Nigeria accounted for 26 per cent of kidnap and ransom incidents globally in 2013. It estimated that thousands of kidnappings take place in Nigeria annually – the majority goes unreported. Many pundits assert that the root causes of kidnappings in the country are unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, religious cause, greed, politics and corruption. While it is impossible to exhaust the list of kidnapped persons everyday, we make haste to blame the authorities for being lackadaisical and reactive in the fight against this new form of terrorism.
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Imo: Traditional rulers now Okorocha’s pawns? Sam Nzeh
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The recent suspension of four traditional rulers in Imo State and the invitation of 60 others to face a disciplinary panel over divided loyalty to the state council of traditional rulers and involvement in political activities have heightened fears that the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, either sees the monarchs as pawns or is determined to humiliate and intimidate them using state apparatus. The suspended traditional rulers and the 60 others were accused of defying
the directive of the state government and receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan in March when he visited Owerri, the state capital, for a parley with traditional rulers ahead of the March 28 presidential election. Aside the dangers the action portends, it is unthinkable that the state council of traditional rulers could have embarked on such a tension-generating action without knowledge and approval of the governor. Many have even said that the governor directed the action using the royal fathers’ body as a smokescreen. The action has heightened tension in the state
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as indigenes of communities whose monarchs were suspended are spoiling for war unless the suspension is lifted. The affected royal fathers early in the week initiated a court action against Gov. Okorocha among others. While Okorocha is free to give orders in the state, he must realise that the monarchs as fathers of all are free to receive visitors including the former president to their domains anytime. So, any order stopping them from doing this cannot be justified. The governor at best over reached himself and should take immediate steps to purge himself of such tendencies.
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The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are solely those of the authors. Articles may be reproduced, provided that the original source is indicated.
Muhammadu Buhari
Obiageli Ezekwesili
Femi Falana
“I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”
“Should our political elite continue to lack a sense of proportionality considering the extremely tough days and years ahead?”
“…Has our situation become so bad that we have to ask for external support? When we have not mobilized the energy, the potentials of our people to turn this country around”.