As senators on a retreat in Port-Harcourt plan to embark on visits to the creeks tomorrow, Senate President, David Mark, has appealed to Niger-Delta militants not to hold any Senator or resource person hostage., because, “the Senate does not have funds allocated for payment of ransom for the release of senator or resource person taken as hostage by the militants.”
Addressing the opening session of the retreat, which was attended by Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Mark enjoined the Niger-Delta people to see the Senate as partner in progress and development of their area.
Mark will lead a group of senators to the creeks in Delta State, while the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and the Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, a group each to the creeks in Bayelsa and Akwa-Ibom states respectively.
Before the commencement of the opening ceremony of the retreat, Leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteers� Force, Alhaji Mujahideen Asari-Dokubo, caused a stir at the Conference Room of the Presidential Hotel, Port-Harcourt, venue of the retreat.
An unmarked black Mercedes Benz ML 350 Jeep, parked in front of the Conference Room, had attracted attention and concern of the security men.
Twice, an announcement was made in the hall by the Master of Ceremony, Mr Ikenna Ndaguba, that the owner of the vehicle should remove it, as it was blocking the entrance to the hall.
When the owner did not show up, another announcer threatened that the vehicle would be smashed, if it was not removed from the spot immediately.
At this point, convoy of Amaechi, who had gone to receive the Jonathan was close to the venue. Dokubo, who is the owner of the vehicle, emerged with two mobile policemen guarding him and there was a hot exchange of words between him and a police officer who led the security team.
The police officer, apparently angry, asked him why he should obstruct the space where the vice president and the state governor were billed to pass through into the Conference Room.
Oct302007