River State governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi yesterday said other ethnic groups in the Niger Delta should emulate the people of Ogoni who have persistently agitated against the neglect and injustice suffered by their people without resorting to the use of arms and other criminal acts.
The governor�s advise on the need for change of tactics in pursuit of the rights of the people of the oil producing areas coincided with the kidnap of the 15-year old son of the Secretary of the River State branch of the Peopels Democratic Party (PDP), Master Ogochukwu Orisa Onyiri. The kidnappers who are believed to be militants are demanding for N60 million ransom.
Amaechi in a speech read by his deputy, Chief Tele Ikuru at the Ogoni Day celebration and the 18th anniversary of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) advised the Federal Government and the international community to acknowledge the peaceful conduct of the Ogoni agitations by responding positively to the people�s demands.
According to him, if other agitators would copy from
the Ogonis the act of resisting the resort to illegalities to achieve lawful ends, then the country would be the better for it. Amaechi promised that his administration will site developmental projects in the area.
In his speech, President of MOSOP, Mr. Ledum Mitee regretted that though his people have been prevailed upon to tow the path of law, the lack of positive response to their agitations shows that the nation does not appreciate the use of peaceful means of agitation.
He noted that for 18 years, the Ogonis have pursued their agitation without throwing any stone at anybody even when they were under extreme provocation and that the strategy was unassailable.
According to him �government appears to see and respond to the Niger Delta issue championed by our crusade via the narrow prism of those who unleash violence and do other condemnable acts�.
�We need not turn every group in the region to kidnappers and violent militants before they can secure benefits from their legitimate demands,� he said.
The kidnap of the 15 year old boy by militants who equally claim to be protesting the neglect of the Niger Delta people took place on Friday at 8.30 pm in at Ogbogu village in Ogba/ Egb-ema/Ndoni Local Gove-rnment area by five armed men who, forced the boy into a Peugeot 504 salon car and immediately disappeared into the dark.
An eyewitness account said the boy was returning home when the car drove past him without lights.
The driver of the car suddenly stopped close to the boy who was walking past and the men armed with automatic weapons jumped out and forced him into the car.
The cry of the boy who sensed danger owing to the spate of kidnapping in the State attracted people who raised alarm but the kidnappers responded with gun shots into the air.
While the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ireju Barasua confirmed the kidnap, a community source said the kidnappers have already made contacts with the family, assured them of the boy�s safety and demanded for N60 million ransom.
Jan62008