Gunmen believed to be members of the armed Niger Delta militants struck yesterday in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, killing three persons, prompting President Olusegun Obasanjo to issue a stern warning to deal with militants decisively.
President Obasanjo who was in Rivers State to perform the foundation laying ceremony of a Monument built for late Ogoni activists and leaders, including minority right champion, Mr. Ken Saro-Wiwa, vowed to end the regime of lingering violence in the country�s oil region (Niger Delta), stressing that without peace, development cannot take place.
Meanwhile, Senator Lee Maeba yesterday escaped death by the whiskers as gunmen, suspected to be militants shot dead three persons, including his Personal Assistant in an early morning attack during a robbery operation at the branch of one of the nation�s biggest bank�s in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt.
The gunmen who launched their operation at about 1 a.m yesterday carted away a yet-to-be ascertained sum of cash, running into several millions of naira as they barricaded Hospital Road, Port Harcourt for hours shooting sporadically.
Though Maeba who represents Rivers East Senatorial District was not in the car at the time of the attack, his car, a white Toyota jeep with registration number Senator 59B 2007 was ridden with bullet holes when THISDAY visited the scene of the incident yesterday morning.
Maeba who was one of the arrowheads of the failed third term bid of Obasanjo was said to have arrived Port Harcourt on Friday to await the arrival of the President yesterday. The president visited Rivers State yesterday to attend the memorial service held in honour of 13 Ogoni heroes in Bori, the headquarter of Khana Local Government Area.
The late Personal Assistant of the Senator was said to be on his way to drop the police escort of the legislator when they ran into the operations of the gunmen at the bank situated close to the state police headquarters, Port Harcourt.
Eyewitnesses told THISDAY yesterday in Port Harcourt that when the gunmen who were suspected to be militants in the Niger Delta region noticed the senator�s jeep, they opened fire on the car, thinking that the ocuppants were policemen coming to foil their operations. In the process, the young aide of the senator and the policeman were shot. They died on the spot.
While the driver of the senator�s jeep escaped, another driver of a taxi in an attempt to escape from the scene of the incident, rammed his car into the fence of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and died before help could come his way.
At 11:15am when THISDAY called Senator Maeba, he confirmed the death of his Personal Assistant, adding that he was not in the car at the time of the incident.
�It is true my P.A died but I was not in the car. I am yet to be briefed by the police. I am still awaiting their report�, he said.
Apparently troubled by the incident, the lawmaker was conspicuously absent at all the ceremonies earmarked for President Obasanjo�s one-day official visit to the oil and gas rich state.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Rivers State Command, Mr. Ireju Barasua, DSP also confirmed the death of the 3 persons in the incident.
Barasua who spoke on behalf of the state police commissioner, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi told THISDAY yesterday that the police have swung into action to apprehend those behind the attack.
Though she refused to disclosed the name of the hospital where the bodies of the victims were taken to, THISDAY checks revealed that they were deposited in the mortuary of the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt to forestall anybody taking them away.
Following the attack, security for the visit of the president was beefed up with military helicopters hovering at low attitude in Port Harcourt and its environs.
Similarly, battle ready soldiers were also drafted to the venues of all the ceremonies performed by President Obasanjo during the visit, just as those getting to the venues were thoroughly searched.
In an address he presented at an open air inter-denominational thanksgiving church service held in Bori, the headquarter of Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State to honour 13 Ogoni leaders who died in the cause of the Ogoni struggle, the President said, �It is the commitment of this administration to put an end to violence anywhere it rears its head. Aside from putting in place an effective early warning mechanism coupled with adequate security amazements, we have also rolled out a holistic agenda for the Niger Delta to take care of the restiveness of our youth and real and perceived injustice.
�Let me also point out that this government shall not tolerate brigandage or criminality even when couched in all sorts of language and dubious argument.
�The truth is that we cannot develop in an atmosphere of intimidation insecurity, violence and blackmail. Unfortunately in all acts of violence the first victims are the local people, our own brothers, sister and parents who remain in harms way. Violence has never brought anything good to a people, community or nation�.
Obasanjo who lauded the Ogoni peace process brokered by the Reverend Father Mathew Kukah, the head of the Presidential Initiative for Ogoni/Shell Reconciliation noted that yesterday was a historic day in Ogoniland.
�Today is a historic day for us as a people and nation in several ways. Not only does it represent a genuine and serious way of reconciliation and building harmony but it also shows our new resolve to work together to rebuild our lives and communities.
�This is why I am particularly pleased to return to Ogoniland. Ogoni is a closely-knit community. From what I know of the Ogoni people, they are peaceful, hard working, respectful of tradition and constituted authority, creative, lively and God-fearing. The near decimation of the Ogoni community by internecine conflicts and violence leading to destruction of property and the lives of some of the best men has been a loss not only to Rivers State but also to Nigeria and the black race at large.
�I know that with peace, reconciliation, accommodation, and love there are better days ahead for the Ogoni people�, he said.
At the occasion which was witnessed by Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State and his Bayelsa state counterpart, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ministers, members of the National Assembly, Commissioner, traditional rulers, chairmen and councilors of the four Local Government Areas that make up Ogoni land, President Obasanjo admitted that at the heart of the difficulties in Ogoniland was the issue of relationship of the Ogonis with Shell.
According to Obasanjo, government is not unaware of the environment-friendly issues, land control and utilization, regard for ancestral sites and introduction of new environment friendly technology involved in the disputation with Shell.
The President added: �We are gathered here today to lay the foundation for genuine reconciliation in Ogoniland. We prayerfully hope that this will bring an end to any lingering bitterness among the Ogonis as a people. It is only after we have achieved this that a united Ogoni can take its rightful place among the people of Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general. Thus, the events of today are significant for many reasons.
The president later performed the foundation laying ceremony of the monument event in honour of the 13 Ogoni fallen heroes.
They include the late environment and minority rights activist, Ken Saro Wira, Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Daniel Gbokoo, Felix Nuate, Bernard Eawo and John Kpuinen.
Others are Baribor Bera, Saturday Dobee, Paul Levura, T.B Orage, Sam Orage, A.T. Badey and Edward Kobani.
Prayers for the repose of the souls of the 13 fallen Ogoni heroes and their families, as well as the nation were offered at the occasion, which brought the families of the Ogoni leaders together for the very first time since 1985.
In a speech presented on behalf of Ogoni people by Chief W.F. Wifa, SAN, the people of the area lauded the Federal and the Rivers state governments for the appointment of Ogoni sons and daughters into various positions of trust.
They also called on President Obasanjo to create a state for Ogoni, as well as more local government areas.
May212006