Suspected militants who seized eleven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains at Arogbo in Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State on Saturday have insisted that the state government must pay a N500million ransom they earlier demanded before all the hostages could be released.
But the militants who claimed to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) freed two of the kidnapped PDP chiefs yesterday.
The release of the hostages was sequel to the intervention of a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Kingsley Kuku, who is the Secretary of the Federal Government Committee on Peace and Reconciliation.
Those released are Chief Aroju Eregha and Hon Sunday Tindighima while those still in the custody of the militants include the Caretaker Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government, T.A.Akah; a member of Local Government Service Commi-ssion, Corporal Nanaopiri; and state Financial Secretary of PDP, Ken Semudara.
Others are the Special Assistant to the SSG, Barrister Monday Perebo; B.O. Ominidigha, Chief Oyeme Abise, Hon Peter Jeremiah, Hon Sufi Ugoji and James Legbe.
The 11 men were kidnapped over the alleged refusal of the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, to honour the agreement allegedly reached with the group in the build-up to the April 14 governorship election.
Kuku, an indigene of the local government and Special Adviser to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe, handed over the two released men to Agagu and other PDP chieftains yesterday in Akure, the state capital.
He said negotiations for the release of the hostages lasted over six hours and went late into Sunday night where the hostages were being kept.
Kuku, who said he was asked to go and secure the release of the hostages, stated that the militants decided to release the two hostages on the condition that government would explore further discussions with them on the release of the nine others.
However, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke, had said the government would not go into any negotiation with the militants whom he said should be treated as criminals as government did not enter into any agreement with any group before the election.
Speaking in the same vein, leaders of PDP in the local government at a press conference yesterday said at no time was any deal done with the militants by leaders of the party in the local government or Arogbo area in respect of the poll or any matter whatsoever.
According to Benson Egbekun, who read the address of the PDP leaders in the area, the kidnap of the 11 party chiefs had to do with the forthcoming local government election.
He alleged that the kidnapped leaders were seen to be opposed to a particular chairmanship aspirant who he also alleged to have masterminded the incident.
Egbekun said the kidnappers were not members of MEND because their activities detracted from the Ijaw struggle that MEND had always adva-nced.
The kidnap of the PDP chieftains, however, generated sharp reactions last night.
The state chapter of Labour Party (LP) called on Agagu to step down from office saying the abduction of the 11 PDP members over his alleged failure to pay the sum allegedly agreed upon to �rig� the governorship election for PDP had vindicated LP which had always insisted that PDP did not win the April 14, 2007 poll.
The Europe chapter of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, however, condemned the kidnap, describing it as reprehensible.
In a release issued by its Director of Press, Mr. Kolawole Olabisi, LP noted that the kidnap had made nonsense of Agagu�s claims that he did not strike any deal with any of his supporters in Ese-Odo and that he won based on his performance in his first term in office.
�We have told the whole world how the election was massively rigged in Ondo State. Indeed, in the entire six local government areas that constituted 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 his sins and throw in the towel. He should know that the game is up and step down so that history can still judge him alright,� Olabisi said.
But the Leader of Europe chapter of Afenifere, Otunba Kole Omololu, who is also an indigene of the state, expressed dismay over the kidnap during a telephone conversation with THISDAY.
According to him, 99 per cent of the population of Ondo State is Yoruba, and the remaining one per cent from the Niger Delta should not be allowed to import “criminal activities” to the state.
He described Ondo State as a relatively peaceful state, which according to him, places value system above other unwarranted acts and advised the state government to crush the so-called militants within the next few days, bearing in mind that the state has in recent times begun to attract investors.
“Ondo State is a 99 per cent Yoruba state, though; it may be called a Niger Delta State. We place value on negotiation and proper reasoning in all situations. We are not violent.
�Now that Ondo State is attracting many investors, these activities of the Niger Delta militants should not be allowed to deter them. They should be crushed in the next few days,” he said.
Omololu said the activities of the militants in the riverine part of the state at this particular time were unfortunate, noting that developments of varying degrees, including road network, have transformed the area in recent times.
He advised investors and would-be investors not to be deterred by this perceived distraction.
“So, investors outside and inside Nigeria should come and enjoy abundant natural deposits in the state. We have the largest bitumen deposit in the world. We have oil and rivers for fishing. Therefore, this act is reprehensible and Afenifere, in London and Nigeria as well condemn it,” Omololu said.
Sep112007