The Kidnap Of Journalists And IGP’s Order

It is bizarre the rate of kidnappings in Nigeria especially in southern part of the country, nay south-east and south-south. There is no day that passes without recording occasions, some politically-motivated, and most of them are not reported. Go to Akwa Ibom, Abia, etc you will hear tales.

Members of the NUJ went to Akwa Ibom for their meeting and as a norm honoured the host governor. Widely reported in the media was a statement from their host (Governor Akpabio), who while addressing the meeting angrily told them that they have quacks in their midst and should ensure that those are sanctioned. He particularly mentioned that people set up mushroom newspapers even within his State and use such to castigate the government. There was a quiet response from the NUJ executives probably because if you look at it from another angle, it is people in government that actually float newspapers that sing their praises. If there were no other independently minded voices, how could such situation promote democracy?

It happened that when the journalists were leaving Akwa Ibom on their way, they were waylaid along Ikot Ekpene-Aba road and all that happened thereafter are no more news. What is news is that the IG of Police, Mr. Onovo, as at Wednesday 13/7/10 has given 24-hour ultimatum to the kidnappers (are they his staff?) to release the journalists in their captivity; this was after he had given ultimatum to Police commands in Akwa Ibom and Abia to fight and secure the release of the captured newsmen. One thinks that ultimatum from IG no longer holds water. It will be recalled that he gave ultimatums to the DIG Ukpoudom and Delta Commissioner of Police as well as AIG in charge of the zone to ensure that James Ibori was apprehended. Rather than getting result, Ibori with his retinue of police supplied to him as bodyguards, by the same Police, escaped probably with the help of the same Police.

No disciplinary action against the police? What has happened since then? Onovo could be proving to be the worst of the IGs Nigeria has had so far.
Biodun Bashiru Lati, Solomon Lar Way, Utako District, Abuja.

Rural Electrification Agency: EFCC To Quiz NASS

Reading the Sunday Vanguard and Sunday Punch of June 20, 2010 was a story that signified EFCC's plan to quiz more National Assembly members in the ongoing trial of former Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Nicholas Ugbane and his House of Representative counterpart, Ndudi Elumelu. The trial which was for misappropriating N5.2billion on account of their oversight functions as head of Senate and Federal House Committees, overseeing the Rural Electrification Agency, REA; the figure has now gone up to N10billion.

EFCC had identified more National Assembly members who were said to have written to the Ministry of Mines and Power and the Rutal Electircation Agency introducing various firms which they had interest in and now believed to be involved in the increased scam.

With this, one is wondering why EFCC has continued to keep mum in the case of former PDP national chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, who was said to have collected billions of naira from Akwa Ibom government without executing rural electrification contracts he was awarded. Definitely, EFCC is not only for cases bordering on federal projects but also has been very active in various State governments'. So why is the Akwa Ibom case different, many are asking? Ogbulafor is facing trial in a case brought against him by the ICPC and not EFCC.

Since more emphasis is being placed on Power sector of the economy, as promised by President Jonathan, it will be necessary to unearth all the wrongs associated with the issue (Power stations, IPP, Rural electrification, etc) if any meaningful achievement would be recorded. It is only when you know the past wrongs that you would know how to move forward in solving those and then position for the future. This is clarion call on President Jonathan, the anti-graft agencies and the newly inaugurated Power Committee to act accordingly.

Nse Archibong, 288 Ikwerre Road, Diobu, P.H., Rivers State.