Oporoza 14: Jonathan Orders Probe Into Reporters’ Kidnap
By Shola O’Neil, S’South Regional Editor
•Jonathan has no ulterior motive over project, says Uduaghan
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered security operatives to unravel the masterminds of the abduction of 14 reporters by armed gang on the Warri waterways of Delta State on Sunday afternoon.
The reporters, including the Regional Editors of The Nation, Vanguard and Leadership, were snatched by Ijaw youths and taken to Oporoza in Gbaramatu and home of former Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).
They were returning from Ugborodo where the Itsekiri protested the cancellation of the Delta Gas City’s ground-breaking ceremony following the threat by Ijaw groups.
But Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the opening ceremony of the Press Week of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Asaba, said President Jonathan had ordered investigation into the incident.
He said: “Before we start saying anything, I think I owe it a duty and a responsibility as the Chief Executive of Delta State to apologise to all journalists in Nigeria for the very ugly incident that happened in this state in the last two days in which 14 journalists were unfortunately held hostage. I say the act itself is unfortunate; it is condemnable.
“Let me assure everyone that the Presidency and the President himself has ordered a thorough investigation into the issue. I want to assure you that anyone who is found guilty will be handled adequately by the security agencies.”
The release of the tormented reporters was facilitated by men of the Nigerian Navy at the Forward Operational Base, Escravos. They were said to be acting on a directive from the Chief of Naval Staff to ensure that the reporters were freed.
Also, Uduaghan has absolved President Jonathan of alleged partisanship and ethnic bias in the handling of the Delta Gas City project at Ogidigben.
Jonathan’s failure to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the project, amidst threat of war by his Ijaw kinsmen in the area, led to several protests and condemnation among the Itsekiri.
Uduaghan said: “I find it very unfortunate and objectionable that the President was being accused of partisanship and asked to resign. If the President has no love for Delta State, he would not have visited Delta State at least twice this year to inaugurate two projects. It shows he loves Delta State.”
The governor stressed that the Gas City project was sited in Delta State despite several interests because of Jonathan’s love for the state.
According to him, the project was originally billed for Koko but was relocated to Ogidigben because of the community’s shallow waters at the initial location.
Uduaghan noted that if Mr. President had an ulterior motive, he could have taken it to another state.
He said: “This is a $16 billion project, which was approved by Mr. President to be located in Delta State. Its initial place was Koko but because of the need for a deep sea port, it was relocated to Ogidigben.
“Let us join hands to ensure that the project takes off. Everybody will benefit from it, irrespective of their tribes. I want to appeal to everybody to put aside our differences and ensure that the project takes off because investors are waiting. Let us not use our hands to drive away investors.”
The governor hailed the Delta State NUJ for promoting peace.
He advised journalists to be objective in reporting the 2015 elections.
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| Nigeria has a vibrant newspaper industry. |
•Jonathan has no ulterior motive over project, says Uduaghan
President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered security operatives to unravel the masterminds of the abduction of 14 reporters by armed gang on the Warri waterways of Delta State on Sunday afternoon.
The reporters, including the Regional Editors of The Nation, Vanguard and Leadership, were snatched by Ijaw youths and taken to Oporoza in Gbaramatu and home of former Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo).
They were returning from Ugborodo where the Itsekiri protested the cancellation of the Delta Gas City’s ground-breaking ceremony following the threat by Ijaw groups.
But Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, at the opening ceremony of the Press Week of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Asaba, said President Jonathan had ordered investigation into the incident.
He said: “Before we start saying anything, I think I owe it a duty and a responsibility as the Chief Executive of Delta State to apologise to all journalists in Nigeria for the very ugly incident that happened in this state in the last two days in which 14 journalists were unfortunately held hostage. I say the act itself is unfortunate; it is condemnable.
“Let me assure everyone that the Presidency and the President himself has ordered a thorough investigation into the issue. I want to assure you that anyone who is found guilty will be handled adequately by the security agencies.”
The release of the tormented reporters was facilitated by men of the Nigerian Navy at the Forward Operational Base, Escravos. They were said to be acting on a directive from the Chief of Naval Staff to ensure that the reporters were freed.
Also, Uduaghan has absolved President Jonathan of alleged partisanship and ethnic bias in the handling of the Delta Gas City project at Ogidigben.
Jonathan’s failure to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the project, amidst threat of war by his Ijaw kinsmen in the area, led to several protests and condemnation among the Itsekiri.
Uduaghan said: “I find it very unfortunate and objectionable that the President was being accused of partisanship and asked to resign. If the President has no love for Delta State, he would not have visited Delta State at least twice this year to inaugurate two projects. It shows he loves Delta State.”
The governor stressed that the Gas City project was sited in Delta State despite several interests because of Jonathan’s love for the state.
According to him, the project was originally billed for Koko but was relocated to Ogidigben because of the community’s shallow waters at the initial location.
Uduaghan noted that if Mr. President had an ulterior motive, he could have taken it to another state.
He said: “This is a $16 billion project, which was approved by Mr. President to be located in Delta State. Its initial place was Koko but because of the need for a deep sea port, it was relocated to Ogidigben.
“Let us join hands to ensure that the project takes off. Everybody will benefit from it, irrespective of their tribes. I want to appeal to everybody to put aside our differences and ensure that the project takes off because investors are waiting. Let us not use our hands to drive away investors.”
The governor hailed the Delta State NUJ for promoting peace.
He advised journalists to be objective in reporting the 2015 elections.
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