A new twist was added to the kidnap of the Dean of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Ignatius Kattey, as a former Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Mr. Emma Okah, accused the state government of masterminding the abduction of the cleric.The accusation came as a group, Rivers Peoples Forum (RPF) alleged of a plot by some politicians and certain interests within the presidency to illegally and unconstitutionally remove Rivers State Governor, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, from office.
Okah, in a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the state government would be held responsible if anything happens to Kattey because Amaechi had earlier berated the cleric for not supporting him in the political crisis in the state.
According to him, "At the thanksgiving church service last June to mark O.C.J. Okocha's 60th birthday, Amaechi had warned him to either support him (Amaechi) or stay with the opposition group and I am not aware that the Archbishop has changed his anti-partisan posture to support Amaechi."
Okah, who was reacting to a statement credited to the state government that the kidnap meant that state was sliding to anarchy due to failure of security, said: "The statement by the state government is mischievous, wicked and intended to ridicule and discredit the police and opposing political leaders in the state and paint a picture of anarchy where Amaechi, who has failed to discharge his duties as governor, will be seen as a saint."
Okah noted that kidnap for ransom in the state and other parts of the country had never stopped since 2006 and that unemployment and rush for quick wealth instead of failure of security was the major cause of the development. "The kidnap of Archbishop Kattey is one of the many high profile kidnap cases in Nigeria and every responsible citizen of this country must feel concerned and play a role, including prayers, to seek his early release from captivity. Therefore, it is wicked for Amaechi to use this ugly kidnap of an aged servant of God to seek political mileage, trade blames and play politics instead of getting the man out first," Okah said.
He said if the state was sliding to anarchy as claimed by the state government, then Amaechi was to be held responsible.
"Rivers State Government is now like a ship without compass, no focus, no direction. If he cannot resign, Amaechi should sit down and tackle the problems of the people of the state," Okah said, adding that the state should do all that was necessary to effect the safe release of Kattey.
In a related development, the state chapter of the PDP has said Amaechi's reaction to Kattey's abduction tended to suggest that the incident was stage managed to discredit the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu.
The PDP, through a statement issued by its Special Adviser on Media, Jerry Needam, said it was regrettable that" the unfortunate incident happened and appealed to the abductors to release the man of God unharmed."
The party expressed sadness that the situation was rather seen by the governor as an opportunity to take his pound of flesh on Mbu for refusing to do his political bidding While sympathising with the entire Kattey and the Christian family over the kidnap of the cleric, the PDP appealed to his kidnappers to "release him forthwith, unconditionally, referring the abductors to the biblical injunction concerning God's servants, which says 'touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm."
Meanwhile, the RPF has alleged that there were plans by some politicians and interests within the presidency to give Amaechi "the DSP Alamieyeseigha treatment."
The RPF, in a statement issued by its President, Charles Bekwele, yesterday said: "The plan has been codenamed: The Alamieyeseigha Treatment for Amaechi, in reference to the way and manner former Bayelsa State Governor, D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, was booted out of office as governor of the state."
"The plan is to thoroughly embarrass and disgrace Amaechi, which they believe will serve as a warning and deterrent to other 'dissident' governors and dissenting politicians within the PDP, who are perceived or considered to be opposed to President Jonathan and his second term ambition," he said.
"We were further compelled to alert the general public, Nigerians, the diplomatic community and the international community on this plot when we read a front page story in THISDAY Newspaper of, September 9, 2013, that President Jonathan has completely ruled out settlement with Amaechi but he's ready for reconciliation with the other six northern governors in the 'New PDP'. This story further gave credence to this sinister plot against the democratically-elected Amaechi," he said.
According to him, "Taking the THISDAY story into account, Why, then is Mr. President ready and willing to settle and reconcile with six aggrieved northern governors in the "New PDP," but has ruled out settlement and reconciliation with Amaechi, who is his brother from same South-south zone? Why? Why? Why?"
He warned that the people of the state "will not accept and will vehemently resist any attempt, any move to illegally, unconstitutionally remove Amaechi from office as the elected governor of Rivers State. We freely gave Amaechi our votes and our mandate to serve as governor for four years and he must be allowed to serve out his four-year term.
Meanwhile, the Chief Godspower Ake-led PDP in the state has warned the Obuah not to play politics with the abduction of Kattey, saying it was ridiculous to link Amaechi to the crime.
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Mr. George Ukwoma-Nwogba, the group wondered how the governor would be an accomplice in the crime, saying it was not only "a gutter-snipe but an insult on the person of the governor."
The statement said: "These people cannot stop to amuse us. In saying that Amaechi knows the whereabouts of our most respected Bishop Ignatius Kattey is, to say the least, an insult on the person of the governor. How on earth will these same people who have sworn to make Rivers State ungovernable and promised that the residents would not sleep with their two eyes closed, have now gone ahead to say the opposite."
BY ERNEST CHINWO
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