Rivers NDDC state rep, Okocha denies abducting kinsmen

The Rivers State representative in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Management Board, Tony Okocha, has denied an allegation against him that he kidnapped some youths of the Rumuigbo community (his hometown) in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Some chiefs, youths, and women of Rumuigbo community had last week staged a protest against Okocha, accusing him of being the architect of the alleged abduction of two of their sons in Abuja, Bobby Owhondah and Chamberlain Owhondah.

Some indigenes of the Rumuigbo community had been summoned by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIGP, in Abuja over the chieftaincy crisis in the community, an invitation Okocha said he is not signatory to.

The protesters alleged the two men had been kidnapped while in Abuja to honour the invitation by the DIGP.

Reacting to the allegation, Okocha disassociated himself from the alleged abduction.

He issued a 14-day ultimatum to the protesters, led by one Professor Reginald Amadi, to retract their allegation against him and apologize or face legal action.

He challenged anyone with proof that he had used his political office or position to arrest any indigene of Rumuigbo to come forward.

Okocha said: “I am not in the picture, I don’t know what they’re talking about.

“It is just another attempt to defame my character, another attempt to malign my character.

“I am not aware of what they’re talking about and I want anyone to prove to the fact that either in the petition that went to the police, that my name is anywhere on any of the documents.

“I am giving Professor Reginald Amadi and his cohorts, 14 days as allowed by the law to apologize to me for their attempt to defame my character or I will press charges against them in court.”

Reaction to the current political situation in Rivers State, Okocha blamed the gap in communication and agreement but called for peace for the interest of Rivers people.

“There was a breakdown in communication and that breakdown in communication contributed in the breaching of agreement.

“In politics, nobody gives with the right hand without wanting to take from the left.

“There was a bridge, and that bridge may have gotten to a crescendo where some persons would have said, no we’ll do this, we’ll do the other one.

“And when the man (Nyesom Wike) says don’t tamper with my structure, it means that there was an agreement and that agreement is about to be bridged.

“So the issue is not about structure, it’s about governance and in the course of governance, certain agreements are beginning to be bridged and of course amendment will be made.

“I’m suing for peace.” he added.