Kidnap of Bayelsa commissioner: My decision on deposed monarch final, says Diri

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Gov Douye Diri has said that despite protest from some quarters, the removal of the paramount ruler of Otuokpoti community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Chief Cousin Wongo, is irrevocable.

Diri had on Monday, announced the monarch’s dethronement following their complicity in the kidnap of the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Investment, Mr Federal Otokito, from his residence in the community.

The governor also announced the sacking of the Community Development Committee Chairman, Azibalua Amon, replacing him with Jerry Offor, an acting capacity, and the youth president, Emolem Igue, was also removed and replaced with Shedrach Afiemo.

Otokito, however, regained his freedom on Monday after his abductors inflicted severe injuries on him.

Some subjects of the deposed monarch staged a protest on Friday during a reception at Otuokpoti shortly after Diri inuagurated a Divisional Police Station constructed by the Ogbia council chairman, Ebiyon Turner.

Responding, the governor said his action over the dispute on the setting up of illegal refineries which Otokito objected to, was in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and the laws of Bayelsa.

“I did not depose your paramount ruler because I hated him. The circumstances that led to his dethronement are known to me and the commissioner of police. And that deposition stands. Anybody that is protesting, I am very sorry.

“As governor, once I make a pronouncement, that is it. Nobody can do anything about it. In the Constitution and the laws of Bayelsa on chieftaincy and traditional rulers, the final authority lies with the governor,” Diri said.

He also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had earlier hinted that the state command had its searchlight on the community before the kidnap of his cabinet member.

He called on the newly appointed paramount ruler, Chief Rescue Abe, to unite the Otuokpoti people and not allow the community to be used for criminal and illegal oil refining activities.

“This government will not condone crime and criminality. The newly appointed paramount ruler and his cabinet should work to see that there is love in the Otuokpoti community.

“The paramount ruler, community development committee chairman and the youth president were the sacrificial lambs as there were also other people involved.

“Several others were culpable. If we go down, it will cause trouble for many people. That is why we took the leaders as the sacrificial lambs,” Diri said.

The governor, who decried oil bunkering activities in the state, highlighted the health hazards arising from such acts to include terminal illness, environmental pollution among others.

“This should be a warning to other traditional rulers not to allow their domains to be used for intra-or-inter-communal conflicts. Not to allow their domains to be used for criminality and crime,” Diri said.

Diri, however, granted a request from the Otuokpoti people and directed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, to construct the road to the new police station.

He also directed the Education Commissioner, Gentle Emelah, to include fencing off the community’s secondary school as well as the building of new classroom blocks in the next batch of contracts to be awarded.

The governor was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ben Okolo, and other top government functionaries.

He commended the Ogbia council chairman for initiating and completing the facility.

He however said the structure would no longer be adequate for its status as it was initially built as a police post and directed that it be upgraded.