Ada George, ex-Rivers governor, alleges threat to his life
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt
FORMER Rivers State Governor, Chief Rufus Ada-George, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun, alleging that the wanted Okrika militia leader, Mr. Ateke Tom, had threatened to kill him.
Ada-George urged Balogun to ensure the arrest, interrogation and if need be prosecution of Tom, considering the spate of politically-motivated killings in the country in recent times.
In the petition captioned: "Do Not Allow This Pious Man Killed"� which was sent to the police boss by his lawyer, Amobi Nzelu, Ada-George said he was raising alarm because of the volume of what he described as innocent blood so far shed in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Councils of Rivers State.
According to him, what is happening in the state calls for concern and deep reflection on
the contents of the Nigerian democracy.
Nzelu, who traced the origin of the crisis in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo, noted that orchestrated political clashes in the two councils in 2001 had resulted in the burning of Ada George's houses in Okrika and George-Ama.
He explained that the former governor was thus literally banished from his hometown because of the plan to eliminate him.
He pointed out that Ada-George was accused of sponsoring one of the militia groups known as Bush Boys, an allegation he dismissed as baseless. The lawyer said that he heard from good authority that during the 2001 crisis in Okrika, there was pressure to prosecute the former governor for allegedly arming the Busy Boys. He reminded Balogun that the police authorities then had declined to prosecute Ada-George for lack of cogent reasons and sustainable evidence.
Nzelu said Ada-George, who has been in and out of the country, had drawn his attention to a publication in a local tabloid in which Tom, who allegedly ran away from his native Okrika last month after surrendering some guns to the council chairman and police, had threatened to kill his client.
He wondered why no attempt had been made by the police to arrest or interrogate the militia leader. He said the allegation should not be swept under the carpet.
Citing an alleged instance of harassment of the former governor, his lawyer said that following the crisis in Okrika in 2001, a 72-year man and the son of his client, Tonye George, were arrested and accused of being involved in the political upheaval that engulfed the area.
He also alleged that the duo were brought to Abuja in an open van in their pants and after 30 days in detention, were charged to court with the exception of Tonye.
He called for adequate security for the former governor.
However, a source close to Tom dismissed Ada-George's allegations as baseless.
