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| Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala |
The mother of
Nigerian Finance Minister and former World Bank managing director Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala has been kidnapped from her home in the country's south, a
statement from her ministry said.
"Earlier
today, Professor (Mrs) Kamene Okonjo ... mother of the Coordinating Minister
for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was abducted
from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State," the statement said on Sunday.
Finance Ministry
spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said the minister had received threats in the past.
"At this
point, it is difficult to say whether those behind this action are the same
people who have made threats against the coordinating minister in the recent
past or other elements with hostile motives. No possibility can be ruled out at
this point." Nwabuikwu said.
A security source
said it was not clear whether the motive was political or ransom-seeking.
The source in
Abuja said three people had already been arrested in connection with the
kidnapping. He had no further details.
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| Mother of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala |
Frequent
kidnappings
Kidnappings for
ransom have occurred frequently in Nigeria's southern oil-producing Niger Delta
region.
Local newspapers
carry a story about a new kidnapping almost every day, often of professionals
or relatives of politicians, but rarely anyone as high profile as the finance
minister's mother.
Okonjo-Iweala has
pushed to clean up corruption in one of the world's most graft-ridden nations,
particularly related to a fuel subsidy programme alleged to be riddled with
graft.
The minister has
been struggling with fuel importers over payment of subsidies, with government
officials delaying payments to allow for verification of claims.
The respected
Okonjo-Iweala was earlier this year a candidate to head the World Bank, where
she previously worked as a managing director. The job eventually went to
Korean-American physician Jim Yong Kim though the Nigerian minister was viewed
as a strong candidate to break the US lock on the post.
Nigeria is
Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer with some 160 million
people.
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| Gov Uduaghan |
Okonjo-Iweala’s
mother will be rescued in 24 hours – Uduaghan
The Governor of
Delta State, Mr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has declared that the kidnapped mother of
the coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Professor
(Mrs) Kamene Okonjo, will be rescued within 24 hours.
The governor who
refused to give more details on the high profile kidnap that occurred in his
state, made it known that he has given the order for the immediate rescue of
the Professor.
Mr Uduaghan,
revealed this on our breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, where he said that “I
have given the orders that she (Professor Mrs Kamene Okonjo), must be fished
out within the next 24 hours.”
The Governor
refused to discuss any further on the kidnap and rescue mission saying, “I
don’t want to discuss about the kidnap because of the nature of the person
involved.”
“Let’s just leave
it at that”, he concluded.
Mr Uduaghan
described the kidnap as a ”kill-joy”, as it is coming at a time when the state
is celebrating its triumph at the just concluded National Sports Festival and
the coming yuletide season.
Meanwhile, the
Delta state police command says that it is on the trial of kidnappers who
abducted the octogenarian Professor of Medicine.
Delta state police
spokesperson, Charles Muka, said the police have information that will lead to
the arrest of the kidnappers.
The oil-rich state
has been a major kidnap spot for oil workers prior to the amnesty declared by
late President Umaru Yar’Adua for the Niger Delta militants in 2008.
There has been a
lull in such abductions in the last few years, but a number of kidnaps have
been reported in the last two years.
The mother of the
coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Professor (Mrs)
Kamene Okonjo, was abducted by unknown gunmen from her home in Ogwashi-Uku,
Delta state at about midday on Sunday.
Confirming the
kidnap, a press release signed by the Minister’s personal assistant, Mr. Paul
Nwabuikwu, late on Sunday, stated that the mother of the Minister of Finance,
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was abducted from her home in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta state.
It is yet to be
confirmed if those behind the kidnap, are the same people who have made threats
against the coordinating minister in recent, past or other elements with
hostile motives.
The kidnappers are
yet to make contact with the family of the victim.
The 82-year-old
monarch’s wife was said to have been abducted at about 1.47PM by a gang of
armed men who seized her at the gate of the palace at Ogbe-ofu.
Her husband, Obi
Chukwuka Okonjo, a retired Professor of Economics, is the traditional ruler of
Ogwashi-Uku.
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