FG urged to deploy political solution to Okah’s incarceration ―Loyibo

THE Convener of a pan Nigerian group, the Niger Delta People’s Congress, Chief Mike Loyibo, has called on the federal government to deploy political solution on Henry Okah’s incarceration and programmed his release, while Charles Okah’s offence is bail-able and should be granted, and several others incarcerated in connection with October 1, 2010 Abuja bombing.

Henry Okah is already serving 24-year jail term in South Africa for allegedly masterminding a series of terror attacks, including twin bombings which killed 12 people in the Nigerian capital Abuja during Independence Day celebrations in 2010.

His younger brother, Charles Okah, is being held in Kuje Prison over the same crime.

Loyibo, who made the call in an interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to consider political solution to resolve, once and for all, their incarceration in the interest of sustainable peace and justice.

The Niger Delta leader stated, ”We want a robust approach to a sustainable peace in the region. The Federal Government should take advantage of the ongoing process to heal wounds and ensure justice for all stakeholders.

”The Federal Government of Nigeria should consider as a matter of urgency and goodwill, a political solution to resolve once and for all, the continued incarceration of Henry Okah and several other persons following the trumped up charges of treason and terrorism brought against them by the government in the aftermath of the October 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja.

”You can imagine Charles Okah has not been convicted, yet he has been in prison for more than four years.

”But look at Nnamdi Kanu of the Independent People of Biafra, he was was given a bail, why will Charles Okah not be bailed? You granted bail to Kanu, why can’t you grant bail to Charles Okah too? Henry Okah is in faraway South Africa suffering for no reason.

”The government gave amnesty to our people. If people were given amnesty, whatever they (militants or agitators) did between that period, amnesty proclamation should cover them.”

He, however, noted that their continued suffering was injustice to the Niger Delta people, stressing that they would not take it anymore.