WHO KILLED SAMUEL DUMEBI OKONTA? – by Frank Ofili

He was called to serve his fatherland as an electoral officer in the Rivers State House of Assembly and National Assembly re-run elections. 

On 19th March 2016, he set out to answer the call of his fatherland. He got to his polling unit at Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, teamed up with his colleagues and was dutifully carrying out his assignment when hoodlums who were trying to disturb the conduct of the election stormed his polling unit and shot him dead. This was in spite of the heavy presence of security agents.  Two of his colleagues escaped, but Samuel Dumebi Okonta could not make it in time.

He was felled by the bullets fired by agents of the mad men who call themselves leaders in Rivers State.

Days before the fateful day, there had been threats of violence issued by two prominent sons of the state – Governor Nyesome Wike and Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi. Both had engaged each other in an ego and supremacy battle and had threatened to send each other to the great beyond along with anybody caught in the crossfire.

Governor Nyesome Wike had pointedly commanded the people of Rivers to mob Rotimi Amaechi if he dared to step outside his home on Election Day. Wike had also told INEC officials during a campaign rally to write their wills before the election because he was ready to deal decisively with any of them found to play funny on Election Day.

In an apparent challenge to Wike's threat, Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi's purported retort was that he would not only move around on Election Day but would in fact visit Wike's polling unit. 

Thus, one can deduce that Samuel Dumebi Okonta was caught in the crossfire and despatched to the great beyond. And the young man died – murdered in cold blood while on national service. 

A patriot beyond compare, humble, intelligent, respectful and a young man any parent would be proud to have as a son or a son inlaw, Samuel Dumebi Okonta finished his tertiary education as would all young men and women his age. He was called to serve the mandatory NYSC as would all young men and women his age. He got deployed to the the highly militarized zone and theatre of war that River State has become (courtesy of supposed leaders who are really nothing more than area boys). From NYSC, he was appointed as one of INEC's ad-hoc electoral officers. Now he is dead. So too are his dreams and aspirations.

Whatever happens from now, governor Nyesome Wike and Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi must be held responsible for the murder of Samuel Dumebi Okonta. Both have proven to be irresponsible. When supposed leaders behave like area boys and common criminals, then they must be treated as such.

Both Wike and Amaechi should be arrested for instigating violence and for causing the murder of Samuel Dumebi Okonta. Yes, governor Wike has immunity but that immunity covers him only while performing his official duties as governor. Threats of violence and murder and openly encouraging the people to carry out acts of violence are far from a governor's official duties. They are crime, and Wike committed them. Therefore he must answer for them. I urge President Buhari to immediately seek the approval of the Senate to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State. Upon declaration of a state of emergency, Wike should be arrested and prosecuted. 

So also minister Rotimi Amaechi. He too must be held accountable for precipitating violence. Amaechi must be sacked as minister and arrested immediately for his role in the violence that marred the Rivers State re-run election. 

But beyond all this, I must hold President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for not calling Wike and Amaechi to order in the face of their irresponsible public altercation prior to the election. Whenever public safety is threatened, the father of the nation must respond appropriately irrespective of his political or personal interests. This is even  more so when that threat is being made by supposed leaders.  

Therefore, I find President Buhari culpable insofar as he failed to call Wike and Amaechi to order. The buck must stop at his table. 

May the soul of Samuel Dumebi Okonta rest in peace, Amen.