Posted by From FEMI FOLARANMI, Yenagoa on
Even before he assumed duty as Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), Hon. Gideon Ekeowe is already in the eye of the storm with the kidnap of his wife, Mrs. Augustina Ekeowe by unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday.
Even before he assumed duty as Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government (SSG), Hon. Gideon Ekeowe is already in the eye of the storm with the kidnap of his wife, Mrs. Augustina Ekeowe by unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday.
Ekeowe was announced the SSG in a special government announcement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Preye Wariowei last night ending speculations over who takes over the position after the sack of Dr. (Mrs) Bolere Ketebu Nwokaefor.
The announcement by Wariowei stated that Ekeowe would be inaugurated on Wednesday by Governor Timipre Sylva.
Daily Sun gathered that the kidnap of Mrs. Ekeowe from their Doma Family Church in Abuloma was to stop the government from making the announcement.
The gunmen had simply excused her from the Church and whisked her away to an unknown destination, while the congregation watched.
No group has claimed responsibility and no demand has been made to the family even though there are strong suspicion that the kidnap is connected to intense power struggle in Bayelsa State.
Over the past few weeks, there have been serious lobby for the position which was still zoned to Bayelsa Central Senatorial District by party hierarchy.
Reports gathered indicated that Senator David Brigidi was favoured for the job because of his closeness to Sylva. He however lost the job due to the fierce lobby group believed to have the backing of former governor Diepreye Alamieyseigha .
The post of the SSG previously occupied by Ketebu from Odi in Kolokuma/ Opokuma was narrowed down to Alamieyeseigha's Southern Ijaw Local Government to reward him for his contributions during the re-election bid of Sylva.
Ekeowe, a former member of the old Rivers State House of Assembly from Azuzuzama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area was a former commissioner in the administration of Alamieyeseigha.