In a strong display of opposition to injustice, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South in the National Assembly, has vehemently condemned the arrest and detention of popular Isoko-born comedian Ajirioghene Otagba, widely known as MC 2Kingdom.
Otagba was reportedly arrested last Friday on the alleged orders of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contractor Matthew Edevbie. His offense? A Facebook video in which he openly questioned the prolonged abandonment of the Isoko 132 KVA substation electricity project.
SaharaReporters gathered that a few days prior to his arrest, Otagba visited the abandoned project site in Ozoro, the administrative headquarters of Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State. In a passionate video, he decried the decade-long stagnation of the project and called on Edevbie to resume work immediately.
However, rather than receiving answers, the comedian found himself behind bars. Following the video’s circulation, Matthew Edevbie—who is the elder brother of former Delta State Finance Commissioner and ex-PDP governorship aspirant David Edevbie—reportedly filed a petition against Otagba, accusing him of defamation and cyberstalking. Acting on this petition, the Nigeria Police Force arrested MC 2Kingdom in Lagos and subsequently transferred him to the Maitama Area Command in Abuja.
Reacting strongly to the development, Senator Thomas condemned the arrest, describing it as an effort to suppress citizens’ voices and muzzle those who dare to speak against injustice.
In a statement released on Sunday, he said,
> “My dear Isoko people, I address you today amid the growing tension caused by the unjust arrest of our son, MC Ajirioghene Otagba. His only ‘crime’ was daring to highlight the abandonment of the 132/33KVA substation project in Ozoro—an NDDC project awarded to Chief Matthew Edevbie’s company in the early 2000s, yet left to decay.”
He lamented the continued marginalization of the Isoko people despite their enormous contributions to Nigeria’s crude oil production.
> “It is shameful that despite Isoko being one of the largest onshore crude oil-producing regions—second only to Oloibiri where oil was first discovered—our people are still left in the dark, suffering from neglect and underdevelopment.”
Senator Thomas revealed that he had been in direct talks with Edevbie, who has now agreed to secure the release of the detained comedian. He assured Isoko residents that he remains committed to justice and the development of their community.
> “I have been engaging with Chief Matthew Edevbie, and he has assured me that Ajirioghene will be released soon. My priority is to ensure tensions do not escalate further and that the project is revived immediately. Myself, the NDDC MD Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and the President-General of the Isoko Development Union, Prof. Chris Akpotu, have been working behind the scenes to restart this project. I urge our people to remain calm as we push for meaningful action.”
The senator reaffirmed his dedication to representing the interests of the Isoko people, vowing to ensure that long-abandoned projects receive the attention they deserve.
MC 2Kingdom’s arrest has sparked widespread outrage, with civil society groups, activists, and social media users condemning the use of state power to intimidate citizens who demand accountability. Many have called for the immediate completion of the electricity project, questioning why it remains stalled despite multiple budget allocations over the years.
As the saga unfolds, all eyes remain on the NDDC and the Nigerian government to see if they will heed the calls for justice—not just for Otagba, but for the long-neglected Isoko people.
PIONEER NEWS 