Monarch urges Gov. Otu to Intervene on Ayade’s Ex-Aide Ordeal

By Ene Ene, Calabar

The paramount ruler of Etung local government area of Cross River State, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Oru-Ojong, has called on Governor Bassey Otu, to intervene on the ordeal of Ayade’s former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control Oscar Ofuka who is held hostage by officials of state government despite his health challenge.

The monarch made the call while reacting to the alleged arrest and detention of Ofuka, by officials of the state government under Governor Bassey Otu in Calabar yesterday.

Representing the monarch, Chairman Crises Management Committee of Mbume Blocks of Clan, comprising of Abia, Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi communities in Etung local Government Area of Cross River state, Ntufam Odu Ndep, stated that Ofuka cannot be held hostage for offenses which he did not commit.

The royal father claimed that Ofuka’s travail had been masterminded by his political arch foes willing to go at any length to bring him down, and called on the state chief executive to rather set up a commission of inquiry made of men and women of proven integrity to dig into

allegations against Ofuka.

The monarch who was reinstated in suit number HC/96/2022 on March 23,2023 said, “It’s a political witch hunt; Ofuka is absolutely devoid of any criminal record as framed up by those pursuing him.

“Your Excellency, many would consider any attempt to link the name of Ofuka or that of any member of his family to the recent death of a worker in the government cocoa estate as absolutely outlandish, ill motivated, grossly unfounded, trumped up and political witch hunt”.

“Unless there is factual evidence to invalidate my assumption, I am in earnest inclined to think that as a law maker in which capacity you once served our great nation, you cannot knowingly condone the abuse of office being perpetrated against Ofuka by some government officials and security operatives”.

“There is no gainsaying that Ofuka had discharged his duties in the capacity officially conferred upon him following the directives clearly defined by the immediate past administration under which he served concerning cocoa farms allocations without incident”.

“It is on that score that I am fervently appealing for your kind intervention against the backdrop of overwhelming calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ofuka”.

“I am appealing that Ofuka should be released once he recuperates at the hospital. He should be released as he cannot be held directly responsible for any presumed error of the past administration”. He stated.

The royal father averred that Ofuka who was an appointee in the then administration of Ben Ayade, who worked tirelessly to ensure that sixteen years old debt owed the cocoa landlord community was cleared through a special arrangement to which the then Attorney General of the state, the ministry of Agriculture and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) were signatories to the agreement.

“The ongoing harassment and torment which Ofuka is being subjected to is outrageous, grossly misplaced and absolutely unacceptable. Death is not the price he pays for a job more than well done”.

“The consent judgment to which the aforesaid arrangement alludes to is.appropriately deemed an inherited commitment, legally binding on the incumbent administration of the state by law since government is

continuum”.

“I wish to state categorically that the initial bloc payment of arrears of rent and royalties amounting to over thirty seven million naira has been paid to all cocoa landlord communities who can attest to it”. He maintained”.