Incessant
cult killings, kidnapping and armed robbery cases will not end in Calabar, the
Cross River State capital, because the gods are extremely angry with the
Governor Ben Ayade-led State government, factional Muri Munene of Efut nation,
Prof Itam Hogan, has said.
He
spoke in Calabar during a courtesy call on him by a 5-man Cross River Technical
Committee of the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Prof Hogan, who is contending the throne with another
factional Muri Munene of the Efuts, Effiong Okokon Mbukpa, said, “the gods are
very angry because the State government has allowed the Efut nation, landlord
of the restive Calabar South, to remain rudderless without a leader for nine years.
“Government
is withholding recognition of duly elected Muri Munene of the Efut kingdom and
Paramount Ruler of Calabar South without any tangible reason.
“The
Munene is the link between our ancestors and the people, and until the State
government releases the staff of office and the certificate of recognition, the
situation particularly in Calabar South shall remain. It is after the proper
thing is done that we can then go back and appeases the gods.
“The
State government also had the gut to lock up our palace which was built by
communal efforts. Government must speedily open that palace for us to pour
libation to our ancestors as was done in time past, and when that is done, we
shall clear the now bushy place, make it habitable and then call the meeting of
the youths to talk some senses into them as to how to surrender firearms and
other weapons they are using to wreck havoc on members of the society.
“When
we mediate, confidence will be built between the youths and government, we will
then present the proposals and agreement to government after which, we believe
government would assist them to earn legitimate livelihood. But, despite this,
I appeal to our youths to eschew violence.”
Reading
from a prepared position paper on the matter, factional Chairman of the Efut
Combined Assembly, Muri Maurice Okon Eyo, gave four conditions which the State
government should fulfil for insecurity in the area to be addressed.
Some
of the conditions were: urgent release of staff of office/certificate of
recognition to Prof Itam as the Munene-elect; payment of N500 million to Efuts
to rehabilitate the restive youths, immediate opening of Munene’s palace locked
by the State government for nine years, and setting up of community policing.
In
his reaction, Special Adviser to Gov Ben Ayade on Inter-Party Affair, Mr Austin
Ibok, who also doubles as Chairman of the Technical Committee, promised to
table the matter before Governor Ayade.
Ibok
said settling of the 9-year throne tussle would form part of their
recommendations to government since, according to him, it could be difficult to
achieve their goal of moping out fire arms in an atmosphere of uncertainty.
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