"… joins alliance with warring party to destroy properties illegally"
Cross River State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Mr. Emmanuel Edward Oyowah has emerged as fanning the embers of communal violence by condescending to a bait from Kasuk Community to destroy properties in an area they have been in contention with Ikot Ansa Community.
Yesterday, the Commissioner led hoodlums to the area where over five properties were destroyed in Calabar.
Speaking to newsmen on his ordeal, one of the eyewitnesses and owner of one of the destroyed properties, Alhaji Kola Ahmed said the hoodlums had carried out the dastardly act at the behest of the Mr. Oyowah, who had allegedly collected money from Kasuk Community to destroy any property in the contentious area.
Alhaji Ahmed said on getting news of the destruction of his property located Agbor Ntui Residential Layout, Parliamentary Extension, Calabar, he quickly rushed to the scene; and on reaching there, he met the hoodlums accompanied by police officers. On his inquest, the officer told him that they were only there to give cover to the smooth execution of the Commissioner's directive.
Continuing, he said while waiting for the intervention of security personnel he already contacted, he accosted the Commissioner, who was lying-in-wait in a red-colored Audi taxi, to seek explanation for such wicked act; only for Mr. Onyowa to say he did that for absence of revenue generated from the properties.
Alhaji Ahmed said his establishment, Ope Agbe Construction, a civil engineering company, had only built a fence and security post in the land to secure it pending when the Supreme Court will deliver judgment on the warring area. But noted with dismay the wickedness perpetrated by Oyowah in the guise of "government losing revenue" of a paltry fifteen thousand (N15,000) naira both for perimeter fencing and security post.
Highlighting the sinister undertones and communal trappings in Oyowah's action, Alhaji Ahmed stated that the destruction was carried out without prior notice of the property owners.
The businessman wondered why the said Commissioner would drag the esteemed reputation of the Governor Ben Ayade-led administration into such infamy for his own selfish reasons. "How would you destroy property worthy millions of naira for a meagerly 15,000 naira levy?," he questioned.
He further pointed out that relevant agencies like the Cross River Geographic Information Agenciy and Development Control Agency ad other line ministries have all denied knowledge of such treachery perpetrated by Onyowa.
On finding more information about the purported area, it was learnt that the contentious land which has been in litigation for ages with Ikot Ansa winning up to the Appeal Court is now before the Supreme Court. It was further learnt that for fear of losing, the Kasuk Community has been in the lookout for government functionary that would carry out wanton destruction of any property in the area, with failed earlier bids to the Development Control Agency; where Mr. Oyowah subdued himself in jeopardizing the good name of the government for a mere promise of a plot of land.
Alhaji Ahmed, who further questioned why the only area destroyed was that which was in contention, added that it is crystal clear where the reason behind such ignominy stems from.
He called on the State government to delve into the matter before some black sheep drags the government further into the mud.
The Ikot Ansa Community, when contacted said its delegation led by Ntufam Francis Effiom reported that Oyowah has denied any involvement in the destruction, but stated it's resolve to get to the root of the problem.
Efforts to speak to the Police spokesperson, DSP Irene Ugbo on the involvement of police personnel in the matter have remained abortive as repeated calls on her line was not connecting.
Some photographs gotten from the site:
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