Monarch urges Gov Otu to intervene in unjust persecution of his predecessor’s aide
Ani Bassey
The reinstated paramount ruler of Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Dr. Emmanuel Oru-Ojong, has appealed to the State governor Bassey Otu, to intervene in the unjust persecution of Ayade’s former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control Dr. Oscar Ofuka.
The monarch made the appeal while reacting to alleged arrest and detention of Dr Ofuka, by officials of the state government.
Chairman Crises Management Committee of Mbume Blocks of Clan, Ntufam Odu Ndep, who spoke on behalf of the monarch 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.
The monarch who was reinstated in suit number HC/96/2022 on March 23,2023 also 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.
“It’s a political witch hunt; Ofuka is absolutely devoid of any criminal record as framed up by those pursing him.
“Your Excellency, many would consider any attempt to link the name of Dr. Ofuka or that of any member of his family to the recent dead 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 discharge 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 Dr. 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 said.
The royal father averred that Ofuka worked tirelessly to ensure that sixteen years old debt owed the cocoa landlord community was cleared.
This, he said was actualized 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
