The paramount ruler of Etung local government area in Cross River State, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Dr. Emmanuel Oru-Ojong, has asked Governor Bassey Otu to help former Governor Ben Ayade’s Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr. Oscar Ofuka, who is being detained by state officials despite his poor health.
The monarch made the appeal while reacting to alleged arrest and detention of Dr Ofuka, by officials of the state government under Governor Bassey Otu in Calabar yesterday.
Representing the monarch, Chief Odu Ndep Chairman Mbume bloc of Clans compromising of Abia Bendeghe, Ekiem and Etomi Communities in Etung local government area of Cross River State
Ndep, stated that Ofuka cannot be held hostage for offenses which he did not commit.
ALSO READ: Renewed hope housing construction to kick start in August — FHA
The royal father claimed that Ofuka’s travail had been masterminded by his political arch-foes willing to go to 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 Dr. 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 earnestly inclined to think that as a lawmaker 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.
“I am fervently appealing for your kind intervention against the backdrop of overwhelming calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Ofuka as he cannot be held directly responsible for any presumed error of the past administration”, he said.
The royal father averred that Ofuka an appointee in the then administration of Prof. 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.
