Efio-Ita Nyok|20 July 2016|8:18AM
Reliable information reaching Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven) suggest very strongly that the government of Cross River State through the Office of the Attorney-General of the state has recommended to the Nigerian Police Force that Cross River leading cerebral public policy analyst, indefatigable environmental activist and revered whistle blower, Ifere Paul, be declared wanted in relation to kidnapping and armed robbery that the state capital, Calabar is currently known for. Popular social commentators like Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, Barr Joseph Odok, Thomas Ifere, etc have kicked against the perceived position of the CRSG.
The Special Adviser to the President on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-obla has described the executive disposition to declare Ifere Paul wanted among other things as 'petty, puerile, incompetent, stupid, ridiculous, utterly senseless and outrageous'. Obono-Obla contended that the state government led by Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade is witch hunting, harassing and intimidating the opposition. And called it condemnable. In his words, 'the tendency of the government of Cross River State to be extreme intolerant of opposing view points that has seen it manipulating the Police to declare several Opposition political figures in the State wanted including Mr Venatius Ikem and the malicious and vicious attack on the residence of Honourable Paul Ada in January 2016'. Obono-Obla therefore proceeded to condemn in very worded terms the intentions of the state government thus: 'I condemn in the strongest terms possible such egregious act of political blackmail, ungodly, wickedness ,vendetta and meanness! The use of the social media activism of Ifere Paul to expose the chicanery, shenanigans, corruption and incompetence of Ayade's government as a ground to subject him to oppression and repression under the guise of laying of spurious criminal charges against him will woefully fail'.
Thomas Mbeh Ifere in an article titled:
'SAY NO TO ANY ILLEGAL ARREST OF THE PERSON OF COMRADE IFERE PAUL' contended that, 'Leadership as we know, is liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible. True leadership is when a leader enables his or her followers to realize their full potentials. These leaders may be motivated to achieve common good and gain willing followers. Good Leaders must be willing to listen to ideas, needs, aspirations, and wishes of their followers and then within the context of their own goodwill respond appropriately'. It's on the basis of this position that the concerned Cross Riverian condemned the call by the office of the Attorney-General of the state. 'Can an arm robber or kidnapper come to the public domain to report about their activities? Must politicians use their powers to intimidate their citizens? If the intimidation is not coming from a Senator, it would be from a House of Reps Member or Governor.
The time has come when Cross Riverians need to come together in one voice and say no to all forms of impunity and give the people a new face of life', he particularly noted.
On his own part, popular social commentator, Barr Joseph Odok, has aired his reservation concerning the purported plan. According to Barr Odok, the government of Cross River State must be lame in its thinking to associate Ifere Paul to kidnapping and armed robbery because he breaks the news when he is not present at the scene of the crime. Barr Odok has particularly noted that, 'Paul Ifere is a free citizen and a voice that had constantly sensitised the people of Cross River State most anomalies in the state. Cross River State remains under reported but not for Joseph Odok, Efio-Ita Effiom Nyok and Paul Ifere as our boss Chief Okoi Obono-obla is now too engaged with national assignment as the SA to the president on prosecution'. Barr Odok has linked the Executive disposition to hound Ifere Paul as an intention of the CRSG to persecute the opposition. Read his words, 'This act of the government of Cross River State is the worst expression of childishness and ineptitude. The heavens will be let lose if any one dares the opposition in the state'. He finally offered himself to be arrested side by side with Ifere Paul: 'I offer myself to be arrested with Mr. Ifere Paul if the government of Cross River State deems it fit to abandon the business of governance and reduce himself to an instrument of political witch hunt'.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of Youth Alliance for Northern Cross River Dreams, YANCRiD, and Classical Experimental Writers, Emmanuel Oko Ogar has denied that he is a critic. This denial is coming upon the wake of the threats allegedly received by him from undisclosed sources threatening to drag him to court for writing against the state government and the intention to declare Ifere Paul wanted. In the words of Ogar, 'I'm not a critic per se, however, if by any means necessary my write-ups deliberately or unknowingly critises Ayade; then he remained criticized.
Let this word go forth that I'm not a critic but a Classical Experimental Writer'.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
