Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry- Banigo (2nd left), supervising the cutting of wedding cake of the newly wedded couple, Lt and Mrs. Bonaventure Obonyano, during the wedding reception in Port Harcourt on Saturday
Religious Leaders in
Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State has dissociated themselves from last week youth protest against Council Chairman Dr. Kerian Mfam.
The religious leader threatened to file a legal suit against youths if they don‘t refrain from linking the name of the religious institution in a protest staged by Youths against Council Chairman stressing that they know nothing about the protest.
The reaction follows newspapers publications that the religious leaders in the area had participated in a protest staged by Obubra youth against alleged plan by incumbent Chairman to seek for a 2nd term in office when Local Government elections begin next year and that they are not being carried along.
Speaking to journalists in Ovunum Community, Branch Chairman for Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Obubra branch Rev. Emmanuel Tabershima and his Islamic counterpart, Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim Isa, maintained that the religious leaders could not have participated in the protest given the fact that council chairman is a friend to the Mosque and the church.
They said that such allegation was ridiculous and absurd adding that Council chairman had not offended them or shirked away from his responsibility to deserve such a kind of maltreatment.
“We don`t know these youths, we have no business with them. Why would we participate in a strike that is anti-chairman when we are always carried along by the chairman? Dr. Mfam had always attended our programmes when we invited him to the church.”The CAN chairman said.
The Muslim leader averred that the council Chairman had been instrumental to the success of the Sallah festival adding that the Council boss had always carried them along and called for caution from the protesting youths so as not to incur the wrath of Allah.
The religious leaders averred that as far as there are concerned no protest issue was included in any agenda of their meetings and warned that no one should henceforth include their names in matters of such nature without their consent, otherwise appropriate sanctions would be meted out to the erring group.
Also reacting on the issue, Public Relations Officer for Obubra branch of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr. Stanley Ovat said, “we disassociate ourselves from the stage-managed protest and disown these group of youths for going on rampage without seeking the consent of the youth Exco,” he queried.
“we don`t know these youths who we learnt carried out the protest purported to be against council chairman, we know that they were sponsored by some disgruntled element aspiring to take over from our council chairman, this is totally unacceptable,” the PRP said.
“How could they have stage a protest without youths Exco who are superintending activities of youths at grass root level?” The PRO queried.
National President of Obubra Central Women Osopom I, Mrs. Kate Willy Esangha accused those claimed that council Chairman was not carrying them along as detractors and said that the council boss was down to earth and accessible, responsive and had always met the womenfolk at the time of need.
When contacted on phone for comment the council chairman said he had no comment and said, “I do not have time to provide answers to these allegations that are base on falsehood. I am interested in doing council work which I was duly elected for. In any case I had not told anyone that I want to vying for a second term.”
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
