Leadership (Abuja)
Philip Nyam
12 May 2008
The Obong of Calabar, Obong Edidem Bassey Ekpo Bassey II, has accused Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State of sponsoring militants as the state has now become a safe haven for armed thugs. He also blamed the increasing cases of corruption in Nigeria on the irresponsibility of the government.
Obong, disclosed this at the weekend during a courtesy call to the Nigeria Labour Congress president, Comrade Abdulwaheed Ibrahim Omar. erased completely on the account of communal riot."
The royal father, who described corruption as anti-development, said government must fight corruption with all sense of responsibility and seriousness, adding, because of my crusade against corruption, Governor Imoke wants to dethrone me as Obong of Calabar."
"Let me commend you, NLC president, for your effort to ensure a corrupt-free nation because since you emerged as the president, you have mobilized two protests against corruption and this second one on Thursday has strengthened our visit because people who are taking action against us in Calabar today are engaging in corrupt activities. They are corrupting due process and laid down procedures that have survived for more than five centuries, so we thought that we should use this opportunity to also let you know that there is a move like that but the people of Calabar are standing firm against it."
According to him. "We think that you are right in rallying progressive forces all over the country to resist the rape of our country by few persons who are now holding it hostage. But I will like to contribute a thought on this entire matter that the process which corruption represents is enhanced by certain policies of government, in particular the idea of small indicative government which is now becoming not just an ideology, but, in fact, a religion."
The royal father noted, "Government has no business any more, as for education, health care delivery and the level of employment in the society is no more for government. As a matter of fact, we now have a situation where we can describe governance in Nigeria as no responsible governance, and this is the root of corruption.
"Our national income has never been nearly robust as it is today. I remember that there were times Abacha could not sell a barrel of oil for $10, now it is sold for $200. Nigeria is soaked with petro- dollars and poverty has never been this much, all because of corruption".
The one-time Cross River State chairman of NUJ said, "According to UNDP report, Obasanjo took over as president of Nigeria in 1999 with about 48.5% of Nigerians living below poverty line, but by 2001, the percentage has risen to 70%. Also in 2006 president of World Bank announced in an International conference that the percentage of Nigeria's living below the poverty line had climbed up to 75% in direct proportion to phenomenal increases in our national income. Nigeria has been falling into the depth of poverty. And I think that above the question of corruption, the aiding factor is the philosophy of non- responsible government, liberalisation of privatization, public sector disengagement and others."
The traditional ruler also said NLC must fight against corruption in the root, adding that Nigeria must return to an economic programme of nationalism that will allow government to assume the commanding height of the economy.
He lamented that Cross River has become a save haven for armed thugs in the region, adding that government in its attempt to dethrone him has failed as such move was against the tradition of the people.
"After my emergence as the Obong and taken to the shrine for the necessary tradition, government has attempted six times to take a different person to the same shrine. On this particular occasion the entire neighbourhood was invaded by the mobile police in Cross River State command, but it was null and void because there is no place in our tradition that says government must determine who is the Obong of Calabar and we see that the present government thinks otherwise.
"Since 1999, government has been producing and using militants against its opponents, including a chief magistrate who was slaughtered in the house. And also these militants in their spare time go to the Niger Delta, blow up oil pipelines, take hostages and when there is action to be taken to Cross River, they return to it. As I speak to you, there are communities in Cross River that have been
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