Clement James 
The 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, Prince Bassey Otu, to intervene in the ordeal of Ayade’s former Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr Oscar Ofuka who is allegedly being held hostage by some officials of government despite his health challenge.
The monarch made this appeal on Saturday while reacting to the alleged arrest and detention of Dr Ofuka, by security officials in Calabar.
Representing the monarch, Chairman Crises Management Committee of Mbume Blocks of Clan, comprising Abia, Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi communities in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River state Ntufam Odu Ndep, stated that Ofuka cannot be held hostage for offences which he did not commit.
The royal father claimed that Ofuka’s travail had been masterminded by his political enemies “willing to go at any length to bring him down,” and called on the state governor to set up a commission of enquiry to thoroughly investigate the matter.
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 earnest 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.
“There is no gainsaying that Ofuka had discharged 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 farm 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 contended that Ofuka, who was an appointee in the administration of Prof. Ben Ayade, “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.
“The ongoing harassment and torment which Ofuka is being subjected to is outrageous, grossly misplaced and absolutely unacceptable. Death is not the price he pays for a job more than well done.
“The consent judgment to which the aforesaid arrangement alludes is appropriately deemed an inherited commitment, legally binding on the incumbent administration of the state by law since the government is a continuum.
“I wish to state categorically that the initial bloc payment of arrears of rent and royalties amounting to over thirty-seven million Naira has been paid to all cocoa landlord communities who can attest to it”. He maintained,” he noted.
