Efio-Ita Nyok|10 October 2016
Between the legendary lying Ayade that argued that he was born thrice and at three locations (a feat yet to be supported by science), and the Supreme Court that is expected to define the law, or Agi protesting against a legendary liar, who was Ojoku supposed to be taking sides with? As Director of Communication, Archdiocese of Calabar of the Roman Catholic Church was Rev. Fr. Lem Ojoku representing the official position of the Roman Catholic Church in this case? He will not say he was there in his private capacity and I find it quite difficult to believe that it was a mere coincidence that the Director of Communication of a church was there at a reception that demonstrated a statement of support?
On Friday, 7 October 2016 a rented crowd of Cross Riverians treated the Executive Governor of Cross River, Mr Benedict Ayade, to a rousing and grand reception from his journey from Abuja beginning from the Margaret Ekpo International Airport.
This visit was obviously unconnected to the pending 9 December 2016 Supreme Court judgment on the Joe Agi SAN Vs PDP suit with Ben Ayade as second respondent. The reception was to prop up support for Ayade from the state considering the downward spiral of his popularity. Children, youths, men, women, politicians, professionals, traditional rulers, students, and even the religious class turned out for this reception.
However, Friday, 7 October will also go down in the history of Cross River politics as a day when mediocrity was celebrated to the high heavens to the chagrin of bemused and helpless on lookers. This penultimate perception is premised on the idea that a section of Cross Riverians were protesting the anticipated unfavourable judgement Nigeria's apex court may be poised to dish out against the candidature of Gov. Ayade in favour of Joe Agi SAN.
Agi had dragged Ayade to court over the latter's falsification of age: Ayade was reportedly born on 2 March 1966, 2 March 1969 and 1968. Ayade was given birth to at three different occasions and disparate locations, what a birth! The case has moved through the electoral tribunal court, high court, appeal court (in all instances, Ayade secured favourable judgment) and now the Supreme Court. In the month of September 2016 the nation's apex court, against which there is no appeal, after hearing from both parties: plaintiff Agi and defendants PDP and Ayade reserved its judgment for 9 December. In the September decision of the Supreme Court the second party to the suit, the PDP via its counsel, Mr. N. Ibegbulam, told the court headed by Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour that it was in support of an appeal by Mr. Joe Agi, SAN, against Gov Ayade. Ibegbulam particularly said: 'My Lords, after due consideration, we apply to concede to this appeal and consequently apply to withdraw the 1st respondent’s brief of argument dated May 17. We urge your lordships to find merit in the appeal and apply Article 14(b) and 15(2) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines which disqualifies any candidate that gives false age declaration.' At this juncture a mild drama played out in court!
Since that Ibegbulamaic admittance, Ayade has been in Abuja running from pillar to post seeking soft landing. In fact, it was rumoured that Ayade swore never to return to the state until 9 December. He finally returned on 7 October after he allegedly secured two letters of denial disowning Ibegbulam as PDP lawyer from the Makarfi- and Shettima-led factions of the PDP. It's also alleged by some that the sum of N5 billion has further exchanged hands in Abuja all in the bid to secure a favourable Supreme Court judgment come 9 December. This press outfit is yet to confirm this piece of information.
When Ayade finally returned, he was celebrated to a grand reception by a rented crowd of Cross Riverians a majority of whom didn't know why they where there, and a minority who couldn't logically defend their being there. Albeit, I wish to draw the attention of the reader to one Rev. Fr. Lem Ojoku, Director of Communication, Archdiocese of Calabar of the Roman Catholic Church. He went to receive the governor on 7 October in his official regalia as a priest. CRBC featured him saying some prayers. But, come to think of it: why did Ojoku go to receive the embattled Governor? Was it also to prop up support for the governor against the anticipated disfavourable judgement of the Supreme Court against Ayade? Or, like Mr George Ekpungu, the state Commissioner for New Cities Development, told journalists in an interview at the airport that the people of the state would resist any attempt to remove Mr. Ayade from his seat; was Ojoku protesting against the Supreme Court? Was the priest protesting against the law? the PDP for shunning lies, Agi for insisting against lies or the Supreme Court who would interpret the law in favour of who no one can tell?
Between the legendary lying Ayade that argued that he was born thrice and at three locations (a feat yet to be supported by science), and the Supreme Court that is expected to define the law, or Agi protesting against a legendary liar, who was Ojoku supposed to be taking sides with? As Director of Communication, Archdiocese of Calabar of the Roman Catholic Church was Rev. Fr. Lem Ojoku representing the official position of the Roman Catholic Church in this case? He will not say he was there in his private capacity and I find it quite difficult to believe that it was a mere coincidence that the Director of Communication of a church was there at a reception that demonstrated a statement of support?
Now seeing that Ayade's aides were reported to have all contributed N40, 000 each to ensure an impressive rented crowd, and seeing Ojoku was there officially, would it suffice to say that Ojoku was also rented? Did the Reverend gentleman also receive his share of the largesse? If he did, would we say that emotion prevailed over reason? This and many more questions are begging for clarification and I am calling on Rev. Fr. Lem Ojoku, the Director of Communication of Archdiocese of Calabar of the Roman Catholic Church to brace up himself to this challenge.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of NegroidHaven.org
