Efio-Ita Nyok|29 May 2017
Cross River State Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Asu Okan, has threatened to use his boys on the trio of the Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River on Youth, Prince Edward Osim (popularly called Prince Seven), Special Adviser on Sports, Mr Effiom Effiwatt and Special Assistant on Youth Matters, Mr Ajie Paul for disagreeing with him over the management of youths and students during the just concluded 27 May Children's Day celebration in the state capital NegroidHaven can authoritatively inform. The three aides to Governor Ben Ayade have incidented a case bordering on threat to life at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Police in Calabar.
Things got out of hand between Mr Okan and his team of Special Advisers/Assistant on the one hand and Okan and Nigerian students on the other hand when he on Saturday 27 May received the sum of N13 million from both Governor Ben Ayade and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio (Gov Ayade gave N10 million while Sen Akpabio gave N3 million) for youths and students.
According to SA Ajie, Okan invited the three aides to Channels View Hotel and read out how he had spent the money. However, the aides were taken aback because they constituted a team working with Okan. Ajie was responsible for the flags, banners, etc used for the events; SA Osim handled the dancers, etc while SA Effiwatt managed the transportation and logistics. They all reported to Okan who mobilised the team with the initial sum of N500 thousand (as against N1.5 million reportedly and originally gotten from Col Pam Ogar's chaired committee). The question became how did Okan appropriate the N13 million without their knowledge and consent as a committee working together?
Nevertheless, when the N13 million arrived, Okan alleged that the money was meant for his mother's 60th birthday celebration and not students. This incited a ruse.
According to SA Effiwatt, when Okan was advised on attending to the three University of Calabar and Cross River University of Technology students that were shot, he said they should go to hell, querying why they blocked the Murtala Mohammed Highway.
Calls made to to Okan to hear his version of the story were neither taken nor reciprocated.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org
