by crossriverwatch admin
Chief Vincent Ovat, a permanent Secretary in Cross River State has absolved himself of any complicity in the raging communal conflict in Ofodua community in Obubra Local Government Area of the state.
CrossRiverWatch had last week exclusively reported the raging conflict in the community in which lives and property have been destroyed following a tussle for the position of village head in the area.
Some community members had pointed accusing fingers at Chief Ovat for fueling the crisis but in a telephone interview, Chief Ovat said it is not true that kingmakers picked Benedict Onyam who claims to be the village head of Ofodua. He added that Onyam was not presented to the King of Obubra by kingmakers and for that purpose he stood disqualified.
“I am drawn into this matter out of envy. I have never influenced government on this matter. When a chief dies, a reagent is appointed and in this case Benedict Onyam performed that role. He oversees the burial rites after which the kingmakers meet to decide on who succeeds the decease. But Benedict Onyam was trying to succeed himself after the kingmakers had picked Festus Awodua.” he said.
.
Ovat also disclosed that following a communal crisis which erupted between Ebo-Ado in Obubra LGA and Inyima in Abi LGA last year, the state government had suspended nearly all the traditional chiefs in the area.
He said in a letter from the office of the clan head of Ofodua-Adun dated August 20, 2012 and endorsed by 12 village heads, it was recommended that Awodua had been traditionally selected as the new village head.
follow us on twitter @crossriverwatch
Leave feedback about this