By CrossRiverWatch admin
Paramount Ruler of Bakassi and Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, has sworn that any journalist or media organization that associated his revered name with a publication purporting that he spoke on the feud between two former governors of the state, Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, will pay dearly for it.
An amorphous online portal quoted the monarch as making scathing remarks against former governor, Donald Duke in defense of the immediate past governor of the state, Liyel Imoke following a damning interview Duke granted Thisday newspapers about his successor Liyel Imoke.
But the monarch who said his attention was drawn to the publication by a concerned friend, told CrossRiverWatch that he was shocked that anyone would contemplate using his name to fabricate a story without consulting him.
He expressed shock and annoyance and swore that whoever did that will not go scot free. “It is unfortunate that some persons are trying to destroy the reputation of online journalism that is just budding in the state. I am a father and my duty is to foster peace among my followers and subjects. If i need to intervene in a feud between Duke and Imoke, I will not need to go to the press to do that. I have access to both of them and can always call both of them as a father and offer my advice. Whoever did that will pay for it. It is annoying and a calculated attempt to further create more crises from the ongoing one.
“My duty as a royal father is to bring peace and not to put a sword in between my children and subjects. Our ancestors will not forgive anybody that did that without reference to me first and foremost. That is not how to play politics. Donald and Liyel are friends, only time will heal their differences.” He said.
He advised journalists and media organizations to desist from getting involved in partisan political feuds and stay strictly to their professionals duties.