Just like I predicted, the Cross River State Government has released a watery press statement denying involvement in the arrest and detention of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Titus Armon.
Please, come let’s read the press statement together. I will be making some comments after each paragraph (s) of the press statement to help unclad the falsehood contained therein.
My comments will be in brackets.
Press release
A lie remains a lie no matter who is telling it.
(FBI: This is the only truth contained in this press statement. A lie remains a lie, indeed, no matter who is telling it, even if it is a Governor).
The report making rounds on social media linking the State Governor, His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade to the arrest of a Catholic Priest of the Ogoja Diocese, Rev. Fr. Titus Armon, by the Nigerian Army, is a lie from the pit of hell.
First, the brother of the priest, a supposed critic of the Ayade administration is someone that is not known to Government. As such his criticisms of the administration have gone unnoticed by Government.
(FBI: a supposed critic not known to the Ayade Administration? What does this even mean? Do they have a register of known critics?
As such his criticism of the administration has gone unnoticed? Hold up! You did not deny that he criticizes the Government … but his criticism has gone unnoticed because he is not known or not in your register of critics. How does this make sense to a sane person? Kpash).
Second, Ayade only became aware of the arrest of the priest after a visit by four Priests on the Morning of Friday October 30, 2020 to plead for his release. There are Frs. Vincent Undie, Malachy Ephraim, Bob Etta and Julius Adah.
Third, Ayade’s only involvement is by lending a helping hand to secure the release of the Priest at the behest of the four priests.
(FBI: four Priests came to the Governor to plead for his release. Pause. Read that again: the Governor did not order for his arrest and detention but they came to him to PLEAD for his release. Pause.
If it is the army that arrested him on their own volition, why did the Priests come to the Governor? The Catholic Church has access to the top hierarchy of the army, including a top General who is in charge of the Catholic Chaplaincy but they choose to come to a Governor. Make una respect our intelligence na).
It is therefore, unconscionable and ungodly for anyone to link the Governor with the said arrest.
Any question regarding the said incident, should therefore, be directed to the Nigerian Army and not Governor Ayade.
(I was looking for the line where they will say the army doesn’t answer to the Governor; but they choose to say it indirectly. They can’t say this directly because they know we will ask them how the Governor succeeded in instructing the army to release the Priest when the army doesn’t answer to him.
Anyone who has even a kindergarten knowledge of how this country works will know that a Governor can instruct and influence the police, the army or any security outfit, through hook and crook, to do his bidding. It is only when the Governor’s bidding is in conflict with that of the President that the Governor will be disobeyed. We know these things.
If anything, this their press release just goes to further prove that Ayade is responsible for the arrest and detention of Rev. Fr. Titus Armon).
Signed
Christian Ita
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor
(Our Response to the Psalms today is: let the Church make Ayade pay for this if he refuses to apologize and ask for forgiveness. Respond).
Firsts Baba Isa (FBI), a Legal Practitioner, writes from Abuja.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, First Baba Isa and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.