BLOW FOR BLOW, PUNCH FOR PUNCH : Councillors in Obudu local council exchange blows over N6million donation from senator; at least one injured

The senator representing Cross River North senatorial district in the senate, Prof. Ben Ayade, was in Obudu local government area of the state last weekend where he made a donation of N6 million to the council executives. Disagreements over how to share the largesse resulted in councillors engaging themselves in blows and at least one of them getting injured in the process.

It began with an appeal by the chairman of the council, Rev Father Emmanuel Ikwen to the senator to make a donation in other to help solve some of the financial challenges being experienced by the council.

When the money came in, the challenges of the council reportedly withdrew to the background and the sharing formula among the councillors became the big issue. Councillors just could not agree on how to share the money. Their disagreement led to a fight among them. One councillor spilled the blood of his colleague after punching her.

This is the second time in as many weeks that an elected official in Cross River state is being associated with physical assault. Last week, the news was about the chief whip of the state assembly, Hon. Akiba, who represents Calabar Municipality. Akiba reportedly slapped a female corporal who refused to permit her son to gain access into restricted areas of the assembly.

According to Sunday Trust newspaper,

Police at Obudu have already detained some of the warring councillors pending investigations. Telephone calls to the DPO were not answered as at press time.

According to one of the sources who insisted his name should not be mentioned, “Professor Ben Ayade, our senator, gave us N6 million. There was argument over this money so there was an uproar among the councillors. Hon  Fidelis Otobo was alleged to have slapped Hon Rose Abua of Otugwnag Central.

“It was a serious fight between Hon Rose and Otobo who are both from the Otugwang axis. It was Tobo who slapped Rose. I was not part of it. Blood gushed out from her cheeks! We shall deliberate on it on Monday—any one found guilty will be sanctioned.”

Another source explained that trouble started when the leader of the council’s legislature, Hon Ugah Andeshi refused to give Hon Tobo Fidelis his allowance who  served as the deputy leader following his election as deputy leader to replace the former occupant of the office who was sacked on the instructions of the council chairman.

“The party asked us to maintain the status quo; that is, the deputy leader who was sacked should be returned to office while Hon Tobo who was elected to replace him should resign. The man did that but he had served as deputy leader for the month of May and thus was entitled to his full allowance as deputy leader for that month,” source explained.

It would be recalled that the Obudu council executive and some members of the legislature had been up in arms against each other following plans by Dr Ikwen to return as chairman.

This plan was opposed by the former council secretary, Ken Acla who is said to have been sponsored by Ayade, the senator.