by By Admin
A socio-political group, Young Bekwarra Leaders Forum has berated an APC senatorial candidate in the forthcoming Cross River North bye-election, Mr. Joe Agi, SAN for using the court issue between the Ugboro and Ishibori people for political campaign.
The group in a statement signed by Comrade Agaji Ntamu called on the senior lawyer to tender an unreserved apology to the Bekwarra nation or steer clear of the local government.
It would be recalled that Agi, over the weekend asked the Ishibori people in Ogoja local government to support him for Senate as a way of rewarding him for winning for the court case between Ugboro and the community over a disputed piece of land for them.
Ugboro, a community in Bekwarra in 1995 were involved in a bloody communal clash with the Ishibori community in Ogoja local government area that claimed the lives of many with properties worth millions of naira destroyed. After the war, the Bekwarra went up to Supreme Court and the Ishibori people won the case.
Speaking during a consultative forum with APC members in Ogoja on Sunday, Agi was seen in a viral video reminding the Ishibori people how he won the case in court for them.
Irked by the utterances, Bekwarra youths have warned that although they’re a peaceful people, their peace loving nature shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“The Bekwarra people of Northern Cross River are known and celebrated world over for their hospitality, they’re a towering socio-political giants who have produced one of the best brains in Nigeria. Bekwarra sons and daughters have represented Nigeria in virtually all areas of human endeavours both nationally and internationally. The contributions of some of her illustrious sons both home and abroad has contributed greatly in shaping today’s Cross River and Nigeria at large, as such, Bekwarra Nation deserves to be respected and treated with decorum at all times.
“However, the attention of Bekwarra people have been drawn to a provocative video making rounds on social media by one Joe Agi (SAN), an unpopular politician rumoured to be vying for the Cross River North Senatorial seat. In the video, Agi on his consultation visit to a few members of APC at Ishiborri community in Ogoja ran out of ideas and in his desperation to impress his already disappointed listeners resorted into making provocative statements on one of the most unfortunate Bekwarra-Ishiborri communal crisis.
“Recall that the very unfortunate Ugboro- Ishiborri communal clash which took place in 1995, exactly 25 years ago was a very bloody inter communal dispute where many lives were lost with properties worth thousands of millions lost. Some families are still disenchanted to the present day.
“The pains, the agony of this dreaded communal mishap is this very fresh. The unfortold economic hardship is still felt by both affected communities. The decision of Joe Agi to anchor his political point on such ugly incident with the intent to malign the integrity of the good people of Bekwarra is very embarrassing”, the statement reads in part.
The statement added that “It should be noted that while other responsible aspirants whose live impacting projects are spread over every nooks and crannies of Cross River State and being decorated with titles on a daily basis, Agi has absolutely nothing to show anywhere, not even in Yala where he hails from.His decision to insight another genocide where he can quickly rush to court and exploits people of their hard earnings at the expense of lives has failed woefully!
“In the rather disappointing video, Agi had to drag the personality of our highly accomplished Chief K. G Agabi (SAN) into his politics of desperation. We wish to inform him that our well respected legal icon is too highly placed and shouldn’t be used as political bait by someone with no political track records. Lest he forgets, Chief K.G Agabi has served this nation as a former minister of Justice and one of the unifying personalities in Cross River and shouldn’t be dragged into any politics of hate and division.
“Bekwarra are peaceful people and are willing to live in harmony with those who appreciates peace. As a show of true repentance, Agi and his political team are advised to tender an unreserved apology published on full pages of five national daily newspapers with a similar apology on three radio stations namely, Hit FM, Calabar, Ebonyi broadcasting service, Abakaliki and Joy FM, Otukpo which shall run concurrently for at least a month. Failure to do so shall result to severe hostility if he ever dares to come to Bekwarra for any political activities”.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed expressed here are strictly that of Bekwarra young progressive forum as signed by Agaji Ntamu and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff.
