My attention has been drawn to an amateur, puerile and deceptive video being circulated on social media with the sole intent of disparaging my image as an honest law abiding citizen, as well as in my modest capacity as current Chairman of Ijiraga Community in South Ukelle, Yala Local Government Area.
The poorly scripted video claims that Ijiraga youths had chased me and my boys at a checkpoint with the vain claim that we usually extort money (?) from transporters.
While this is totally untrue and a joke taken too far, it should be placed on record that Asegem Enterprise was empowered by relevant authorities in Cross River State to collect agricultural produce fees for government.
It is important to also inform the public that the attack on my person is being caused by a known Chapter Executive of the main opposition in Yala Local Government who hails from Ijiraga and is bent on perpetrating heinous blackmail on my person at all cost.
The boys in the said video, puportedly chanting anti Asegem slogans in a clear ambush, were not from Ijiraga and it has been confirmed by well meaning indigenes of the area that they were boys hired from other local government areas to cause mayhem in Ijiraga community.
Having shown exemplary leadership as Ijiraga Community Chairman, it is absurd to claim the same youths were chanting anti Asegem slogans with a firm believe that the path they have chosen to thread is a necessary one. Of course, this is an imagination intended to manipulate the public in order to create disaffection against me, within my community.
Pertinently, let the public be put on notice that this clear blackmail is being orchestrated by a member of the Taskforce Committee on Anti Deforestation from Ijiraga, on the heels of the impounding of 32 trucks of wood, in line with the directives by the Chief Of Staff to the governor of CRS, against illegal loggers of wood.
This sponsored and cordinated attack on people who are legally empowered by relevant authorities to collect produce levies in Ijiraga ward on government’s behalf, has left an avoidable trail of blood behind. My community now has several hardworking young men in several hospitals and clinics with varying degrees of injuries inflicted with matchets.
These innocent young men who were going about their normal business before this dastardly attack, did nothing to deserve this carnage. Their experience indeed passes off as a call to anarchy in the area.
I mince no words, clearly, this is a strategy to weaken the strong force of my popular appeal and legitimacy. It is a machination targeted at blackmailing me to take my foot off the pedal and let unscrupulous elements pillage our forests and agricultural resources.
In the interest of all, the public is put on notice and enjoined to disregard the antics of these soldiers of fortune because there is documented evidence that Asegem Enterprise, was long saddled with the task of collecting agricultural produce levies for government since June 2023. It is a duty we have carried out without fear or favour.
I am a man of peace who knows that development and change don’t come easily. Those who have perpetrated this mayhem, know no peace and thrive regrettably in chaos; it is not the way to go if we must make CRS a clear shinning light.
My heart is where the wounded are.
Signed:
Chief Asegem Emmanuel