|
I�m a victim of cultism � Amanayanabo
Soni Daniel, Port Harcourt
The Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State, Professor Theophilus Princewill, has said that he is a victim of organised cultism and not a sponsor of any militia.
Princewill, a retired professor of microbiology, told our correspondent in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that President Olusegun Obasanjo was misinformed by his adversaries who alleged that he was sponsoring local militias in Buguma, the headquarters of the Kalabari kingdom.
On a Radio Nigeria programme at the weekend, Obasanjo had accused the monarch of setting up local militias to intimidate companies operating in the area, and collecting funds from the companies for his personal use.
Obasanjo said from information at his disposal, the king also failed to adopt a fair and equitable formula in sharing royalties accruing to the natives from the many oil companies operating in the area.
But Princewill said that while he would not join issues with the President, it was imperative on him to defend himself on the serious allegation of backing local militias and using same to intimidate anybody.
He said the government and people of Rivers State were fully aware of the true situation in his kingdom and were even sympathetic to him, over numerous attempts by armed gangs deployed by his enemies to eliminate him.
He said, �It is a well known fact that I have been the target of all the assaults launched by those who want to kill me and take the throne and nobody who is conversant with the nature of the attacks will say that I sponsored of them.
�My belief is that the President was given wrong information by those who do not wish me well so as to cause greater disaffection in Buguma and alienate me from my subjects.
�I am a victim of a well organized set-up to destabilise me and usurp my throne. I have neither contributed in anyway to the series of events causing problems in Buguma nor armed boys or any group to harass oil companies operating in my domain as alleged by Mr. President�, he claimed.
Our correspondent gathered from reliable sources that following the allegation by the President against the monarch, the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili summoned the king to Government House for emergency meeting on Tuesday, where the issue was discussed by the State executive Council.
The source said the governor and many members of the cabinet were surprised by the accusation leveled against the monarch by the President.
The monarch, has escaped assassination thrice in six months and is currently taking refuge in Port Harcourt.
The PUNCH, June 30, 2004
|
|
| |
Copyright 2003 - 2004
Punch (Nigeria) Limited. All Rights Reserved
Powered by dnetsystems.net
dnet�
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCK MARKET
|
|
As at Tues, June 29, 2004
|
|
8,265
8,250
8,235
|
| Mobil |
 |
N189.95 |
+895k |
|
| Total |
|
N221.00 |
+752k |
|
| Texaco |
|
N179.95 |
+745k |
|
| Nestle |
 |
N168.5 |
-800k |
|
| First Bank |
|
N28.00 |
-120k |
|
| Julius Berger |
|
N17.53 |
-92k |
|
Volume: 93.508 million
Value: N 1.45 billion
Deals: 4,880
Index: 29,098.89
Mkt Cap: N2.081 trillion |
|
|
| |
|
AUTO WORLD
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
