By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, has described the allegation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Archibong Jarvis against Governor Bassey Edet Otu that he directed the paramount ruler of Calabar South not to receive him as “a figment of Jarvis imagination.”
In a press statement, the PDP candidate had alleged that His Royal Highness Etubom Nyong Effiom Okon, the paramount ruler of Calabar South, disclosed that he was instructed by Governor Otu not to host Jarvis during his visit to the palace.
Debunking the allegation as Alice from the pit of hell during a media parley with journalists on Tuesday in Calabar, Cobham gave Jarvis and his media team 48 hours to retract the publication and apologise or risk legal action.
He said that the said press release falsely alleged that HRH Etubom Okon, the oaramount ruler of Calabar South, disclosed that he was instructed by Governor Otu not to host Jarvis during his visit to the palace.
Cobham added that the allegation was a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the governor.
The commissioner averred that he personally visited the traditional ruler to ascertain the truth, adding, “I had to go meet the paramount ruler and hear from him first-hand and he told me nothing like that happened. The traditional ruler said that he saw that press release and drew the attention of Sir Jarvis to that dangerous news item.”
He stressed that the monarch showed him a private apology from Jarvis on his phone where the PDP candidate admitted error and directed that the press release be pulled down.
He added, “If that news was correct, there would be no need for an apology.”
Cobham said it was “an absolute insult to malign the character, the name, and the personality of His Excellency for an issue which is a figment of the imagination,” adding that “there is no basis for the governor of Cross River State to feel any itch from whatever sludge funds that they have emitted out of their personal endeavours.”
He therefore issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Jarvis to publish a retraction and apology in two national dailies, warning that failure to do so would compel the state government to instruct the Attorney-General to institute legal proceedings against him.
