Akwa Ibom traditional rulers asks governor to tackle witchcraft
By JOE EFFIONG, Uyo
Tuesday, August 21, 2007


•Gov Akpabio with commissioner for local government
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, August 14, inivited the paramount rulers from the 31 Local Government Areas in the state for a parley at the ministry of local goverment and chieftaincy affairs in Uyo. For a person, who made his political marks mostly from that ministry, where he served as commisssioner in Victor Attah's regime, Akpabio was at home with the royal fathers, many of whom were coronated in his tenure.

Before sending the press away from the hall, the governor had announced some juicy package for the royal fathers. These included a brand new car for each of the 31 paramount rulers and another N20 million each to the paramount rulers of Ini, Eastern Obolo and Ika Local Government Areas as assistance to rehabilitate their palaces vandalised or destoyed by militants or communal clash hoodlums.

Assuming that the governor had done what none of his predecessors had done to the royal fathers, the event managers asked the chairman of the state council of chiefs and paramount rulers of Udung Uko, HRM, Offong Ati Okpo, to respond.
The chief of chiefs did not disappoint. First, he thanked Akpabio for breaking the record in terms of providing them with temporal benefits, but he added that their major problem was more of spiritual than temporal: withcraft.

He said: "Pay more attention to this issue of witchcraft in our society. The police should do more work without collecting money to let the culprits go unpunished.
"This witchcraft problem is everywhere, but it's more prevalent in Oron axis. People are just branded witches and wizards carelessly. The other day, I saw a little child of about seven years on the road. They had chased her out of the house claiming that she was a witch. I don't know where she is now. So, His Excellency, we want to help you build this state, but please help us tackle this witchcraft problem in our localities."

Governor Akapbio did not respond to that, at least not when the press was still around. So, witches and wizards, or those in the habit of branding people such in Akwa Ibom state, beware because the governor had earlier announced the constitution of a joint task force called Operation Mensa or something close to that.

They said the group, which would comprise army, police, navy, civil defence and other military and paramilitary personnel would go after armed robbers and every other people with criminal tedencies. But the governor did not include witches yet.
"I can't preside over state where armed robbers would come in, cook food, eat, steal, then go unmolested. We have thus acquired 46 brand new Hilux Jeeps specially equipped for the job." He said.
Who knows maybe, the terms of reference of the joint task force would be extended to incorporate hunt of witches. Or maybe, a specially contract would be awarded to tackle witchcraft problem as it appears to have defied all moral reason.

The former governor, Obong Victor Attah, was once so pissed off with the witchcraft question that he challenged church leaders to always spiced up their prayers with a rebuke of witches and wizards since it sounded too archaic in the 21st century.

If Akpabio were to award contract on that score, maybe, he would be carefull not to give it to such contractors who constructed the state university of technology and the state international airport as he had openly expressed his disappointment over the abysmal performance of such contractors. He said some of the contractors had collected 90 per cent of the contract sum even when the job done never exceeded 20 per cent.
However the question is: Will the royal father rather handle the witchcraft contract by themselves to ensure the contractors are not bewitched to drop it halfway after collecting the mobilisation fees?

witchcraft is real.

willywilly people.

pilas:

willywilly people.

this Witchcraft are Yoruba people living there, they are mainly from Ondo (aje) and some are from Edo. ask IJABU OR ISHAN person, hope they will explain better their operation

Akwa-Ibom take the cake on witchcrafts,there is always reports on witchcrafts from Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers.i heard they fly during the day.

As we take one step forward,
They take us three steps back.

hummmmmmmmmm.

:p :p :p :p

Olumba olumba Obo

I think it is the duty of traditional rulers to tackle witctcraft. They are the custodian of tradition. What can the gov do other than make a law against them? Those of us who had watch a Yoruba film by late ALHAJI AJILEY Titled "KOTO AYE" must be concerned. The gov may be lucky if all Nigerian witctes would not relocate to the state.

All those Witches comes from Yoruba land and migrated down there.
hope sey you know about (Abija).

You people should stop talking this rubbish. You're embarrassing me. Witchcraft is just a myth.

Millions of people were burnt at the stake in Europof on the count of Witchcraft but today they know better.

Enough of this rubbish.

Breaking News : Man Sets Son Ablaze Over Watchcraft
Posted by admin on 2007/5/4 16:22:14 (77 reads)
By Emma Una/Calabar

A middle aged man identified as Victor Friday Usuk of Afagha Uqua in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has set his 10-year-old son, Jeremiah Victor Usuk, ablaze for allegedly bewitching him. P.M.News gathered that the man poured petrol on his son, struck a match and set him ablaze after a prophetess in his church, Prophetess Grace, prophesied that his failure in business and joblessness were caused by his son.

Jeremiah, who sustained third degree burns and narrowly survived the trial by ordeal, is still nursing the severe injuries.

The boy told P.M.News that Prophetess Grace wanted to extract more “confession” from him by severely beating him in the presence of his father and mother.

The boy has a sister named Victoria, who was also accused of witchcraft. She was said to have been subjected to several hours of deliverance by the prophetess.

According to Mr. Usuk, the boy’s father, Jeremiah was too deep in the act “such that bringing him out of the witchcraft world required physical torture.”

On why Victoria was not set ablaze, Mr. Usuk said the girl is now certified free from witchcraft by Prophetess Grace after she had gone for deliverance in the church several times.

Jeremiah, a primary three pupil in Aunty Mercy Primary School, Afagha Ukwa, Akwa Ibom State, said: “If I were into witchcraft, I would have made sure everyone in the family becomes a member so that this torture will not take place.”

He said his problem started when his father’s business started collapsing. His father, he said, became withdrawn and when his offshore job was also taken and his vehicle broke down, he allegedly accused Jerry and Victoria as those responsible for his misfortune.

Reacting to the incident, Pastor of the church, Rev. Peters said he believes that witchcraft was responsible for the plight of Victor Usuk, but denied that his wife’s revelation made Victor to set his son ablaze.

“Society sometimes pretends that witchcraft does not exist but it is the cause of the problems of many people,” he said.

Can you imagine the level of backwardness we're talking about. Witches and wizards that are totally helpless to a degree that they are physically tortured and burn.

The Pastors and the children's parents should face charges. This is nothing different from Pastor King only that the Pastor acted by proxy.

there is always reports on witchcrafts from Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers.i heard they fly during the day.

You heard wrong. Better stop listening to such rumours or else you may end up roasting your own son.

its true. thank God i am  not from that State.

Akwa Ibom aka Modern Day Salem

hummm.

pilas:

there is always reports on witchcrafts from Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers.i heard they fly during the day.

I'm sure one flew in to your brain.
see how you're behaving on nairaland
You correct so?

pilas:

there is always reports on witchcrafts from Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers.i heard they fly during the day.

hope your family were among them,

;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d ;d

wichcrafts is real.

:p :p :p :p

Your day of roasting is also real.

Denex you be winch

I thank God you are in no way related to me. If not, you would have Reverend Kinged me long ago.

;d ;d ;d ;d ;d