The Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State on Forestry Mr Thomas Obi Tawo was on December 30th 2020 attempted assassination on a Commissioner 2 in the state Civil Service Commission, Mr Thomas Onabe, which resulted in bullying and destruction of his private car – Toyota Camry with registered plain number ABJ 271PR
This unlawful act and sad event which took place in Oku community in Boki local government area, was not the first sad unlawful and brutal act to have come from a Senior Government official. The SA have been involve lot of human right abuses, destruction of properties, burning of old women accused of witchcraft and holding the community to ransom.
Furthermore, the Special Adviser, who is suppose to bring government closer to the people in his Community have been so brutal which earn him the name “General Iron”. It is worthy to note that he had earlier been granted amnesty by the state government in 2018, after he formed a militia of hundreds of youths, arming them with dangerous weapons to cause havoc in the area.
However, for years now, the SA had seized the Boki oil palm estate which belongs to the government for his personal use. Reliable reports had it that he makes millions of naira from the oil palm estate which he use part of the money to buy arms and fortify himself alongside his thugs.
Narrating the incident to newsmen in Calabar, Thomas Onabe said that the Special Adviser invited him for a meeting on December 30th in Oku community for discussion.
“When I got to Oku, I did put a call through to the close lieutenant to the Special Adviser, Mr Destiny Ogar, who is also Oku/Borum/Njua Ward Secretary to PDP to put him on the know that I was in the Special Adviser’s house for the meeting.”
“When the Special Adviser came and met me in his house, including the Ward Chairman and the Personal Assistant on Administrative Matters to the Governor, Mr Paul Otu, he greeted me and went straight into his house.
“When he came out, he threatened to kill the Ward Chairman, and I told him not to say that again, because he is also a member of our belove party, the PDP.
“Immediately I made that statement, he told me too that I was not safe in his house, saying that me coming to his compound today would be my last day on earth, I became frightened and scared at that moment.
“He started bullying me up and down, when I wanted to react, I sighted his boys around, carrying AK47 rifles and the Destiny Ogar, who is the ward Secretary that brought him on a bike, was also holding a pistol.
“I couldn’t resist further, neither did I allow my boy to join me, so that it won’t be seen as if I came to fight him in his compound.
“With God on my side, I was able to escape after he has given me several injuries. I was in a pool of blood and my clothes were all torn. I ran to my car for safety and he now used a big rod to struck on it and in the process, he destroyed my back windscreen.
“We actually have not had any quarrel in the past. He is struggling to be the leader of the ward. When he perceive that you are rising above his decisions, he will go after you; I happen to be the unfortunate one this time,” he said.
Thomas Onabe said that the Special Adviser practically boosted that he has chased the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Tina Agbor and a former lawmaker from Oku community, Hon. Mark Obi, from been the leaders of Oku/Borum/Njua ward.
“I want to plead to the state government because this is not the first time he is doing this. He has killed several people in Boki, burnt down houses, burnt women accused of witchcraft and a whole lot of people have become destitute in Oku community.
“The people of Borum community where I come from are leaving in total fear because the Oku road is their only way out from the area.
“The state government should urgently move in and intervene on this matter, including security agencies, because he is doing all these and going untouched,” he said.
Several calls put across to the Special Adviser to get his reaction on the matter was not successful as he couldn’t pick his calls to react on the matter.
