Relative peace being enjoyed by the people of Abak Ikot Village Abak in Abak local Government Area has been disrupted following the activities of one Chief Michael Dan Udo who claims to be the Village Head of the area.
It was reliable gathered that the Village headship tussle in the Community has lasted for about 12 years between Chief Ezekiel Ekanem who is currently holding the certificate and Chief Michael Dan Udo. And since the case is at the Appeal Court, the Clan Head of Abak had directed that none of them should parade himself as the Village Head pending the Appeal Court judgment.
Our reporter who went round the Village gathered that for peace, law and order to be maintained in the Village, a Caretaker Committee was appointed to oversee the smooth running of the Village by the Paramount Ruler of Abak, Obong Christopher Ukpe.
While Chief Ezekiel Ekanem heeded the directive, Chief Michael Dan Udo popularly called “Udo Dan” still went round parading himself as the Village head, causing trouble and using his connection with the police to arrest and detain innocent citizens.
One of the Community Leaders, Elder Sunday Inyang-Essien who spoke with our reporter, wondered why Chief Michael Dan who supposed to be a respected Community Leader and adviser, decided to set the community ablaze through his nefarious activities. “They were directed not to parade themselves as Village Head pending the outcome of the Appeal Court judgment, but while Chief Ezekiel Ekanem heeded the directive, Chief Michael Dan is still using Nigerian flag in his compound and the Village Head insignia as his car’s number plate. Is that not impersonation”, the Community Leader queried.
Elder Inyang-Essien described Chief Michael Dan as a very dubious person who sells one portion of land to more than five persons, thereby causing trouble in the community. “Because of his dubious character, some members of his family are not supporting him to become the Village Head, but are supporting his opponent. On several occasions, he has brought thugs to cause trouble in the village. It was as a result of this that the Paramount Ruler put traditional injunction (Ajei) at the Village Hall, warning him not to enter and preside over the affairs of the Village since he has not been confirmed as the Village Head.
But this so-called Chief ordered his boys to remove the injunction and destroy properties in the Village Hall. This so-call Chief has never been a family head in his life time, then one wonders how he manage to became the Village Head since the traditional rulers edict says that a Village Head should be elected or selected among the family heads. So, is this the type of person that should go round causing trouble in the name of village head”, Elder Inyang-Essien lamented.
It was also gathered that some time last year, the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo had given directive through the Divisional Police Office (DPO) Abak that the Caretaker Committee set up in the village should continue to function pending the Appeal Court judgment, but Chief Dan also disobeyed the directive and went ahead to organize ekpo masquerade display at the village square, killing goat and declared himself as the village head.
He was also said to have directed his boys to collect development fees from land developers who came into the village to build houses. When the Chairman of the Village Caretaker Committee ordered the youths to go and stop work at the site, that intending builders should pass through due process so that the community would not give their land to criminals to build houses, Chief Dan went arrested the youths, claiming that they are armed robbers.
The villagers have therefore sent a Save Our Soul message to the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to come to their aid by calling Chief Michael Dan to order.
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