AYADE'S PAPRDIGM: FROM CRITICISM TO TERRORISM…..THE ACCOUNT OF PROF BEN AYADE (GOVERNOR) AND AGBA JALINGO (JOURNALIST)
PART 1: AGBA JALANGO'S CHRONOLOGICAL STEPS TO AYADE'S PERDITION ...July 10, 2014- July 2, 2019,
(By Amaso Jack)
“Dictatorship has never defeated goodwill and a determined people." Agba Jalingo's Prison notes
The story of a detained journalist and state chairman of Omoyele Sowore AAC
who started out as a friend and beneficiary of Governor Ben Ayade but was eventually jailed by the Governor for TREASON. In November 2019, Jalingo was listed as the 9th out of 10 Journalist whose incarceration was a threat to Journalism
who started out as a friend and beneficiary of Governor Ben Ayade but was eventually jailed by the Governor for TREASON. In November 2019, Jalingo was listed as the 9th out of 10 Journalist whose incarceration was a threat to Journalism
Nwachukwu Egbunike, of Advox global voices, in his September, 2 , 2019 post he titled:
"Nigerian journalist charged with treason after criticizing governor for corruption
Agba Jalingo had accused Cross Rivers State governor of corruption"
Agba Jalingo had accused Cross Rivers State governor of corruption"
Wrote:
"Abuja-based online daily Premium Times stated that Jalingo was, on August 30, charged with treason, terrorism, cultism and public disturbance in a Federal High Court in Abuja, for “working with the #RevolutionNowmovement”—founded by detained human rights activist Omoyele Sowore to protest bad governance in Nigeria— to ”undemocratically’ force the government of Ayade to end through violent means.”
Ayade's greatest headache has been from the African Action Congress (AAC), a political party founded by the #RevolutionNow movement protest leader Omoyele Sowore.
Jalingo, who also doubles as the state chairman of the AAC, has regularly criticized Ayade's governance of Cross Rivers State. Ayade had allegedly threatened that Jalingo will “face prosecution for misinformation.”
TIMELINE JALANGO: STEPS TO AYADE'S PERDITION
STEP 1: They are stakeholders in Cross Rivers State…. Been AYADE, Agba Jalingo and Joseph Odok.
STEP 2: July 10, 2014, Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) founded.
Agba Jalingo was the brain behind Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ).
"Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) is registered body of all online journalists practicing in the State with the Corporate Affairs Commission (10th July 2014) with the registration number CAC/IT/NO 70863.
Objectives
1 To safeguard the freedom of the press and the freedom of Online Journalists in Cross River State to engage in legitimate professional activities;
2 To collect, preserve and publish such statistical and other information as may be useful for professional purposes;
3 To encourage the participation of members in decision making processes in the Association and at their places of work in particular and the society in general;
4 To protect and advance the socio-economic interests of the society and such other objectives as are lawful and are consistent with the spirit and practice of journalism;
5 To ensure adequate training and education of members;
6 To negotiate conditions of service and establish welfare schemes for members;
7 To ensure strict adherence to the Association’s Code of Ethics as approved by the General Congress;
8 To collaborate with organizations with similar objectives to defend the rights of Online Journalists and society at large."
STEP 3: May 29, 2015 Ayade inaugurated as Governor and a relationship with Jalingo begins
Joseph Ushigiale in a September 21, 2019, article titled: "Police, Ayade and the Travails of Agba Jalingo"
Provides the following information:
"It was therefore not surprising that when Ayade was inaugurated, Jalingo quickly floated the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ). With ACROJ and his medium, Jalingo became an instant hit and the darling of the administration. While the doting lasted, Jalingo was reportedly the first individual to accompany Ayade abroad at the outset of the administration. The governor gifted ACROJ an official vehicle. He had such a very cosy relationship with the first family to an extent that, at some point his aloofness pitched him against his colleagues in the state.
Apart from renting and furnishing an office for Crossriverwatch.com, there are also stories of a contract for the supply of Innoson vehicles awarded by Ayade to Jalingo’s company. At the last count, allegations are flying all over the place between the Ayades and Jalingos over another N1m gifted Jalingo’s wife.
I have taken the pains to go through all these details so that for posterity sake, we should all know that when we are dining with the devil we should be mindful and do so with a very long spoon"
STEP 4: 2018...Paul Ifere AYADE'S first victim.
Cletus Ukpong in a September 30, 2019 report in Premium Times, titled: "Police arrest another critic of Gov. Ayade, accuse him of ‘terrorism’" reported:
"Paul Ifere, another critic of Mr Ayade’s administration who was similarly arrested and detained last year by the police for criticising Mr Ayade, condemned the incarceration of Mr Odok.
Mr Ifere said the governor was clamping down on his critics because of his intolerance to criticism and opposing views.
“If you criticise Ayade, he will come after you, that’s what he has been doing,” Mr Ifere said."
Joseph Ushigiale corroborated Cletus Ukpong's position this way
"Jalingo is not a good student of history, if he is, he would have been well guided by a similar treatment meted out to Paul Ifere by Ayade. For being a thorn on his flesh, operatives of Nigeria police stormed Abuja and arrested Ifere and brought him to Calabar to answer to trumped up charges against him. He managed to extricate himself only after he entered a commitment not to maligned the governor again."
https://www.thisdaylive.com/…/police-ayade-and-the-travail…/
https://www.thisdaylive.com/…/police-ayade-and-the-travail…/
STEP 5: Ayade reelected in February 2019 for a second term.
STEP 6: July 2, 2019 Agba Jalingo's TERRORISM CHARGE and links with Omoyele Sowore
"....One of the charges is, “That you, Agba Jalingo, ‘M’ (an associate of Mr.Omoyele Sowore) on or about the 2nd day of July … did conspire with Prince Ekanem Ekpo, ‘M’ and others now at large to commit unlawful acts, to wit, terrorism and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The affidavit added that Jalingo, “an associate of Mr. Omoyele Sowore,” “did hold meeting with leaders of cult groups across Cross River State, instigate them to commence acts of terrorism on the person of His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade"
Continues
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