Atekong Palm Oil Dealers Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Ltd send SOS to Cross River Commissioners over lingering feud
The popular Marian market, Ika Ika Oqua Calabar in Cross River State was on edge Thursday as contending parties in the crisis that has engulfed the Atekong Palm Oil Dealers Multi-Purpose Co-operative society Limited were locked in heated argument over tenure elongation and other misgivings by the sitting executive.
The intervention of security operatives from Akim Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force doused the tension and the possible deterioration of the faceoff.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the Akim Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, an aggrieved member Mr. Benjamin Akpabio Augustine who was arrested by men of the Nigeria Police on the strength of a petition written to the Area Commander by Mrs. Cynthia Joshua Robson, President and Mr. Sam Joe Inwang, Secretary of the Association over uncomplimentary actions inimical to the union, said his crime was that he asked them to step aside after serving two terms which expired in June 2023 for another executive to be elected and sworn-in to pilot the affairs of the group
It would be recalled that Mrs. Cynthia Joshua Robson administration was alleged to have doctored the old constitution and amended same to secure a tenure elongation on 17th August, 2023 to take effect from September, 2023. This did not go down well with some aggrieved members who among other things, accused the leadership of executing a hidden agenda to perpetuate themselves in office with a strange constitution that was not approved by the Committee. They said it did not follow Multi- Purpose Co-operative Society guidelines, coupled with forcing members to adopt same on 21st September, 2023.
Other aggrieved members who spoke on condition of anonymity called on the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government in Cross River State, Chief Victor-Felix Idem to intervene in the lingering crisis to avoid a repeat of the situation that led to the blood-bath occasioned by exploitation, unlawful extortion and high-handedness during the dispensation of Emmanuel Mbora.
Effort to contact the co-operative units in the Cross River State Ministry of Trade and Industry to comment on the matter was naught as at time of filing this report.
By: Archibong Emmanuel.
(Snr. Reporter)
