Unpaid ‘settlement’: Protesting ex-agitators barricade Ayade’s office, reject N.5m gift

Some ex-agitators on Monday stormed the Governor’s office in Calabar to demand payment of the money allegedly promised them in 2018 after they laid down their arms in exchange for amnesty.

They blocked the road and prevented vehicular movement in the area.

The ex-agitators led by one “Timaya” caused created panic despite the presence of policemen at the gate and the road leading to the Governor’s Office.

Their leader said they were protesting the non-payment of their money due since December 2018.

“We are not going anywhere until the governor settles us,” the ex-agitators said in unison.

The plea by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Governor’s office, Dr Alfred Mboto, to allow government time to sort out their issue fell on deaf ears.

For several hours, Mboto continued to plead with the ex-agitators to go but they remained adamant and he had to offer them N500,000 which they rejected.

It led to an argument which got Mboto angry and he left.

After he left, some of the ex-agitators started hitting the gate in anger, with the policemen remaining calm.

Earlier, Mboto had told them that Governor Ben Ayade was working on their case, but they got angry the more, as one of them said, Since 2018, the governor has reneged on agreement. Punch