An Igbo socio-political organization, Igbo National Council (INC), has called for the unconditional release of Comrade Agba Jalingo by the Cross-River State government.
DAILY POST recalls that Jalingo, a Publisher of Cross River Watch was arrested on Aug 22, 2019 over a report alleging that Gov Ben Ayade of Cross River State diverted N500 million belonging to the State.
However, in a press statement signed by INC President General, Chilos Godsent and made available to reporters in Umuahia, the Abia state capital on Friday, called on the Cross River State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Jones Eteng William to pass an express motion of the House compelling Gov Benedict Ayade-led government, the Cross River State Commissioner of Police as well as the State Director, Department of State Security (DSS) to immediately release Comrade Agba Jalingo before his health deteriorates to an unmanageable state.
According to the statement which read partly, “The Igbo National Council,(INC) and good conscience Nigerians have keenly observed the reckless display of despotic tendencies by Gov Benedict Ayade of Cross River State over the popular calls from well-meaning Nigerians for the unconditional release of Comrade Agba Jalingo who has been brutally incarcerated in solitary confinement since August 2019.
“INC, therefore, note that the health of comrade Agba Jalingo is deteriorating. Consequently, if Comrade Agba Jalingo is not released before the expiration of 14th January 2020, we will go ahead with the planned occupy Calabar protest and will also call on Nigerians to occupy with SMS, the phones of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Cross River State, the Rt Hon Speaker and all principal officers of the Cross River State House of Assembly demanding the unconditional release of Comrade Agba Jalingo”.
