The Akpara of Agbor, Chief Louis Usifo, has broken silence on his alleged involvement in vandalization of an ancient communication tower, (NTEL/MTEL Mast) which was installed on the Royal palace ground.
Chief Akpara’s response which was considered inevitable, was contained in a statement made available to journalists.
It reads thus, “my name is Chief Louis Usifo, the Akpara of Agbor kingdom. I make this statement on my own free-will and without duress as my own side of the story to the vandalization of the NTEL/MTEL steel mast which is situated at the Dein’s Palace ground.
“On the 26th of January, 2021 I received a group of engineers led by one Mr. Longman Velkyap from Plateau State, whose mission according to him, was to inform me of the purported sale of the NTEL mast. Thereafter, I asked for the document showing their claim of contract/approval to remove the facility amongst other documents from which face of it, describes the facility and authority of the police/ Civil Defence Corps to grant protection to the bearers of the document (Onyaego Steel Nigeria LTD), to evacuate the facility owing to the fact that it was highly toxic and detrimental to the health of the people being an obsolete equipment and therewith returned back to the Federal government.
“Immediately, I took the document and a cash of #250,000 brought by them to the Dein’s Palace for the majesty’s investigation and approval if need be. This, I informed a fellow palace Chief, Chief Benjamin Ogwu, head of the administrative office of the royal palace, who also told me to hold on with the money as the investigation of the documents was of great importance.
“Before the majesty’s approval could be given the required attention as there were other investigations to be made, the people which I learnt has kept their equipments at the office of Agbor Gha-Ihun security group, unilaterally embarked on the evaluation procedure on the 7th of February, 2021. On this day, they came to my house with a team of policemen who confirmed to me that they accompanied the engineers base on the signal they received.
“At this point, my only response to them was that an approval has not been issued from the palace and most importantly because I do not want to stand in, then I left them.
“Some hours later, I was called by Mr. Stanley informing me that the company have started cutting the mast from the base, asking that I should come over which I told him that I cannot make it because i was already far away from home. Meanwhile, I told him to get someone to accompany him to the police station to confirm if their mission was genuine. I also told him on phone that I said they should get a welder to weld back the iron they had cut.
“Later same day, the Agbor DPO called me requesting my presence at the station which I also told him that I was indisposed.
“So, I wish to clear the air that I have no hand in what had happened as against the vandalized communication facility as I have no power to grant the approval, but only the king does.”
Speaking further, Chief Akpara warned those peddling false alarm with his name to refrain from such destructive attitude and should follow the matter in the right direction.
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