Obong Of Calabar Wades Into Church, Bank Feud Over Crashed Mast

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has charged the management of Ekondo Microfinance Bank and Methodist Church Nigeria, Ikot Omin Eno Abasi Circuit Diocese in Calabar to sheath their sword over the bank’s telecommunication mast that collapsed and destroyed the church’s property.

The monarch gave the charge in Calabar shortly after the leadership of the church conducted members of the Obong’s delegation round the damaged property valued at N35 million.

Instead, the monarch advocated for a roundtable between the two parties rather than being at dagger-drawn with each other.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the telecom mast belonging to the financial institution collapsed on the building belonging to the church after torrential rainfall last month.

Office equipment belonging to the church, including the home of the minister-in-charge of Eno Abasi Circuit, Rev. Evans Uwaoma were destroyed, while the cleric and his family were rendered homeless.

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The destructions made the church to demand for N35m compensation to enable them rehabilitate the pastor’s residence and purchase office equipment that were destroyed amongst other items.

Representative of the Obong who led other members of the palace to the damaged church property, Barr. Bassey Edem, stated that dialogue remains the only civilised approach to resolving disagreement.

A youth leader in the church, Sylvester Akpan, expressed dissatisfaction over the attitude of the microfinance bank in handling the collapsed telecom mast, accusing the financial institution of lacking the willpower to resolve the mast issue.

“I’m surprised that an institution like Ekondo Microfinance could drag their feet in a matter that involved the residence of the Minister-in-charge.

“Is this how they would have behaved if the telecom mast had killed someone?

“We thank God that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident that destroyed property worth millions belonging to the church.

“I know too well that if it were the bank’s property that was damaged, by now they would have dragged whoever that is the victim to court to claim damages,” Akpan said.

“I heard that the management of the financial institution had a meeting with leadership of our church not quite long ago. From what I gathered, what they offered to pay shows they aren’t willing to take responsibility for the damaged property valued by professionals at N35 million.

“To me it’s peanut. That amount will not be enough to take care of repairs from electrical, structural repairs and office equipment. If what I gathered is true, then it’s bad! The financial institution isn’t fair to the church at all,” Akpan maintained.