Monarch on the run as angry youths shutdown Palace in Cross River

By Solomon Ogar

There was palpable tension at the Palace of HRH Chief Odaji Ipuole of Okuku Kingdom at Ogbaniko, Yala Local Government of Cross River State, earlier on Tuesday, as angry youths kicked against the alleged refusal of the monarch to summon an all-inclusive meeting to address lingering cases of disputes, civil unrest and other problems affecting the community.

The youths from Ogbaniko and Ipuole Okuku staged a peaceful protest against what they described as unbecoming of Ogamode Odaji Ipuole to address several cases of social malaise in the community which has taken a negative dimension.

The aggrieved youths, who gathered as early as 8 a.m., marched to the chief palace singing songs, shut down the Chief palace demanding his response for total peace else the palace would remain shut.

A reliable source said before this action the youths had made several appeals to the traditional ruler to invite all parties to a peace meeting but the royal father declined. As a result of his refusal to heed their calls, they wrote to the Eastern Yala Traditional Rulers Council demanding that no Chief from Okuku and Ogbaniko should be allowed to attend further meetings of the council.

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Eyewitness accounts revealed that the protest was spearheaded by a coalition of youths, who were joined by other indigenes, to protest the alleged disproportional handling of disputes by the traditional ruler in Okuku Kingdom.

The whereabouts of the Chief is unknown as of press time while the youths have sealed the Palace.

See photos below…