By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The General Overseer of Worldwide Mantle Assembly in Nigeria, Apostle Ekapong Ubi, yesterday in Calabar, threatened to institute legal action against those behind the inclusion of his name among the Christian leaders who graced the unveiling of Senator Kashim Shetima as running mate to All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The cleric issued the threat during a chat while with our correspondent in Calabar, on names of clerics who participated in the unveiling of Tinubu’s running mate.
The Cross River State-based cleric expressed shock over what he described as inclusion of his name in an event that he was neither contacted nor invited.
He stressed that his lawyers had been briefed on when to commence investigation of those behind the anomaly with the view to seeking legal redress to what he described as dragging his image in the mud.
Recall that the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, few weeks ago criticized the choice of Muslim/Muslim ticket by the APC for President and Vice President.
However, on Wednesday evening, 26 names, purported to be names of bishops and apostles and other Church leaders, surfaced on the internet as those who graced Senator Shetima’s unveiling as Tinubu’s running mate for the 2023 presidential election.
The General Overseer said, “I am Apostle Ekapong Ubi Ofem, from Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
“I never attended any meeting or unveiling of anyone, nor was any invitation extended to me in connection with any form of event in Abuja. I have not travelled out of this state since January.
“I am not aware of the unveiling of the APC presidential running mate. I wonder how my name appeared in Abuja as one of the men of God who attended that event.
“It is disheartening what extent people could go to destroy someone’s image. This is a pure case of malicious defamation.
“Since yesterday night, I have received almost 80 calls from all over Nigeria and even Togo, where the headquarters of World Wide Mantle Assembly is.
“A close friend of mine alerted me of this evil by forwarding to me the viral list of the so-called men of God, who purportedly attended the said event. It was from a Facebook page of one Emmanuel.
“I have told the said Emmanuel to send an apology letter to me within three days and publish the same in seven newspapers in Nigeria, else he should prepare to meet me in court.
“I have also directed my lawyers to investigate how my name appeared in that list. I tell you the truth, whosoever, whether the party or individuals, who masterminded this deceit would have to explain it to Nigerians in court.
“I have called some of the owners of the phone numbers in that mischievous list and those I spoke with also disclaimed their alleged involvement in the said unveiling.
“I am hereby calling on security agencies to investigate this affront on Christianity and arrest those who perpetrated such evil acts.”
