THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, yesterday threw a bombshell, threatening to have the Techimanhene kidnapped and dealt with ruthlessly; just as he did the Tuobodomhene recently if the President Mills led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government fails to bring Nana Akumfi Ameyaw to order for his barbaric acts.
“I am closely watching with keen interest and I will kidnap the so-called Techimanhene and bring him to the Manhyia Palace whenever he storms Kumasi if the government fails to take action against him for kidnapping Tuobodomhene, Nana Asare Baffuor, anytime soon.
“After kidnapping the Techimanhene, then the government, who has surprisingly kept mute about the atrocities committed by Nana Akumfi Ameyaw against the Tuobodomhene, can decide to come and face me here,” Otumfuo warned with a grim face.
He said it is then that the country will see the might of Asanteman, of which he is the spiritual leader, adding “I am a wise king who was well-trained by Nananom, that is why I have always acted according to the laws, but that does not mean Asantes are weak”.
Nana Akumfi Ameyaw, without provocation, allegedly hired ten stoutly built persons to kidnap Tuobodomhene, Nana Asare Baffuor, and hauled him to his palace, where they subjected him to severe beatings and later took off all his cloths.
Disturbingly, the Asantehene noted that the Techimanhene, who is alleged to have committed the crime because his government (NDC) is in power, is a free man whilst the Tuobodomhene is rather under police investigation for an alleged case that occurred about two years ago.
Fuming about the issue, Otumfuo said, “The government should from today choose between me, the Asantehene, and Techimanhene”, attracting a wild uproar from the charged Asante chiefs present.
He asked if the government is trying to tell him they have not heard about the barbaric acts that the Techimanhene has committed lately.
The angry-looking Asantehene was addressing the Asanteman Council at a hugely-attended meeting at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi which was also attended by the Tuobodomhene, Nana Asarer Baffuor.
Prior to Otumfuo’s address, the Tuobodomhene, who has kept mute ever since his kidnapping, broke his silence, recounting the harsh ordeal he suffered at the hands of Techimanhene in his palace.
“I was subjected to beatings and sometimes, at gun or knife point, they ordered me to denounce the Golden Stool and pay homage to Techimanhene to save my life, but I refused,” the Tuobomhene disclosed.
Otumfuo spat fire on the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister and Police Commander DCOP for being biased, urging the government to bring them to order as soon as possible to ensure peace.
The Asantehene said the Tano-Subin towns belong to him and he will never cede any of them to anyone, recounting how the Techimanhene has over the years tried in vain to get those towns illegally.
Before the Otumfuo unleashed the bombshell, the Asanteman Council seemed divided with regard to what the Asanteman’s action against the Techimanhene should be.
Whilst others were of the opinion that Otumfuo should declare war against Techiman, others urged him to hold his fire and petition the government to intervene to ensure peace.
In a related development, a group of machomen, mostly from the Zongo communities in Kumasi, interrupted the Asanteman meeting as they stormed the palace to seek Otumfuo’s order to face Techiman.
The machomen sang war songs such as “Asante Kotoko Oseee Yie tie tie Asante Kotokooo yie, yie yie”, as others chanted “Wokum apem apem beba”, just to indicate to Otumfuo that they are ready for battle.
The meeting ended with the slaughtering of sheep to pacify the Asante gods for unprinted remarks said to have been passed about Otumfuo by the Techimanhene, after he kidnapped the Tuobodomhene.
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