Erudite Nigerian scholar and two-time Minister, Prof. Tam David-West, shall be issued a query in keeping with Kalabari custom and tradition for insulting former militant leader, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari, the latter has said.

Though older than Dokubo, the 76-year-old famous Professor of Virology is forbidden from disrespecting the former rebel leader on account of his position in the family hierarchy as an Alabo or high traditional title holder.

Updating his Facebook friends on his public quarrel with his uncle, the 48 years old Dokubo said: “In Kalabari an Alabo in any family is older than the oldest member of the family.... The Alapus are the Fathers and Leaders of the family. It is a grave offence for a member of a family to insult or disrespect his Alabo....if it happens it will lead to death or banishment of the member....if he sort (sic) refuge with another family, town or Kingdom it will lead to serious crisis or even War....I was collectively made an Alabo in Kio Idoniboye-Obu family and Compound in Obuama and Buguma.....I am also an Alabo of Soku and the Idiomu Family the ancestral home of our progenitor....Soku Itaria....all these without any lobby from me.”

According to Dokubo, “Chidiadi sort (sic) to be Alabo in Kio Idoniboye-Obu compound and family in Obuama and Buguma....He was rejected by the family.....Any day he comes home he will be questioned about his unbecoming attitude....As long as Chidiadi (a.k.a Tam David-West) continue (sic) to insult and respect known Kalabari institutions he will be treated as the bastard that he is.”

As previously reported by News Express, the quarrel started when David-West demanded Dokubo’s trial for treason for declaring that there would be war and the consequent break-up of Nigeria if President Goodluck Jonathan is not re-elected in 2015. David-West, at various times Minister for Petroleum and for Mines, Power, and Steel, has promised to soon publish a dossier on Dokubo entitled “The Demystification of Asari-Dokubo.”

•Photo shows Prof. David-West.

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