Agborkim waterfall youths reject privatization of cocoa estate

Comrade Enoh Theophilus Ekuri, youth leader of Agborkim Waterfall community in Etung local government area of Cross River State, has called on the state chief executive, Governor Bassey Otu to scrap the planned privatization of cocoa estate, citing concerns about the community’s livelihood and potential rise in anti-social vices.

The youth leader made the call during an interactive session with journalists at Agborkim Waterfall community on Sunday.

He urged the state governor to perish the thought and consider it dead on arrival, saying cynically that it is easier for the state government to privatize the governor’s office than attempt to touch the cocoa plantation which is the mainstay of the community ‘s economic livelihood.

Ekuri who spoke few minutes before leading over 2000 community youths across Agborkim Carabooth (farm settlement) to Agbor Waterfall community protesting the planned privatization of government controlled cocoa estate, rejected privatization of the estate.

“We want our state governor, Bassey Otu, to have a re-think. I know that in government you have subordinates who flock around you, sometimes even giving you wrong advice.

“Some might even advise you to do a thing which ordinarily you might not want to indulge in, yet your subordinates might persuade you to do a thing which ordinarily you may not have done.

“Since this matter came up, these category of individuals have already become so afraid.

“To our very dear governor, we want to let you know that it is not every advice given to you by your subordinates that you should listen to.

“You promised us sweetness, let the season of sweetness that you promised us not turn to bitterness, he stated.

Earlier in his address to protesters, opinion leader Mr. Danis Owan, stated that privatization of the estate would plunge the community to abject poverty given the fact that the economy of the community hinges on cocoa production.

“We heard that our own oil well, our own milk industry that we benefit from, is about to be privatized by the state government.

Should this estate be privatized, it means we the youths will automatically become poor.

“Our fore fathers who donated the land to the state government did not do outright sale of our land.

“We heard state government have intention to privatize our estate. If you privatized the estate, you would have exposed our young men and women to various anti-social vices like theft, prostitution, armed robbery others.

“We plead that you don’t allow season of sweetness turn to bitterness”, he maintained.

Also speaking, a protester Miss Omom Ekuri -Bassey, urged Governor Otu not to force them to go into hook ups and prostitution

“We are angry with attempt by our dear State government to ceased our only source and means of livelihood”, she said.

Those of us who are yet to get married and are involved in cocoa farming cannot quit our farms to join prostitution, hook ups as a result of frustration that is bound to come with joblessness.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr Reporter)