Women, youths in Cross River community issue 14 days ultimatum to Agric Commissioner to rescind decision on privatization; Abia community joins protest

The women and youths of Bendeghe Ekiem community in Etung local government area in Cross River State have given the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, a 14-day ultimatum to rescind the planned privatization of government-controlled estate or be ready to see the women dance round the cocoa plantation necked.

The community women and youths issued the threat during Friday’s protest organized by youths and women in the community to express their displeasure over the development.

In a separate interview on the issue, Bendeghe Ekiem community women leader Ntunkai Mary Obi, and the women head, chief Helen Ogar, charged the commissioner to reach out to the leaders of their community to dialogue on the issue to enable them know the next line of action.

“Starting from today, we have given 2 weeks ultimatum to the commissioner for Agriculture, to get back to us after this protest for us to dialogue otherwise we will continue with the protest.

“If the commissioner failed to get back to us, we will do as our culture demands. In our culture nobody comes to us, we will go to the estate necked, and walk round the estate before leaving it for the government to occupy.

Also speaking, town council chairman, Mr. Etta Atu-Ojua, in company of the youth leader, comrade Tandu Kingsley expressed their displeasure over the planned privatization of the estate, urging the Agric Commissioner Mr. Johnson Ebokpo to make a U-turn on the decision to privatise the estate, so that the community will not be plunged into criminality.

“We have instances where our youths took to crime, committing all manner of crimes, until God decided to touch their hearts as a result of the functional estate.

“We knew what our community went through in the hands of youths. Unless the commissioner wants to tell us that he is seeking for avenue to send our youths to prison.

“Like the saying goes an idle man’s heart is a workshop for the devil. The plantation is like an industry that engages our young men. Can’t you see how energetic that they are “?  He questioned.

The community youths vowed to continue with the protest should the commissioner fail to give a listening ear to their agitation.

“The land is ours. Cocoa is theirs, we are ready to allow the commissioner to pull off their cocoa trees and take them away, so that we can have access to our land to re-plant our own stems. Cocoa is our oil. Cocoa is our goal nobody can take it away from us.”. The duo maintained.

They warned that the decision would plunge the community into criminality and urged the commissioner to have re- consider that decision.

The community demands that the government rescind the decision to privatize the cocoa estate, engage in dialogue instead, with the community stakeholders, allow the community to take back their land if the government is no longer interested in managing the estate.

The community youths vowed to continue the protest if their demands are not met, emphasizing that the land belongs to them and they are willing to take it back.

And in a similar manner, Abia community has also joined Etomi community in protesting against Privatisation policy.

The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions – “Our estate isn’t for sale, “Give us our land back if you’re tired of running the cocoa plantations”, expressed their opposition to the government ‘s plan.

The protesters highlighted several concerns, including the lack of access roads, poor learning environments, and limited youth employment opportunities. They stressed that privatization is not an acceptable solution and demanded that the government reconsider its decision.

The community claims that the government planted cocoa on their donated land, and they were promised engagement opportunities for youths and women in managerial positions.

“The government has failed to pay the community’s royalty, further aggravating the situation. They claimed that lacked of basic amenities had been an issue unresolved by the state government, calling on the state government to have a re-think and deal with infrastructure problems faced by Abia community.

They said that the community lacks access roads, electricity, good learning environments and employment opportunities.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr. Reporter)