Residents of Cross River have staged a protest, demanding the reversal of the state government’s plan to privatize a cocoa estate. Thousands of smallholder farmers in Etung local government area of the state, participated in the peaceful demonstration.
The protesters displayed placards saying no to disenfranchisement and the planned privatization of their cocoa estate. Mbeki Agbortangban, the community leader, warned the state government not to violate the long-term agreement made with their predecessors.
The agreement states that for the land to be privatized by the government, the host community must be consulted first. The agitation comes following the government’s plan to privatize the cocoa estate despite the agreement.
He expressed that the community should have been consulted, as a result of the considerable portion of land offered. Mbeki cited a publication of the state council advertising for interested bidders to acquire the estate.
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Community-women leader Ntunkai Ndum demanded land to be returned if the government failed to support the state’s smallholder farmers. The youth leader, Abang Oji also warned that privatizing the cocoa estate will be a disadvantage to the host community.
He recalled the land’s 1957 donation by their grandparents, made under terms favorable to smallholder farmers’ interests. Abang disclosed that the privatisation of the land will cause unemployment which will affect the community youths.
In response, the state commissioner for agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo, has reassured that the government would respect their decisions. The governor of the state, Bassey Otu, has promised to review and address all policies that will lead to distress.
He therefore urged the community to remain calm and positive as the matter is being addressed and reviewed.
