Ex-Special Adviser Cries Foul Over CRBC Cocoa  Demonstration Farm Abuse In C’River 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

Former Special Adviser (SA) to the immediate past Governor of Cross River State on Cocoa Development and Control, Ntufam Oscar Ofuka, has expressed concern over the mismanagement of a demonstration cocoa farm located at the premises of Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) Calabar.

The farm, established during Ofuka’s tenure, when he worked as a special Adviser under past Gov. Ben Ayade was meant to generate revenue for CRBC station, specifically to fund diesel procurement.

However, Ofuka discovered that individuals, allegedly from the Ministry of Agriculture, were harvesting cocoa pods without permission, and in a way that damages the plants.

Ofuka set up the farm to address frequent power outages at CRBC, which disrupted news broadcasts. 

He worked with the then-management of CRBC to establish the farm, solely to boost the station’s revenue.

“I am pained to see the farm being mismanaged,” Ofuka said. “It’s wrong to climb cocoa stems to harvest pods.

” That’s not how you harvest cocoa, and it’s damaging the plants.”

There’s a controversy between CRBC and the Ministry of Agriculture over who should manage the farm.
Reacting to the issue, General Manager (MD), Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) Mr. Sam Nsor, blast Ofuka for daring to deriding comments on the cocoa demonstration farm.

“Ofuka has no right to come into the CRBC premises to say people were climbing cocoa stems. He is no longer an appointee of government and so he is no longer in charge.

“Is he the SA on Cocoa. Does he have any  moral right  to come into my space or premises and begin to make comments on the demonstration farm? No he doesn’t have such right”. 

“I respect Ofuka so much because where I come from we do disrespect elders”. Nsor maintained.