Youth leader urges Gov Otu to Scrap privatization of Cocoa Estates  

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

As Cocoa crisis continues in Communities in the Central Senatorial district of Cross River, the Youth leader of Agbokim Waterfall community in Etung local government area of the State, Enoh  Theophilus Ekuri, weekend called  on the state 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 Agbokim Waterfall community on Sunday.

The youth leader  urged the governor  to perish the thought and consider the thought dead on arrival stressing 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 economy. 

The youth leader who spoke a few minutes before  leading over 2000 community youths across Agborkim Carabooth (farm settlement ) before thronging 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 categories  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 doesn’t 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 the youths will automatically become poor.

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

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“We heard the state government has the  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, etc.

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

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

“We are angry with the attempt by our dear  State government  to cease our only source and means of livelihood”,She maintained l.

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.