Mbume traditional rulers restrain Gov. Otu from ejecting

……Mbume traditional rulers restrain Gov. Otu from ejecting cocoa plots allottees of past administration

Traditional Rulers of Mbume Blocks of Clans, in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State have kicked against ejection of allottees of cocoa plots by immediate past administration.

The monarchs urged Governor Bassey Otu, not to eject cocoa farms allottees with genuine paper of payment to government coffers to avoid violence outbreak in the LGA.

Chairman, Crises Management Committee, Mbume Blocks of clans, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State ( Cocoa host communities) Ntufam Odu Ndep Moses, made this known in an interview with NATIONAL ACCORD in Càlabar.

Ndep advised Governor Out led administration to make use of the remaining 3,137 hectares unallocated by immediate past administration to avoid any crises outbreak within the host communities.

“Statistics revealed that 1,415 hectares were allocated out of a total of approximately 4,552 hectares. Government can still make use of the remaining 3,137 hectares to avoid crises outbreak within the host communities.” Ndep maintained.

“From what we gathered, it was from the allocation of the 1,414 hectares as a way to execute the court’s consent judgement by past administration that up to N30 million was lodged into state government’s account by immediate past administration.

He said that findings from his committee shows that money collected from allocation of 1,415 hectares by previous administration was used to defray 16-year old royalty and debt which state government owed cocoa land lord communities.

Ndep stated that the advice stems from the findings of investigation carried out by the six-man Crises Management Committee.

Ndep averred that the allegations by Hon. Cosmos Ebori Nku’s led Taskforce that allottees of cocoa plots from previous administration encroached into farm lands was false.

“It is on record that the allottees paid required fees into the coffers of Cross River State Government before they were ushered to take possession of the allotted farms.

“The threat of eviction is based upon misinformation or ignorance is potentially explosive. There have been more than enough blood letting in Etung.

Mbume traditional rulers restrain Gov. Otu from ejecting cocoa plots allottees of past administration

“We therefore urged restraint a d strongly advise against any measure that may result to violent clashes to say the least.” He stressed.

Mbume blocks of clans made up of Abia, Bendeghe Ekiem and Etomi in Etung LGA, said it was due to debt owed the cocoa land lords communities that prompted the lands communities to dragged the state government under former Gov. Liyel Imoke, to court in suit No: HE/16/2013.

The monarchs urged Governor Otu to continue with make payment of royalties and rent to landlords communities.

Taskforce Chairman on Cocoa Allocation and Rehabilitation Committee, Mr. Cosmos Ebori Nku, in a telephone conversation, assured that he would do everything humanly possible to ensure that there is no crises outbreak in the government owned cocoa estate, which is the host communities of Etung.

Meanwhile, ex- Commissioner for Agriculture in the immediate past administration, Mr. Oliver Orok, said, “it is unfair to push allottees out from farms after they genuinely paid money into government’s account.

……Mbume traditional rulers restrain Gov. Otu from ejecting cocoa plots allottees of past administration