From Ene Asuquo Calabar

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 Daily Asset yesterday in Càlabar.

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

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

He continued, “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 findings of investigation carried out by the six-man Crises Management Committee.

 He 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.

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

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