by crossriverwatch admin
The Cross River State House of Assembly has ordered former Abi Council Chairmen who have presided over the affairs of the council during the past three tenures, Mr Eko Atu, Mr Frank Etta, Mr Chucks Agube along with the current Chairman Edith Amadi to appear before the plenary session of the House.
Hon John Gaul Lebo the member representing Abi State Constituency in the State House of Assembly moved the motion for the invitation of the three former council chairmen along with the chiefs of Ediba and Usumutong and other community leaders within seven days to explain the efforts being made to curtail the incessant communal crises that occur in the council area.
John Gaul stated that economic and developmental projects are being hampered owing to constant friction between communities in the area. “Government cannot negotiate its right because it exists to protect the lives and property of all and above that, provide infrastructure and services which can benefit the people and if such right is under threat, no responsible government will stand by and watch”.
He said the Assembly needed to take action because squabbles between Inosokpe community of Ediba and Ekpokpor community in Usumutong which has held up the construction of the Usumutong- Afafanyi Road for several years and it now recurred last week and two persons are missing in the area. “These two villages are led by two young men in their early thirties and they do not listen to the advice of the elders and traditional rulers and are leading their communities towards strife”.
The Law Maker said the two chiefs have been arrested and during the interaction with the Chairmen and leaders of the communities, security agencies will be invited to provide more information and shed more light on security reports in the area.
He also made reference to the Ebijakara and Ebom Community conflict in 2005 which has defied peaceful settlement owing to the uncompromising attitude of the warring communities. “BORDERCOM has awarded contract for the construction of infrastructure like health center, schools, but each time contractors mobilized to site, youths from both sides went there to chase them away and yet these contractors have collected mobilization from government”
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