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Asuquo Cletus Felix
CALABAR – It is not news that Cross River State is war-torn with communal clashes taking the lead in majority of its Local Government Areas. In fact unconfirmed statistics has it that 15 out of the 18 local government areas are plagued with one form of communal crisis or the other with Obubra battling with the highest number of Communal violence.
Recently the world woke up to news of Ofatura and Ovunum Communities destroying properties and killing themselves over a piece of land they have been farming peaceably for centuries.
It was based on this that the Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN in Cross River State, Comrade Daniel Obo in partnership with Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta and a philanthropist in the Community Mr. Nsian Ogar fondly called Dubest had two separate town hall meetings with stakeholders, elders, youths and women of both communities seeking lasting solutions to the crisis that befell them.
Speaking during the visit to the community, Dan Obo said it was time for the community to take back their local government, and put war to rest, as Politicians are the sole benefactors of the war .
Dan Noted that apart from politicians benefiting from the war, it had become difficult for development to thrive in an area threatened by war and violence.
He said " It is time to take back your local government. If you take back your local government, and then give it back to your brother or friend you will naturally benefit.
" The first challenge we have is that we must take back our local government so that war will stop. If we take back our local government, our youth unemployment will stop, youth restiveness will also stop. We talk about cultism, what value do your own cultism bring to your people. There is no Government without cultism, so what value do you bring?
" Have you not seen cultists going to the Federal house, Senate or becoming state Governors? So why is your own cultism localized at home to fight war, carry it and go and bring power to your people, not carry it and fight in the community, it doesn't make sense to me. Do you think you have enough money or the manpower to fight war?. "He asked
Also speaking the State Coordinator, Partners For Peace In The Niger Delta, a Non-government organisation across the 9 Niger Delta States, which seeks to put an end to conflict within communities, Mr Ukorebi Esien also advised the communities to put away their swords so as to attract development to their communities.
According to him "I want to use this opportunity to please charge us as young persons let us not destroy ourselves. I keep saying this we are all leaders in our various straters and community, religious and youth leaders in various organizations.
" The number one priority of a leader is the protection of life's and properties. Why then do we want to prioritize the protection of properties before life? We struggle for land and don't care how many people will die on that land . The same land we will all die and leave, those who were farming on that land how many of them are still alive"
Mr. Nsian Ogar who donated food items and cash to various groups of both communities pleaded with members of the communities to lay down arms and continue the brotherly lifestyle they have always lived.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the visits, the philanthropist noted that he came with his widow's might to assist in cushion the effect of the crisis and also plead with them to live peacefully. He added that the talks and visitations will continue until peace is restored. He therefore called on the incoming administration to do its part in terms of proper boundary demarcation.