Efio-Ita Nyok|9 August 2016
On Planned Protest for the Scrap of Mobile Courts in Cross River State: Concerned Cross River State Citizens and Business Men and Women Sue For Legal Action
The planned arrangements for a peaceful demonstration against the use of Mobile Court as a vehicle of extortion by the Ben Ayade's government will not hold tomorrow as earlier planned. This is not as a result of fear or compromise of any sort.
Mobilizations for the protest was in its final stage with the drivers Union, Keke drivers Union, business men and women Union fully galvanized. The event was agreed to be covered by a correspondent from Channels TV.
In consultation with stakeholders and concerned citizens, the option of civil disobedience was jettisoned. The fact that Ayade's government is replete with cultists who may disrupt the peace of the demonstration and steal show to cause social unrest is the reason for the shelving of the protest. The option of due process of law through litigation adopted as a more civil action.
In a meeting with the business men and women, concerned citizens of Cross River State especially those most affected by the raid and extortion by the Ben Ayade's government had accepted to galvanize themselves to challenge the government in court.
In a consultative meeting with concerned business men and women, the citizens decried the insensitivity of the government. More painful is the fact that a government that had failed to provide security for them is at forefront of extorting monies from them.
Some of the businesses that were charged to the mobile court were also affected by the robbery incident that doted Calabar some few weeks ago. Some of the business men and women pointedly held that the robbery incidents in Calabar was as a result of the ineptitude of the government. These business men and women regretted sitting their businesses in Cross River State and threatened to move their businesses from Calabar if the government does not stop the act of extortion on them.
Two business outfits present in the meeting, recounted that a government that ought to empathize with them after their businesses were robbed, rather joined in harassing their workers and charging them to mobile court for environmental reasons. The offence of one of the business outfit was an alleged claim by the government officers that rats and cobwebs were found in their business promises. These business outfits were fined by the government with penalties ranging from #100,000 to #350,000.
He who goes for equity must go with clean hands. A government that operates in rat ridden areas and cobweb infested environment lacks the moral standing to charge citizens based on environmental reasons. A walk round government owned establishment inclusive of offices and schools reveals that the government operates in dirtier environment than private most business outfits. Where lie the justice in the action of the government? It is obvious that the government is in a voyage to extort money from helpless citizens.
I call on concerned citizens and business men and women to forward their experience of extortion to me through my Facebook messenger and phone number for a better assessment of all issues to aid our legal team institute a good legal action against the government.
Injustice to one injustice to all. Together we can stop the cabal in government that is poised to drive businesses from our state
Joseph Odok
Social Change Agent
07069363172
