Nyok|10 July 2018
The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Mr Ben Ayade, who is presently on an official vacation has been deemed not to have any business with such vacation. His vacation has been considered to be undeserved. Similarly, the lawmaker representing Cross River North at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Rose Oko, as well as the State Security Adviser (SSA) to the Governor of the State, Mr Jude Ngaji, have been advised to relocate from Abuja and Calabar respectively to Yala NegroidHaven has garnered.
This call for relocation of the trio back to the state and Yala in particular was made, Monday, by public affairs analyst, Mr Simon Utsu, against the backdrop of the ongoing perceived ethnic cleansing by the Izzi people of neighbouring Ebonyi State on the people of southern Ukelle in Yala, Cross River. Utsu argued that Ngaji should now prove his mettle as SSA, while noting that Oko has no business in the nation's capital seeing that a part of her constituents is under fire.
Utsu who expressed reservations describing the communal differences in Yala as land grabbing, submitted that the Izzi were on an ethnic cleansing mission in Cross River. He condemned the killings, while describing the Izzi as a 'troublesome lot'.
His words, 'At a time like this, Governor Ayade has no business taking a holiday —an underserved one for that matter! What has he achieved in the seven months of 2018 that he’s taking his annual vacation? Senator Rose Oko also has no business in Abuja now that her Yala backyard is on serious fire! Jude Ngaji should also prove his mettle! He’s the state security adviser and only takes delight in in zooming around Calabar at past midnight with a over a dozen red-eyed louts, disturbing the peace of the city with his noisy sirens all in the name of security patrol. He should also relocate his office in the meantime to Yala where he hails from!
Earlier he had said, 'What is happening in Ukelle community in northern Cross River isn’t just land grabbing but also ethnic cleansing. It’s highly condemnable! The Izzi people of Ebonyi seem to be a very troublesome lot! Cross River has land boundaries with Abia state and Akwa Ibom but never before has it witnessed such a vicious onslaught from a neighbor like what is currently being experienced.
'The Izzi people of Ebonyi have borders with both Obubra and Yala local government areas of Cross River and in the last few months, their bloodthirsty militia have attacked both LGAs leaving hundreds of casualties in their wake. I understand the Izzi people want their land boundaries shifted deep into Cross River territory and that’s the only condition their holding out for peace to return. It has also been rumored that they’re being sponsored by their ‘big men’.
While suing for peace, the social commentator observed that the Izzi wouldn't have been that successful in their killing spree had they taken such bloodthirsty disposition to Obudu and Yakurr, all in Cross River State.
According to him, 'I also implore my friends up here from Ebonyi and Igboland to advice their people back home to listen to the voice of reason and drop their arms.
'On the flipside, the Izzi people should count themselves lucky that they took the fight to the ‘weak’ side of Cross River. I doubt if scores would have been the same if they had boundaries with Obudu or Yakurr.'
Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
