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| Protesting Nigerian youths under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN in Calabar |
5 July 2019
Nigerian youths both resident in and indigenous to Cross River have cued behind the Government of Cross River State, CRSG in requesting for the return of the 76 oil wells ceded to neighbouring Akwa Ibom State, proper implementation of the Green Tree Agreement, poor execution of NDDC projects in the state, federal government licence to explore discovered natural resources and the like NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
The youths under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN Thursday protested to the offices of the Cross River State House of Assembly, CRSHA and the Office of the Governors of the state to press the demands.
While addressing a section of the state legislators present at the House of Assembly complex, the leadership of the youths observed that ‘Few days ago His Excellency reminded us of our epileptic nature when you talk about states in Nigeria. His Excellency reminded us of that we are been suffering from Kwashiokor when you talk about feeding in the country. They’ve fed well and then allow the crumbs to get to us. Simply because Cross River State has always been used to negotiate for other to eat and grow their tummy.
‘You can also recall Mr Speaker that Cross River State was sacrificed for certain persons selfish interest by the ceding of Bakassi and up till today the Green Tree Agreement has not been kept. The Federal Government has shown nonchalant attitude —It is because it is Cross River State; and because we are peace loving people… Mr Speaker we are saying that in this generation we don’t want to be peaceful again.
‘Tell the Federal Government to compensate us properly since they have collected our 76 oil wells and gave it to Akwa Ibom. Tell them to resettle the Bakassi people. Tell the Federal Government that if they cannot do all these things, why can’t they approve all the state government projects put on ground by this administration : if we had the Superhighway and deep-sea port we will be competing with those in Lagos. If you go to Lagos you don’t see SAs and PAs. You see CEOs of companies. We will be glad to be called CEOs and MDs of companies if our deep-sea port is working. Again, let them approve the Odukpani power plant’.
On his part, Comr Joe Coco-Bassey who went down memory lane said that he was in the youth contingent because of the issue in contention. He narrated how in 2001/2002 when Bakassi Peninsula was going to be ceded, as students they resisted the development then but the state government and security operatives trailed them. For him he said that they didn’t know then that the Bakassi palava would persist until now. He appreciated the state government for drawing our attention to the plight of the states? He observed that every Nigerian has equal rights whether or not you are from the North or South. He tasked the legislator to impress it upon the Federal Government to know that Cross River deserves its rightful place in the comity of states.
Comr Ajie Paul Abang Abang on his part drew the attention of the 9th Assembly to the fact that if nothing was done in respect of the issues already referred to by previous speakers posterity will not forgive them. He sued for unity in this struggle. His words in part, ‘you and your members are the brand newest lawmakers that should be hungry of what to tell the National Assembly and the Presidency of the Problems that Cross River State are facing… Until our yearnings and aspirations are met Nigerians will know no peace’.
While responding the Speaker of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams assured the youths that the state legislature who shared a similar sentiments with the youths said the Assembly will not sleep until the FG realises the incursions against us and aspirations are met. He traced the entire incident to the era of the 7th Assembly. Williams who encouraged them to continue with the protest said the Assembly was reenergised. According to him, ‘your pain is our pain, we are with you. If you say we should go on hunger strike, all of us will join you, it is not just a thing of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, it’s a matter of every Cross Riverian’.
