By; VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
Prominent sons and daughters of Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, have appealed to youth in the waring communities to sheath their swords and embrace peace to end the crisis which has engulfed them for too long.
Property worth several millions of Naira were allegedly destroyed while so many lives have been claimed.
Sadly, the worst hit are the youth who have refused to weigh the repercussions but were ever ready to destroy and maim at will.
Following this ugly development, the chairman, Odukpani Leadership Academy and former Director General of Greater Calabar City Development Authority, Comrade Kingsley Ita Ikpeme and his team had over the past two weeks embarked on a courtesy call on stakeholders on the need to embrace peace.
One of such visit was on the Hon. Member, representing Odukpani State Constituency , Rt. Hon. Francis Bassey Asuquo in his office to preach the need for all stakeholders to come together to end the crisis.
He commended him for granting them the audience and his effort at restoring peace, law and order in Odukpani local government area through the various meetings with different groups .
Ikpeme said “there cannot be any meaningful development in an environment devoid of peace, law and order”.
The Academy, he said, “condemn in totality the frequent communal.clashes in Odukpani local government area”.
Also, he said, ” we have identified the communities in Odukpani local government area currently facing communal crisis and we are in talks with the youths, opinion leaders, security agencies and traditional rulers of the various communities to seek ways of resolving the, crisis”.
This, he said, “is the academy’s way of complementing the effort of the state government’s aim at sustaining peace, law and order in the state, for which Cross River State is noted for”.
The communities facing the crisis are Mbiabo/Obo-itiat/Ediong ward which traced the crisis since 2010 but mitigated and resurfaced.in 2018 claiming lives and property.
Also currently, he said that on the 13th and 14th of June, 2019, Idim Ndom community was attacked and mass causalities were recorded.
Currently, Atan Eki, Ekpene Eki, Obodio, Ndonwong, Afia Isong and Obiono communities are living in serious fear and apprehension”.
The group lauded the effort of the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade on his recent agitation for a better treatment of Cross River State by the Federal government.
The Academy frowned at the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon as well as the 76 oil Wells to Akwa Ibom state.
Earlier, Rt.Hon Asuquo, commended the leadership of the Academy for what they stand for and urged them not to relent.
He sued for peace amongst the warring communities and called on sons and daughters of Odukpani not to seat on the fence and allow Odukpani to be destroyed.
It would be recalled that some people have been completely sacked from their ancestral homes following communal crisis in the Local government.
