Cross River Youths Seek Review Of Allocation Of Govt Cocoa Estate

A group of youths in Bendeghe Ekiem community, Etung local government area of Cross River State, Monday took to the streets in a protest, calling for review of ongoing allocation of government cocoa farms by the Ebori Nku led committee inaugurated by Gov. Bassey Otu.

The protesting youths described as injustice and marginalization of youths in  the allocation of government  cocoa farms in Etung local government area in the state.

Speaking to journalists in Bendeghe Ekiem community Etung local government area of Cross River State, one of the youth leaders in the area, Mr. Aton Mgbe, accused the Ebori Nku led community of marginalising the youths probably because he felt they aren’t rich.

“Why we are agitating for review is because if you are giving a statistics of a 100 per cent, take for instance in a particular community, and you allocate 95 per cent to individuals whom we don’t really know where they hail from.

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“And then you allocate only five per cent to community youths who are indegenes and the five per cent you are giving to them is not viable. We are not quarreling with anybody. What we want is let the right thing be done.

“The youths are actually not happy with the sharing formula adopted by the allocation committee. We are graduates who had taken a decision to go fully into agriculture unfortunately the farms have been allocated to friends, associates and bigger companies leaving us so frustrated, “Mgbe maintained.

Another aggrieved youth, Bright Agbor who also expressed youths grievances, said,  “Our farms have been allocated to companies,. As I speak to you, poor people in our community were schemed out from acquisition of cocoa plots.

“Those who even bought the forms are yet to be allocated farms.  A lot of our community youths who paid money to government account don’t even have farms.  So where are our farms?”Agbor queried.