Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday commenced payment of rents/royalties owed Etung cocoa landlord communities for the parcels of land they donated to state government for cocoa plantation.
The development brought jubilation among chiefs and cocoa landlord communities during the stakeholders town hall meeting held in Ikom.
Ayade’s special adviser on cocoa development and control, Ntufam Dr Oscar Ofuka, who broke the news to the landlord communities, stated that Ayade was passionate on payment of rents/royalties owed the landlords as promised earlier.
Ofuka stated that the payment was a top priority on the agenda of the Ben Ayade’s administration whose major pre-occupation is to see that the cocoa landlord communities are happy.
He debunked the rumour that the state government had outrightly refused to defray the debts owed the cocoa landlord communities.
He stressed that Cross River State under the watch of Prof. Ben Ayade was ready to go extra mile and ensure that it puts an end to the issue of debts.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Oliver Orok, called for calm, stressing that the strategy used to defray the debts remained the best as it provides opportunity for the landlords communities to decide whatever formula to be used in sharing their money.
Chairman of the cocoa landlords communities, Etung LGA of Cross River State, retired AIG Njar Ngor Egbe Njom, while confirming the alert of N12.5m said, “You can check my phone if you are in doubt, the money is here”.
The retired AIG who called for peace and unity of the landlord communities, said; “Learn to trust people, especially when you grant someone responsibility.
“As a committee set up by our people, our mandate was to make recovery of rents/royalties owed the cocoa landlords communities by the state government for the land they occupied.
“Many had accused us of collecting the money and embezzling it. I worked with the federal government for 35 years and retired after years of meritorious service and never stole, is it from my community that I would steal?”
“If you look at my phone, the money is trickling in. More is still comming in. This would put to rest the allegegations leveled against our committee by the ‘doubting Thomas’. He maintained.
