By Akpan David, Calabar
Thousands of youths again poured into streets in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, telling Governor Bassey Otu not to privatise cocoa estates in their communities.
The protesting youths spoken to maintained that the government owned cocoa estates are their own oil wells.
The protests, which started four days ago, are continuing in Bendeghe Ekiem, Abia, and now in Agbokim Waterfall communities.
The locals have lamented that if the Privatization plan sails through, it is the youths that will be most affected.
A youth leader, Mr Danis Owan, stated that privatization of the estate would plunge the community to abject poverty given the fact that the economy of the community hinges on cocoa production.
“We heard that our own oil well, our own milk industry that we benefit from, is about to be privatized by the state government.
Should this estate be privatized, it means we the youths will automatically become poor.
“Our fore fathers who donated the land to the state government did not do outright sale of our land.
“If you privatize the estate ,you would have exposed our young men and women to various anti-social vices like theft, prostitution, armed robbery others.
“We plead that you don’t allow season of sweetness turn to bitterness”, he appealed.
Also speaking a protesters, Miss Omom Ekuri -Bassey, urged Governor Otu not to force them to go into ‘hook ups’ and prostitution
“We are angry with attempt by our dear State government to cease our only source and means of livelihood.
“Those of us who are yet to get married and are involved in cocoa farming. We cannot quit our farms to join prostitution hook ups as a result of frustration that is bound to come with joblessness”, Omom lamented.
Youth leader of Agborkim Waterfall community in Etung local government area of Cross River State, Comrade Enoh Theophilus Ekuri, called on Gov Otu to halt the planned privatization of cocoa estate.
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