Etop Umoidem
Aka Ibom Indigenes residing in Calabar, Cross River State have been subjected and exposed to several degrees of unruly, inhumane, and irrational hostile attitude by the people and Government of Cross River State.
In a sudden turn of events, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers State has been allegedly accused of paying no attention or deaf ear to this uncivilised treatment meted out to the people of of Akwa Ibom State living in his State by his people.
One of the victims of this ethnic prejudice, Otuekong Okon Akpan Etok, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, who has spent greater part of his life in Calabar narrated his ordeal in the hands of the agents of Cross River State Government when his private building located at No 6 Effiong Bassey Avenue, off Efioette junction by MCC Road was unlawfully demolished and properties worth millions of naira crated away on the order of one Hon. Efefiong Nta Ekeng, a former Chairman of Calabar Municipal Council and the Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Pius who are hiding under the cloaks of the Government of Cross River State to perpetuate evils against indigenes of Akwa Ibom State.Okon Etok an indigene of Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, said his personal building has been there for twenty-three years now without been labeled as an unlawful structure or pose any environmental treat to the area; thus, one wonders what would have prompted such inexplicable antagonism by Hon. Ekeng and Commissioner for Works to carry out the demolition of his house without any recourse. “Of particular concern is the brazen impunity diaplayed by Hon Efefiong Nta Ekeng and the Commissioner for Works to demolish only my house in the street, while other houses are still there untouched”. Otuekong Etok said.
Also read: Pst Umo Eno: Compensating Individuals Adequately for Their Contributions
The Akwa Ibom born businessman disclosed that when he confronted Mr. Ekeng on the rationale behind their actions, he simply responded that himself and the Hon Commissioner for Works were authorized (orders came from the above) to get rid of indigenes of Akwa Ibom State and their properties in Calabar; a scenario that portrays the Governor, Senator Bassey Otu as the man who gave the order from the above to effect the demolition of his house. Hence, this action by Hon Efefiong Nta Ekeng and Commissioner for Works has rendered Otuekong Okon Akpan Etok and his family homeless.
It may be said that there has been pocket of discriminations between the people of Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State since the creation of the later from Cross River State. This seeming cold war has pitched indigenes of both States at dagger drawn for years now. However, Otuekong Okon Etok has passionately appealed to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, to kindly intervene in this ethnic crisis between the people of Cross River State and Akwa Ibom as they share almost everything in common.
