C'River Dep. Governor Foils Sharing Of 108m Ayib-Eku Oil Palm Rent
... Asks Landlord Communities To Devise Equitable Sharing Formula
Hannah ARIKPO
The Cross River State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has advised the Ayib - Eku Palm Oil Limited in Akamkpa local government, against releasing funds as payment of rent to landlord Communities in the area, until an agreement is reached on a sharing formula.
Odey, who gave the directive during a meeting between the Company and representatives of the five host Communities in Akamkpa local government, namely, Okarara, Iku, Abung, Akor, and New Ndebiji, urged the indigent landlords to amicably resolve their differences before any payment can be done.
The Deputy Governor stressed the need for the resolution of the disagreement between Ayib - Eku company and its landlords and report back to government so as to end the over a decade clash.
"There should be a documented agreement, so that if any party is in breach of what has been agreed, then the law will take it's course", Odey emphasized.
He directed the Ministry of Crop & Irrigation Development to facilitate a meeting with representatives of the host Communities to enable them agree on a fair and acceptable formula to enhance the outstanding settlement of their rents from the company.
"Both the company and the Communities needed to be happy at the end of the day, because a company that is paying hundreds of millions to both the government and the landlord Communities should be allowed an enabling environment to operate and make profit", the Deputy Governor explained.
In his briefing, the Board Chairman, Ayib - Eku Oil Company Limited, Hon. John Gaul Lebo, who was accompanied to the meeting by the Managing Director of the company, including key management staff disclosed that the company had prepared bank draft in the value of one hundred and eight million naira for the host Communities and expressed hope that the impasse which has prevented the company from making profits for so many years will be put to rest immediately.
On the equitable distribution of the rents, Lebo explained that the company was allocating funds based on the land holding as described in the survey map by the Federal government showing rivers and valleys between one Community and another.
"I plead with our host Communities to discuss among themselves the boundaries, ...if different from what is contained in the survey plan provided by the Federal Government", Lebo begged.
He praised the proactive approach of the Prince Otu led administration which has brought to an end the disagreement between the company and the host Communities.
In an address, the Ayib - Eku Estate Landlords Joint Council, appreciated the state government for appointing two of their children into cabinet positions and appealed for more.
They called for government intervention to ensure that the company assumes it's corporate social responsibility to the communities like other agro - allied companies in the state.
