Cross River: Protest Rocks Etung Community Over Move to Privatise Cocoa Estate
By Ndifereke Bassey
A wave of protests swept through the Agbokim Waterfall community in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State on Saturday, as residents voiced strong opposition to an alleged plan by the state government to privatise the cocoa estate, which spans several hectares of land.
Over 2,000 youths took to the streets, marching from Agbokim Carabooth (a local farm settlement) through the heart of Agbokim Waterfall community. The demonstrators carried placards with inscriptions such as “You can’t sell what belongs to the people” and “Cocoa is our heritage, not for sale.”
Speaking after the protest, the Youth Leader of Agbokim Waterfall community, Comrade Enoh Theophilus Ekuri, condemned the proposed privatisation, warning that it would severely impact the community’s economy and livelihood.
“The cocoa plantation is the mainstay of our economy,” Ekuri said. “It would be easier for the state government to privatise the governor’s office than to touch this estate. This move, if allowed, could push our youths into anti-social behaviours due to rising unemployment and frustration.”
Ekuri urged Governor Bassey Otu to reconsider the decision, warning that listening to poor advice from subordinates could undermine the administration’s vision.
“Your Excellency, not all advice is good advice,” he said. “You promised us a season of sweetness. Please don’t let it turn to bitterness. The land our forefathers gave was never sold; it was entrusted to the state to benefit the people—not to be sold off.”
Also addressing the crowd, community elder Mr. Danis Owan described the planned privatisation as an act that could plunge the area into extreme poverty.
“This estate is our oil well, our dairy industry, and our only economic lifeline,” Owan said. “Privatising it will rob our youths of their future and open the door to crime, prostitution, and other social vices. We appeal to the government not to take this dangerous path.”
Miss Omom Ekuri-Bassey, a concerned youth and cocoa farmer, added a passionate plea to the governor, warning that women and young girls may be forced into “hookups” and prostitution if their source of income is taken away.
“We are angry and disappointed,” she said. “Many of us are unmarried and depend on cocoa farming. Taking this away could drive us into desperate choices. We don’t want to be pushed into a life of shame due to joblessness.”
The protesters have called on Governor Otu to uphold his administration’s promise of prosperity and inclusion and to preserve the cocoa estate as a community asset essential for survival and dignity.
