Otu's Gov't Would Strengthen Youths' Involvement In Agribusiness Through Equitable Cocoa Allocation - Officials
By Ebi COLLINS
Cross River Youths have been assured of equitable allocation of cocoa plots in the State Cocoa Estate as the present administration's commitment to plunge them to commercial agriculture.
The assurances were given by Etung Stakeholders, on Wednesday, at the grand reception organised by 'De Nexus' (a politically conscious youth organization) in honour of the Chairman, Cross River Cocoa Allocation and Regeneration Committee, Prince Cosmas Ebori Nku, held at Ajassor Mission, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Declaring the event open, the Chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, reiterated Governor Bassey Otu's resolve to redirect youthful energies of Cross River Youths to profitable ventures in order to launch them to economic prosperity.
According to the Commissioner, part of economic roadmap is the fair and equitable allocation of cocoa plots to Cross Rivererians, especially the youths, in order to curb restiveness and other attendant vices characterize by youthful exuberance.
Dr. Ayuk enjoined the people of Etung to continue to align with the visionary leadership of Senator Bassey Otu, whom, he said, is poised to take Cross River from the doldrums to greater heights and make it an envy in the comity of Nigerian states.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Cross River Cocoa Allocation and Regeneration Committee, Prince Cosmas Ebori Nku, who thanked De Nexus for the honour accorded him in a reception at his hometown, admonished the youths to insulate themselves against undue tension as the Cocoa Estate is meant to empower the people and engender a win-win business situation between the government and the governed, rather than self-aggrandizement or scoring cheap political points.
The Ajassor-born Chairman assured the people of carrying out an allocation of cocoa plots to the vast majority of youths with the view to strengthening them with a means of livelihood, also reminding them, however, of the impossibility of reaching out to everybody in the current cocoa allocation.
Leading the outpour of goodwill messages, the former Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Patrick Ebam Emanghe, expressed delight at the camaraderie that greeted the reception in honour of Prince Nku, describing it as a return to the good days where the people honour their own.
Expressing believe in the Nku-led Cocoa Allocation and Regeneration Committee, Mr. Emanghe reassured the people that the present Cocoa allocation would be the best in the Estate's existence.
He also called on the people to always cue behind the Otu-led administration which is a proponent of equity, justice and fairness, which would be exemplified in the allocation of cocoa to deserving applicants.
Following suit, former Commissioner for Infrastructure, Mr. Okoma Inyang, informed that given the present administration's pedigree, the cocoa allocation would be done in conformity with the 'People First' mantra of the Otu-led leadership.
Among other numerous people who spoke, the hue and cry of the generality of masses is hinged on the appeal to government to empower the youths through sustainable wealth creation with the allocation of cocoa plots.
