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| High Chief Higgins Peters |
On Tuesday, concerned Yala youths and media practitioners paid a courtesy visit to interact with one of the critical stakeholders in Yala and Cross River State, the highly respected, High Chief Higgins Peters.
The visit and discussion which was led by Mr Ebriku John Friday was against the backdrop of the lingering land dispute between the sister communities; Itega Okpame and Oba of Yala LGA of Cross River State, hence the major reason for the courtesy visit and interaction to avail us the opportunity to understand the position of the high chief on the matter.
Those in attendance include: Ebriku John Friday, Emaluji Sunday Michael, Francis Peters, Ogar Wodah, Sunday Odey, Adoga Oyilichi Michael, Riwo Daniel etc.
The meeting was conveyed by Comr. Francis Peters on the premise of the various questions agitating the minds of many Yala sons and daughters as pushed by the, Team leader, Mr Ebriku.
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| Team leader Ebriku John Friday |
The meeting started at about 4:20pm with brief remarks from Mr Francis Peters and Mr Ebriku John. Thereafter, the team leader Mr Ebriku started the discussion with the question on the lingering land dispute between Oba/Itega-Okpame and the efforts so far made by High Chief Higgins and the impact of his laudable efforts in restoring peace.
Chief Higgins Peters in his wisdom took us through memory lane, educating on journey to the whole matter. He said he has not been sleeping over the matter, in fact, if there's anyone on this matter the most since it started it should be me, chief said.
Speaking further, High Chief Higgins said, what is happening at home is a result of Pride, Cultism, broken family moral values, political differences, rumour. etc.
"the land in question may belong to an individual, but due to pride the communities are all fighting and killing each other for it," chief said.
He noted that "the greatest enemy of life is pride, and the greatest weapon in life is humility. Pride take you to war, humility take you to talking table."
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| High Chief Higgins with team |
He also said, cultism is also on the increase in the communities thereby fueling the crisis. "Nowadays, you see youths walking on the street shoulders-high as cultist and people including their parents are afraid of them. They are the ones fueling the crisis". Chinue Achebe was prophetic when he said, "The falcons can no longer hold the falconers". Today, parents can no longer control their children."
He added that rumours is also contributing to the crisis negatively. He said, "the most dangerous that kill is rumours, not weapons."
While lamenting the state of things, he further said, failing family system, broken family values is posing huge challenge and fueling crisis not just in Oba/Itega-Okpame but the entire Yala.
He said, he receives countless of calls on daily bases from home regarding the crisis of how this community has attacked our farm, this one has done that. But on investigation he will discover nothing of such ever happened.
"I'm an 'Oloba', not 'oyioloba' again and I have been neutral on this matter. My neutrality has endeared me to the two communities.
High Chief also emphasized that, all interests be shunned while talking peace else they wouldn't be true and absolute peace. He said, the notice of the peace meeting by the tactical committee was sent to him, he looked at itnand knew the talk wouldn't end well because the Itega people has given him their words that any peace meeting he will attend, they will gladly honor and accept any outcome because he is the one that had showed neutrality since the matter started. He said it is time for all parties to seat on the same table in humility and dialogue for peace.
He stressed that Leadership in any community or environment, is not elective, it is bestowed. It comes natural. We have people in elective offices, appointive but I can tell you that one of the strongest points is when you react to the interest of your people when it's best needed.
High Chief Higgins said there's hope for lasting peace. He said the Yala Progressive Union YPU, Calabar Chapter, are already on the matter. "They called me and I gave them my word for my availability. The meeting will be held 23rd of December by 12pm. Everybody will attend, all stakeholders will be in attendance. I will make sure Distinguished Senator Rose Oko, Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom, Rt. Hon Regina Anyogo, etc are present to witness everything for the sake of tomorrow, and I will remain neutral as ever". He further stated that, for total peace without interference no external body like the police, Army etc will be invited to attend the meeting.
On the whole, the group satisfactorily applauded High Chief Higgins for his positions so far since the beginning of the crisis. The group was aware of his huge role in curbing the physical confrontation by both communities. The High Chief was in top gear also Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba and the Yala Security Council came in thereafter. Barr. Eba also did amazingly well.
Chief concluded that, "Yala people should remember the Yala value of the family system. "my greatest strength is to see to how people will succeed in life and not to kill. I will never do anything to hurt any region in Yala"
Also, haven satisfactorily noted the position of High Chief Higgins on the crisis, the team leader Mr Ebriku moved again swiftly to the area of economy of the State.
Mr Ebriku Asked, "Sir, as the Vice Chairman of the debt Management and economy review committee set up by His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade, What is the stake fornthe development of the state, particularly the dilapidated roads across the state including your home town Yala and the misunderstood APPEALS Projects.
Chief Higgins took us on another tutorial down the economic lane. The High Chief said, one of the strongest points of a leader is the interest of his people; when you react to it promptly.
On APPEALS, Chief said, the project is a wonderful one that should be embraced but no matter the beauty of a policy, if the people are not properly informed they will misinformed themselves and take to fight. The information dissemination on the APPEAL project wasn't done properly.
Again, before embarking on a project, you first check the environmental impact on the people and put up measures to tackle whatever challenges that may arise.
"When the people doesn't have information, whatever they get is their information" - Chief said.
On the economy of the state, the Chief said, Cross River State under Ayade is really doing well. Ayade is a smart, intelligent, very visionary man but he is infallible. No man is infallible. There's need to exercise patience With Ayade.
"The problem with some of the roads is that, there are federal Government roads (Trunk A) and the FG has warned state Government not to touch their roads. Because some state government constructed road with N10 billion but lied to the FG that N100 billion was used." The Mfom - Okuku road is a trunk B road now and will be done soon. The problem with the state is that, there's no money. Cross River State debt rate is so high that monthly allocation can't do anything for the state after the deduction by the debt management office to service the state's debt." "As its stands, Cross River is about the 2nd highest indebted state" From last year Cross River was the 5th most performing state in terms of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
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| Comr. Francis Peters briefing High Chief on the reason for the visit. |
The High Chief said, the rice mill in northern Cross River State is about the biggest and most modern rice mill in the world at the moment. The mill is to produce 8000 tones of rice per hour, 52 trailers of rice will leave the factory daily. "If the rice mill is fed well, Cross River State will generate huge revenue from rice exportation. Thanks to the smartness of Ayade.
In conclusion, chief advised that, Cross River State belongs to all Cross Riverians. Everyone is a stakeholder in the state and must be heard and listened to. The critical stakeholders are the policy makers and ones that see to the wellbeing of the people (stakeholders). The youth must rise up to the task and present themselves to lead for the betterment of the state. All hope is not lost, while we thank God for giving us a smart governor like Ayade, we should also pray that, the next one to come should have the needed ideas like Ayade.
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