Communities in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State have protested the planned privatization of the cocoa estate in the local government.
On Sunday, over 2,000 youths across Agborkim farm settlement thronged to the Agbor Waterfall community, protesting the planned privatization of the state government-controlled cocoa estate.
Also, women and youths of Bendeghe Ekiem community have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government to rescind the planned privatization or face massive protests as they are prepared to go naked and dance around the cocoa plantation.
They asked the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo, to immediately rescind the planned privatization arrangement and seek dialogue with the communities.
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A youth leader of Agborkim Waterfall community, Comrade Enoh Ekuri, said that the youths have rejected the privatization of the cocoa estate and called on Governor Bassey Otu, to scrap the idea.
The youth leader urged the governor to perish the thought and consider it dead on arrival, stressing that it is easier for the state government to privatize the governor’s office than attempt to touch the cocoa plantation, which is the mainstay of the community’s economy.
He stated that the privatization of the cocoa estate would plunge the community into abject poverty, given the fact that the economy of the community hinges on the cocoa production.