Ndoma Egba
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
Former Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Pastor Usani Usani, the Minster of Niger Delta Affairs, have called for truce over a communal dispute that claimed several lives in Cross River. They made the appeal on Saturday in separate statements to journalists in Calabar on the sideline of the crises over farmland in Nko and Mkpani communities in Yakurr Local Government area.
According to Ndoma-Egba, the clashes in which invaluable lives and property have been lost between the two neighbouring communities is “inauspicious, needless and unfortunate”.
He said that the communal dispute occurred a period when the Yakurr Nation was mostly favoured by the Federal government.
“At no time in history have a people in these parts been favoured by the Federal Government as the Yakurr Nation today.This rare opportunity should not only be celebrated but maximised for development. But, sadly, the joy that should be our portion has been soaked in wasted blood, and instead of celebrity hugs we have guns and tears,” he said.
He urged the warring communities to “pull back and reflect on peace and brotherliness’”.
“The leadership that abounds in these communities must now be evident and justified. All men and women of goodwill must support them to find healing and lasting peace. I appeal to both communities to sheat their swords and embrace dialogue. Development that is their entitlement cannot be realised in conflict,” Ndoma-Egba said.
Similarly, Usani appealed to the warring communities to exercise restraint and eschew further damage to lives and property.
“I urge you all to take us as leaders to task of any sort within legitimate and moral limits to end this ugly occurrence in our land and face issues of development which are a necessity,” he said.
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