By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
President of Effi community women in Cross River State, Chief Mrs. Ekim Ejukwa, has disassociated herself from Saturday’s protest carried out by some community women against the establishment of Chinese firm in Effi land, Okuni community, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The women president made the assertion during a telephone conversation with our correspondent in Calabar yesterday, shortly after the purported protest carried out by Effi community women.
The female monarch stressed that she and a faction of women that endeared her weren’t part of the protest based on the fact that she had no knowledge that women were going to carry placard to demonstrate on Saturday.
The women president who spoke in Pidgin English said, “Why I go follow them protest, wey I no get proper information say dem wan do protest? I no dey with them ooh. They just wear black clothes come stay for my house. My hand no dey inside there ooh.!
The women president stated that she returned from Saturday’s church programme only to find a group of women dressed in black gathered at her residence convincing her to join them in a protest which she had no knowledge of.
She added, “I no support them because them no respect me like chief.”
Stressing that that was the reason behind her refusal to participate in the protest or give consent to the protest, she insisted that the protest is null and void.
When asked to explain if she participated in signing of agreement that authorized the Chinese nationals to do business in Effi community, the women president retorted, “I sign am I no fit lie.”
Recall that there had been series of petitions written by
conservationist, Mr. Odey Oyama, who is also an illustrious son of the community opposing the establishment of white wood particles board processing factory in the community.
The situation led to a visitation of the chairman of the Forestry commission and members of his team to the community to ascertain if really the Chinese businessmen set up their factory in the forest. Upon visitation to the community by the chairman of the forestry commission, Dr. George Obene’chi, early this year, it was discovered that there was no factory in the forest, instead the factory is in the heart of the community contrary to what was alleged.
Again, lawmakers of the state House of Assembly, led by the member representing Obubra state constituency II, Hon Egbe Abeng, stormed the community about a month ago, to see things for themselves and thereafter summoned the community lawyer Barr. Ichire Okim, the Executive Director of the Rainforest Resources
and Development Commission, Prince Odey Oyama, and other community stakeholders to appear before the House of Assembly where the matter was resolved.
In his remarks, one of the youth leaders in the community (Stanley, surname withheld), said, “Contrary to claims in some quarters that the Chinese nationals set up their word particles board factory in the forest, it has finally been confirmed that the factory isn’t in the forest but in the heart of the community and the matter has been resolved.
“The issue of asking who the Chinese are, and the content of the agreement to me remains inconsequential, as the agreement was finally made available to everybody, I am surprised that some women are still asking at this time, who the Chinese are, even when they visited Calabar Thursday last week and the law makers asked those present at the complex if they knew the firm, they accepted.
“I am surprised to see the women coming to led a protest raising the question about who the Chinese nationals are. They should leave our forest, this is absurd.
“Effi Women Misfired, unfortunately the issue and identity of the Chinese has been known, the agreement is all over the place. The issue of the company being in the forest has been resolved.
“It has been confirmed that the Chinese nationals are not in the forest, it’s not a good idea to lie.”
In her remarks, the spokesperson for the protesting women, Mercy Akpet, who spoke with our correspondent in a telephone conversation said that they protested because they were seeking recognition from the Chinese nationals and not that they hated to see entrepreneurs in their community.
Also speaking, the Effiong community senior traditional ruler, Chief Ntui Ojong-Nyambi, expressed shock that women could disrespect their women president to the extent of attempting to disrupt the community peace without first alerting the female monarch, who was among the chiefs who signed agreement with the Chinese investors.
