Ruga : Cross Riverians Confront Ayade Over Plans To Seize 9,000 hectares Of Land

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By Tony Okechukwu

Cross Riverians are opposing the State Government’s plans to seize lands in certain areas of the 3 senatorial districts measuring up to 9,000 hectares (90,000 square metres) with the view that Gov. Ayade intends to, in due time, apportion these lands to the Federal Government for its Ruga settlement scheme as a bait to negotiate for favours.

Speaking for the Government, Chairman of the ‘Land Seizure Taskforce’ for Central Senatorial District, Engr. Dane Osim-Asu, in a press memo stated that the purpose of seizing these lands was for the “New Ayade Farm Settlement Programme”, noting that his committee has already identified 2,000 hectares of land in Boki and Obubra.

According to Engr. Dane, “The Committee started its activities by visiting Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom and Boki LGAs to assess the areas and has settled for Boki and Obubra LGAs of the State for the programme”.

Holding a totally different view from that of the State Government, are the citizens who are questioning Gov. Ayade’s prompt gesture. Cross Riverians believe that a farm settlement that will consume such size of land in the State should be something the Governor must have “well conceived” and “much talked about” not “to wake up one morning and form a taskforce to start seizing lands”.

Others are questioning where the Governor intends to get money for such a huge project when his two signature projects (Superhighway and Deep Seaport) are yet to kick-off, courtesy of lean funds.

Meanwhile, others want the Governor to tell them if he wants to suspend his numerous projects littered across the length and breadth of the State just to focus on this recent one or he just wants to get the land and allow it fallow as it is the case with the Superhighway – where the Governor claimed lands and cut down trees and for over 4 years now, nothing has happened in those areas to resemble a Superhighway.

Affirming that the timing of the said Ayade’s Farm Settlement was wrong, Cross Riverians are of the opinion that the State Government should suspend whatever it is they needed the land for and settle other of its projects before seizing their lands.

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