In a dramatic escalation of demonstrations over the Cross River State Government’s proposal to privatize cocoa farms, women from Bendeghe Ekiem and Abia towns in Etung Local Government Area have vowed to perform a nude protest if their demands are not satisfied. This brave attempt shows the deep-seated resentment and despair among local inhabitants who fear losing their livelihoods and cultural heritage to privatization ambitions.
The Cross River State Government has revealed plans to privatize some cocoa farms, including those in Bendeghe Ekiem, Abia, and nearby areas. This strategy is part of a wider economic overhaul aiming at boosting efficiency and encouraging private investment. However, the statement has been received with significant criticism from local farmers, women, youth organizations, and community leaders who say that the government neglected to engage them enough before making such a decision.
Cocoa planting is the economic backbone of many villages, giving work and nourishment to thousands of people. Many communities have voiced fear that privatization would lead to job losses, economic hardship, and the erosion of communal rights over ancestral areas. The land on which the estates exist was initially given by the grandparents of present inhabitants under agreements that promoted community engagement and benefit-sharing.
During a recent rally, women leaders Ntunkai Mary Obi and Chief Helen Ogar gave a severe ultimatum to the Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo. They warned that if the government refused to engage in serious discourse within 15 days, they would resort to a culturally important form of protest by walking nude around the cocoa farms.
This act of protest is strongly ingrained in local history, representing ultimate humiliation and defiance. As Obi proclaimed, “We will go to the estate naked, walk around it, and leave it for the government to occupy,” demonstrating the severity of their intention. The women’s threat has attracted national attention, revealing the cultural elements of the dispute and the extremes to which the community is ready to go to safeguard their land and livelihoods.
The demonstrations have garnered wide involvement from all elements of the community, including youngsters, seniors, and farmers. Protesters have gone to the streets holding banners with messages such as “Our cocoa estate is not for sale” and “We won’t accept privatization of our estate”.
Community leader Mbek Agbor-Tangban underlined the necessity of following the original agreements established with the community’s predecessors. He advised the government against unilateral choices that ignore these agreements, which require that landlords and community leaders must be consulted and given precedence in any privatization or leasing arrangements.
Women’s leader Ntunkai Mary-Ndum voiced severe displeasure, asking that if the government no longer wanted to preserve the cocoa estates under the smallholder farmers’ system, it should remove the cocoa trees and restore the bare land to the community. Youth activist Abang Shikina-Oji said that privatization will certainly drive many young people out of employment, driving them into crime due to a lack of economic possibilities.
The cocoa plantations have long been a source of economic stability in the area, generating employment and lowering crime by engaging adolescents in constructive labor. The demonstrators say that privatization threatens not just their economic existence but also the social fabric of their communities.
Egbuta Amba, Chairman of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Abia unit, emphasized the neglect encountered by cocoa growers, including inadequate infrastructure such as lack of power, water, and roads. “If the government takes this away, they will be pushing us into deeper poverty,” he said.
The demonstrations have moved beyond Bendeghe Ekiem and Abia to neighboring areas in Etung Local Government Area, showing broad displeasure with the government’s stance.
In reaction to the rising agitation, Cross River State Commissioners for Agriculture and Information, Johnson Ebokpo and Erasmus Ekpang, have pleaded for calm. They informed the public that Governor Bassey Otu would evaluate the problem and address the concerns of the people, underlining that the government’s priority is the welfare of its population.
Despite these promises, the community remains dubious, seeking a stop to the privatization plans and genuine engagement in decision-making processes. The upcoming deadline imposed by the women’s leaders adds urgency to the issue, with the possibility of a culturally heated demonstration that might exacerbate tensions further.
The threat of a nude protest is not only a theatrical gesture but a culturally important act of disobedience. In many Nigerian communities, women appearing nude in protest is a potent symbol designed to embarrass authorities and attract immediate attention to issues. It illustrates the depth of the community’s despair and the seriousness with which they consider the impending loss of their lands and livelihoods.
The situation in Cross River State is a clear illustration of the intricate interaction between government economic policies and community rights. The threatening nude protest by women in Bendeghe Ekiem and Abia villages is a clear reminder that development plans must be inclusive and culturally respectful. As the government evaluates its next moves, the eyes of the country remain fixated on Cross River, hoping for a peaceful conclusion that respects both economic growth and the voices of the people who rely on the land.
Failure to involve the community effectively threatens not just economic disruption but also social upheaval based on cultural identity and ancestral rights. The following days will be key in deciding if the discussion wins or whether the protest grows into one of the most spectacular protests in recent Nigerian history.
Post a Comment