C’River State Govt Warns Against Planned Nationwide Protest

The Cross River State Government have distanced itself from planned nationwide protest billed for 1 August, 2024. 

parliamentvanguard.com reports that Hon. Erasmus Ekpang, Commissioner for Information, Cross River State in Calabar sued for peaceful coexistence among residents to allow for meaningful development as envisioned in Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s developmental agenda for the state against a doomed protest poised to stagnant growth.

The information boss with goose pimples cited the End-Sars experience which ravaged Cross River State psychology like some wild wind from hade with apathy for destructions. 

Recounting that monies meant for other infrastructural upgrades are sunk on needless repairs occasioned by a devastating uprising. In his words

“You saw what happened during the End-Sars protest with both government and private assets vandalized because the supposed peaceful protest was hijacked by hoodlums.

Our archive in the Information Ministry was totally destroyed by these daredevil men.

“Look at how Chronicles, were we had statewide delivery trucks and high capacity printing machines turned to nothing. 

Right inside the city, Chronicles building has been made a mess by protesters.

It’s a shame to see an edifice of that magnitude defaced that bad.

“Was it CICC that the current administration is struggling to fix that was spared?

The State Library is in sorry state with all the glasses, books and other valuables stollen by End-Sars protesters.

Tinapa Resort, Ministry of Works, Marina Resort, Calachika, Garment Factory, Unical Hotel, Value Mart Supermarket but a few structures suffered same fate of destruction.

“With these indices, why will a state like Cross River with almost the lowest federal allocation encourage protest?

“Cross River State has suffered enough from End-Sars.  Now is the time for good things as this regime is wired to deliver.

“His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu has done well mostly to alleviate the sufferings on populace. 

Most of our programmes and policies are people-first driven.

“Some few days ago, the government had NG-CARES outing in Calabar with 100 boats distributed to riverine communities to boast agriculture and another 2billion naira grant for low income earners to boast productivity with more programmes loading including healthcare, education among other humanitarian initiatives.

The Information Officer of Cross River State shared sentiments of Nigerians on inflation rate. However, he called for calm as government is on the plough to salvage the ugly trend.

“My apologies first to the citizens knowing how some government policies are biting at the moment.

The federal government is doing her best including the new minimum wage of #70,000, an over one hundred percent increment from the previous in trust that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu will come out well.

“We are praying and asking Cross Riverians not to be involved in the looming protest.” He added.

Recall that during the blood-thirsty End-Sars protests of 2020, marauders on the platform of protesting against Police brutality took to endless looting with devastating consequences on Cross River State limited resources.

This unhealthy development underscores government preparedness in isolating the state from a repeat venomous drums propagated by enemies of progress.

Going forward, the state is triggered to consolidate on her gains with no room for conflicts.