Etubom Ani promises intervention in community education
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Obong of Calabar-elect, Etubom Anthony Asuquo Ani, has promised to intervene in the educational needs of Ikot Offiong Community in Cross River State.
Ikot Offiong, is a displaced community in Odukpani LGA, and have been at loggerheads with it’s Akwa Ibom State neighbours.
Etubom Ani announced a scholarship scheme for Internally Displaced Persons from Ikot Offiong, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Etubom Ani made the announcement during a solidarity visit by the people of Ikot Offiong on his emergence as the Obong-elect of Efik Kingdom.
“We will build a model school in Ikot Offiong because without education the future is not bright.
“Go and start a self help educational project and we will help you. Don’t wait for the government, I will pay fees for all of you. When you finished elementary school. I will give you scholarships.
“I know the value of education. If you don’t have elementary school in your village, you are in darkness,” the former minister told the visitors.
Etubom Ani asked the people to go home and form a committee to meet him in a bid to set up modalities for the educational needs of the people.
The former minister said he is happy that when he embarked on the race for the obongship stool, the people of Ikot Offiong stood by him and followed him everywhere, even to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He insisted that the throne does not belong to him but the Efik kingdom and recalled that he has always identified and support the Ikot Offiong people since the beginning of their travails.
He disclosed that when the crisis started in 2000, he asked the then governor of Cross River State to sand fill the other side of the river so that the people can relocate there but the government did not do anything.
Earlier in their address, the Ikot Offiong people have intimated the obong-elect that since they were sacked from their ancestral home 23 years ago no governor or an Obong of Calabar given them a kobo or any form of support.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda, Etubom Nya Eyoma Asuquo, who spoke on behalf of the people lamented that the Ikot Offiong community has no school, hospital or access road, and pointed out that no community can exist without these today.
He decried the fact that most youths in the community are involved in the fight with Oku Iboku, therefore they cannot travel outside the community to attend school.
Etubom Nya Asuquo stated that the emergence of Etubom Ani as the obong-elect has given hope to the Ikot Offiong people that their problems are over hence the celebrations in the community as well as the solidarity visit.
