Ogoja Rice Mill cutting corners – Enamhe, says ‘no truck has left the factory with rice’

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Sir Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe has alleged that the State Government of Governor Ben Ayade cut corners to produce rice at the Ogoja Rice Mill.

Sir Enamhe, the Director General of the Senator Jarigbe Campaign Organisation who was widely quoted to have commended the state governor on the project, however, insisted that his earlier comments on the mill were made over three months ago as a stakeholder of the community. ‘But ever since I made those comments, nothing has happened at the rice mill.’

He further alleged that since his comments on the mill were made, there is no rice on the table of the people of Ogoja and no truck has left the factory with rice.

“There is nothing wrong in being objective, for me, objectivity is about speaking truth to power.

“More than three months ago, I had cause to speak at the palace of Ntol Mbeje Amar 111, the King of Ishiborr where I am a Chief.

“He summoned all of us, stakeholders to go and look at the rice project and when I got there I saw it and was very impressed.

“Three months after I made these clear remarks about the rice factory, they have not produced one till now.

“No Ogoja man has rice on his table from the factory, no truck has entered there to bring out rice.

“You see, as a student of economics, an industry must be near supply, that is the Japanese model, it should be near water, there is no water there.

“It should also have constant light, there is no light there, I showed them but all that was cut from the tape.

“I said the people I saw working there were not Cross Riverians and I also said we should try and employ young people around there.

“This government has a history, they said the deep sea port will be ready in 18 months, as I speak there is no deep sea port.

“They said the super highway will be ready in 3 years as at 29th May 2015, today there is no super highway.

“The Cross River State 2nd power plant should have been ready by 2020, no such thing is on ground.

“The $30 million Tinapa Gas Pipeline should have been completed in four months but has not been completed till now.

“Look at the Cambodia grass that was to solve the farmers/herders crisis, where are they today. So there is no way the rice mill will be on.

“Since these other projects have not functioned and I went and saw they are trying to cut corners to bring out rice.

“I felt if I encourage them, this one will function because as a politician I am also a statesman”, he said.

He said if he commended the governor’s project, then the governor should also commend his principal for all the projects he has executed in the northern Senatorial District.

He said his principal has projects in the 54 wards in the area, provided electricity in many communities including Kakum in Obudu.

He added that the governor should also thank Senator Jarigbe for helping his people.