By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Ifako village, a local community in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, has been plagued by the lack of government presence and basic amenities, leading its residents to appeal urgently for intervention from the state authorities.
Our correspondent conducted a fact-finding visit to Ifako community to assess the extent of development in the area. During this visit, the indigenes of Ifako painted a distressing picture of their community, where vital infrastructure and social services remain elusive.
One of the major challenges faced by the community is the lack of access to electricity. “It is very disturbing to note that we have been cut off from the national grid for more than 9 years now,” laments Obon Ita Okon, the Chairman of the Okoyong Traditional Rulers Council.
“We have been living in darkness, only seeing electricity when we travel out of our community. This is very distressing, and we have endured it for too long.” He said.
Okon’s concerns are echoed by the dire state of the community’s road network and education system.
He said: “We have no good motorable roads in our villages. Our people can’t take their agricultural products to the township, which is disheartening. As we speak, we have no secondary schools, and our children have to trek to other villages to attend school.”
A retired state civil servant, Deno Okon Akiba, supports Okon’s statements, highlighting the additional challenge of primary school tuition fees despite the state government’s policy of free education.
According to him, “It is no longer news that since Cross River State Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, announced free tuition for children in primary schools from 5 to 10 years, our children still pay normal school fees in Ifako.
“We don’t sleep with both eyes closed, as we have no police post in our area.”
Akiba pleads for the establishment of a police station and a healthcare center in Ifako-Okoyong to enhance the community’s security and access to medical services.
“I wish to use this opportunity to call on the police authority to urgently establish a police post in Ifako-Okoyong to help check the excesses of insecurity in our community.
“I also appeal to the state government to come to Ifako-Okoyong and establish a health center to enable our people to access quality healthcare and quick health services, as is the case in other communities across the state”, he appealed.
The lack of basic amenities has severely impacted the lives of the Ifako residents, particularly those who rely on farming. Mrs. Edet, a farmer and petty trader, lamented over the ongoing theft of crops and properties due to the absence of a police presence.
She said: “Since there is no police post in Ifako-Okoyong, theft continues on a daily basis, taking away people’s properties and crops from our farmlands”.
“I am therefore sending my humble appeal to the state police command to please come to our aid and put a police sub-station here so that we can live without fear of the underworld.”
Unfortunately, the community’s pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears, leaving the residents feeling abandoned and neglected by the government they expect to serve them.
“We have been in darkness for too long, and it is disheartening not to have access to proper roads or secondary schools,” Okon expressed his frustration.
He however called on the state government to take action to improve the lives of the community members.
The dire situation in Ifako-Okoyong serves as a clarion call on the state government to look into the glaring disparities in unequal development and resource allocation across Cross River State. While some communities thrive and progress, others, like Ifako, continue to suffer.
Despite their struggles, the people of Ifako remain hopeful that their cries for help will finally reach the ears of the state government. They believe that the government holds the power to transform their community and significantly improve their quality of life.
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The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
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