The camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Obutong and Ikot Effion in Bakassi Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State erupted in jubilation when His Excellency, Governor Bassey Edet Otu recently released 600 bags of rice for distribution as palliatives to the IDPs.
Speaking on the kind gesture, the national coordinator of Bakassi Returnees and Chairman, Camp Management Committee, Prince Asim-Joseph Inyang, reportedly applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) and Governor Otu for remembering them.
Inyang was quoted as saying that they were happy and celebrating because for eight years, no administration ever deemed it fit to remember the IDPs. He expressed the appreciation and gratitude of the IDPs to the state and federal government for donating 600 bags of rice to the IDPs at Obutong and Ikot Effion camps to lessen their suffering.
Explaining to reporters that the joy of receiving government palliative was the reason for their celebration, he said: “Throughout the period Ayade was in government, the displaced persons in Bakassi did not get anything. As the present governor (Bassey Otu) sent the bags of rice to the various IDP camps, the people started celebrating.
“We are celebrating because of the food security which we are privileged to witness. No man in his right frame of mind would fail to jubilate if food is made available to him at a time that he has almost lost hope.
“They even said I should hire a vehicle to take them to Calabar for them to go and thank the governor but I don’t have that kind of money. So that is why you see the celebration in the two camps.
“This is palliative and we are expecting that now that the governor has remembered us, he should please consider us during the Christmas period. We are suffering in the various camps, a visit to us by the governor will go a long way in soothing the challenges we are having.”
A beneficiary of the palliative and a woman leader in Ekpri Obutong Returnees camp, Blessing Okon Eyo who confirmed the statements of Inyang, the Camp Management Committee Chairman, thanked the wife of the governor, Rev. Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu for encouraging her husband to remember them with the palliative.
Eyo however made a passionate appeal for jobs to be created for the IDPs, as she believes that it would go a long way in improving the lots of the internally displaced persons.
Governor Otu is well-known for his compassionate leadership and tendency to always want to put smiles on the faces of people placed under his watch at every point in time. It was for this reason that many see his coming as Governor of Cross River State as a good omen, signaling the season of sweetness for Cross Riverians.
