Apparently in reacting to the renewed inter-community violence and state of insecurity that is likely to spread to its domain, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria [MAN] Oron, has entered into an agreement with its contiguous host communities.
The 12 villages who are the original owners of the land are which are also known as Eyo Abasi, have also embraced the agreement which was the brainchild of the academy’s Acting Rector, Mr. Joshua Okpo.
Apparently in reacting to the renewed inter-community violence and state of insecurity that is likely to spread to its domain, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria [MAN] Oron, has entered into an agreement with its contiguous host communities.
The 12 villages who are the original owners of the land are which are also known as Eyo Abasi, have also embraced the agreement which was the brainchild of the academy’s Acting Rector, Mr. Joshua Okpo.
According to MAN, Oron’s head of public relations; Mr Sidi Mkpadiok, there is now an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the school and Eyo Abasi. There is now as Eyo Abasi Oron Community Relation Committee.
He confirmed that membership of the committee is drawn from each of the 12 recognized and gazetted villages in the Eyo Abasi Group of Villages.
The agreement has already been formalized at a ceremony which held recently at the Academy’s board room at an event that was presided over by the Acting Rector.
Okpo during the inaugural speech thanked the original landowners for donating their land for the purpose of setting up the sole federal maritime academy in Nigeria, a development he said has permanently etched Oron’s name in the political map of Nigeria as a frontline province. He expressed happiness that unlike some indigenous lands elsewhere, where land concessions or leases has led to its ecological destruction and abuse, to the extent of the original landowners even becoming hostages, stressed “I am sure that you have derived some meaningful benefits from the existence of MAN”.
“Today, MAN is the harvester of the Eyo Abasi land. We recognize that you are a joint heir and co-owners of MAN and that is why it is important for you to remain vigilant and to ensure and promote the security of the Academy. MAN will continue to support you…you must continue to support MAN. The relationship should be mutually beneficial. If you get a contract, you are deemed qualified to have been given the contract, it is expected that you must execute it satisfactorily. Integrity and responsibilities are attached to claims of ownership. Is it ownership that whatever I want to do for the landowner is a privilege? Is it ownership that whatever I want to do for the land owner is a right? You must understand the differences? You must form a collective whole and work as one, we will not allow for sabotage. The spill over of these differences has brought about this tense situation that we are about to diffuse.
“You selected this leadership because you know they will not go to sleep and that they will represent you well. Two issues are at stake: speak for us and play by the rule. Don’t say one thing here and do another thing hereafter. This committee relation is a big challenge. Eyo Abasi, Oron is a community, MAN is FG. It is going to be a marriage of two strange bed fellows. But we can form a workable union if we play by the rules. The marriage of strange bed fellows will make you assimilate and seek to integrate into the Academy. Encourage your youths to seek meaningful engagements, encourage them to shun any acts likely to cause the breach of the peace. You have given government more parcel of land for our upgrade into a maritime university, protect the land.
Responding, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Esin Efretuei said, “ I wish to specially thank the Acting Rector MAN, Eyo Abasi, Oron, Mr. Joshua Okpo and his able management staff who have contributed in no small measure to the formation of this committee. Their contribution implied official recognition of the immediate host community, THE ORIGINAL LANDLORD, to this premier Federal Government Academy. In essence the committee has been set up to liaise with the authorities of MAN in other to protect and consolidate the gains, the interests and development of both MAN and the host community”.
The eighteen (18) member committee consist of traditional rulers, village heads, women and youth leaders amongst whom are HRH, Francis Eyo, Chief Edem E. Ita (Chairman Council of Chiefs – Eyo Abasi Oron), Mrs. Ikwo E. Essang (Women Leader), Comrade Okon Asuquo Ewenme, President of the Youth Leaders and Hon. Ekpeyong Ekpo, member.
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