Amb. Soni Abang, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, South-South Development Commission, has called for an immediate end to the recurring violence, destruction and loss of lives in Boki Local Government Area, particularly between the Boje and Iso-Bendeghe communities.
Abang, a proud son of Boki and concerned community stakeholder, made the appeal in a statement on the crisis, stressing that no material interest, including cocoa farming, land disputes or economic gains, should be allowed to justify the loss of human lives.
“Cocoa is not worth a single human life,” Abang stated, noting that cocoa can be replanted, farms can be re-cultivated and properties can be replaced, but a human life that is lost can never be recovered.
The South-South Development Commission Executive Director explained that he had deliberately held back from speaking publicly until now because he had been engaging quietly with stakeholders and encouraging people to remain calm while peaceful options were being pursued to resolve the crisis.
He also appealed to families and communities on all sides not to take advantage of the situation to turn the crisis into a public war of accusations, recriminations and what he described as malicious falsehoods.
Abang expressed particular concern over the spread of rumours surrounding the crisis, saying they could deepen distrust, undermine ongoing peace-building efforts and escalate tensions among the people.
He called on the Cross River State Government, the Local Government Council Chairman, security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders to sustain and intensify efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
Abang further urged all parties to embrace forgiveness, reconciliation and a genuine change of heart, drawing his appeal from Ezekiel 36:26–27.
According to him, peace begins with a change of heart, rejection of hatred and a willingness to pursue justice, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
He also urged everyone involved to reject rumours, inflammatory statements and retaliatory actions that could worsen the situation.
Abang said the people of Boki deserve to live, farm and carry out their legitimate activities without fear, warning that continued violence would only deepen the suffering of ordinary people, including mothers, fathers and children.
He concluded with a strong appeal for an end to the hostilities, declaring: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. COCOA IS NOT WORTH A LIFE. BOKI DESERVES PEACE, JUSTICE AND SECURITY. OUR PEOPLE DESERVE TO LIVE.”
Post A Comment: