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| Ikom Four Corners Junction |
Ikom, the premier commercial hub of Cross River State is similar in status to Aba in Abia State, Warri in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra State, the difference in respect of lkom being the fact that the IGR yielding international border town, that is well located on the center of the state has been grossly neglected for more than a decade.
This bustling commercial nerve-centre of the state lacks roads as all the streets are in very deplorable state. The town has also been without electricity for almost 2 decades.
Apart from during Duke and Imoke regimes, Ikom has not been given its pride of place in the comity of major towns inspite of its additional status as the headquarters of the Central Senatorial District. Even at the apogee of her glory, Ikom has never had up to 15km of streets or network of roads.
Whilst under the same APC led administration, Ogoja has within the same two year period, been provided with well paved 30kms asphalted roads, with another 20kms being constructed to major communities of Mbube.
Ugep town has more than 35kms of asphalted streets, not to mention the tarred streets of Ekori, Mkpani,
Nko, Idomi, Agoi Ekpo and Agoi Ibami, etc.
The amiable deputy governor of Cross River State recently flagged off a 28km ring road from Obubra - Ofumbongha - Yala to Ochon and work is ongoing at almost jet speed. Ikom, how far na?
As for power or electricity, its absence has been sadly accepted by the residents of lkom as the new normal since the town has been without electricity for upwards of 20 years.
The siting of the zonal PHED office in lkom, which has tuned into a museum like monument and the appointment of a very celebral son of lkom as the Commissioner for Power did not better the power situation in lkom.
Ikom residents and indigenous population are wise enough not to put the blame on the Commissioner and other government appointees for the absence of roads, power and other infrastructures in Ikom but squarely on senior lkom leaders who have the ears of the governor, minister and legislators but chose to prioritize their personal political and economic gains instead of pursuing infrastructure that would benefit the greater majority of lkom people.
If the APC and government of the day continues to neglect lkom as it is doing, it should also not expect lkom to be nice to them during the elections since just like Jos, Lagos and Kano, lkom has a political mind of her own and does not follow parties or government in power but only patronizes parties and governments that patronizes lkom by attending to her needs.
I advise the government to fix lkom streets/roads, provide power/ electricity which are crucial infrastructures for her people.
Our inflential political leaders, who the governor, ministers and leaders of the national assembly respect should use their good offices to lobby the government to urgently take infrastructure to lkom.
Thank you.
Ebaye Akonjom.
Former Chairman, Ikom LGA.
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