From: JUDEX OKORO, Calabar
The Federal Government has said it would partner the Cross River State to find lasting solutions to perennial communal clashes in some parts of the state.
Minister for Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahaman Danbazzau (rtf), who stated this during a courtesy visit to Governor Ben Ayade in Calabar, on Monday, commended the state government for its responses so far in the outbreak of these conflicts.
Danbazzau, in the State on a fact finding mission to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the recent communal clash between two communities of Wanikade and Wanihem in Yala Local Government Area, maintained that the Federal Government was concerned about the clash and its spiral effect on human and economic resources.
He said: “The Federal Government is concerned about such clash especially as it involves loss of human lives. The federal government sees it necessary to partner the government and people of Cross River to ensure that such clash do not occur again in future.
“We believe that for every problem there is a solution and that is why we have decided to come and know the cause of the clash with the view to finding a lasting solution to it. We commend the state government for its efforts so far and I assure that the federal government is poised to bringing an end to future occurrence.”
Expressing worry about the reported case of molestation of Bakassi people of Cross River by the Cameroun security authorities in spite of recent bilateral agreement between Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroun, the Minister said: “The federal government is looking into it and I believe that very soon the issues will be resolved.”
Responding, Governor Ben Ayade described the recent communal clash in Yala as very unfortunate, noting that the two communities have lived together for several years before now.
He commended the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and the minister for their decisive and prompt action and for their affection for the state, saying: “Your coming is a healing balm to us and the people of the affected area. Your visit is deeper than the ordinary; it comes at the right time.
“This clash always occurs during farming seasons which means that, it is a result of long years of neglect and deep rooted poverty among the people as well as inability of this administration to alleviate their sufferings on the low federal allocation to the state.”