Communities in Abi Local Council of Cross River State, known as the Bahumono kingdom, have decried the deplorable condition of roads linking other communities.

They called on the governor, Ben Ayade, to consider the people who have sustained peace over the past two years after decades of senseless communal conflicts between communities of Bahumono.

One of the leading members of the Bahumono Peace Initiative (BPI), who contributed to the return of peace in the kingdom, Mr. Freedom Ejom, made this plea during the Ediba New Yam Festival celebration.

Ejom, who was the Chairman of the festival with the theme; ‘Cultural Restoration and Sustainable Peace: A Panacea for Development in Ehumono,’ said the nine communities, Ediba, Usumutong, Ebom, Ebijakara, Anong, Afafanyi, Abeugo, Igoni-goni and Bazohure, lost so much during the crisis that lasted over a decade. Ejom noted that they are now calling for a process of development that would create growth, positive economic, social and environmental changes, particularly in Ediba and Bahumono in general.

He said the Bahumono ring-road project, linking the entire communities, should be considered to ease sufferings of farmers whose crops perished for lack of access to good road.

The Chairman, who spoke on behalf of the communities, said: “We lost so much during the period we were in crisis. As God may have it, we were able to have peace in our community. It’s been two years of peace in Bahumono.

“If you go into Bahumono communities now, you will see groups already embarking on one project or the other, because there is peace; but there is abject poverty within the communities. So, government should come in to help; In fact, our internal roads are bad.

“We are urging Ayade to show the people of Bahumono some love. The ring-road project, linking the entire Bahumono nation is one that would serve as a legacy for Ehumono peace, and also consolidate the peace accord of Remon Saine.

“These are communities that are into farming; if the roads in the communities are rehabilitated, farmers would begin to have returns on investment. But with the current condition of the roads, a farmer would go to farm, harvest crops and cannot sell them because there is no road.

“That is why we are crying to the governor, to help us rehabilitate Bahumono, even if the time is short, he should start something. Governance is a continuous process; successive governments would continue from where he would stop; this is the appeal from Bahumono people,” Ejom appealed. (The Guardian)

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