By Orok Duke, Ph.D
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles,” is an idiom used to accept an unfortunate or disappointing situation that cannot be changed. The phrase and its attendant and underlying philosophy means that things don’t always go as planned, and one simply has to accept the outcome and move on.
I am writing, not to analyze, condemn or justify the indecent and vulgar misappropriation of WaterBoard land and property, but to shed more light on this festering sore that seeks to affect and infect us all.
Before the immediate past administration embarked on the shameful act of usurping Cross River State for selfish and personal aggrandizement, all those concerned were forewarned and advised properly. But they were too adamant and ensconced in personal and tribal frolicking to care or give a hoot. That is why we are where we are.
When former Governor Clement Ebri approved the allocation of a small portion (the fringe) of the Land in WaterBoard land in 1992, it was for the private residence of the late Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Cecilia Ekpenyong. This action had followed the proper delineation and delimitation of the fringe segment of the Land, excluding the sections that accommodated some Senior Civil Servants and Some personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (Kefas and Agboneni).
The preponderance of public opinion is that the CRSG should revoke all rights and fully recover and retrieve the Cross River State WaterBoard land. Coveting that property to that extent is unconscionable. I am also urging His Excellency, Governor (Prince) Bassey Otu, to bite the bullet and recover all usurped public land, without caring whose horse is gored. Those of us who took a rain cheque over the poisoned chalice of WaterBoard land, had our reasons.
I want every citizens of our state to ruminate over the following and empathise over the present water situation, thus:
1. Most of the houses and structures are built over a labyrinth of water pipes, thereby stultifying the efforts of the government to provide portable and drinkable water to all our homes.
2. Since there are no sewage treatment plants in the area, individuals have devised their own methods of disposal of human waste (into the water treatment plants and structures, through hundreds of soak away pits and septic tanks).
3. All the Donor Agencies have discontinued their support because of non-adherence to the basic requirements needed to sanitise the architecture and infrastructure of Public Water Supply (European Union, ADB, World Bank etc).
4. Some people have played politics and blamed our Governor over Public Water issues, in response, the government is doing the needful and the same people are criticising still. Must we play politics with serious issues, all the time?
In conclusion, I will appeal that the axe of justice that would fall, should not be selective. Any structure that is erected on a waterway, on top of water pipes or near our water treatment plants, that allow their disposed human waste to seep through the drinking water that is meant for the public, should be demolished without let. Even as some other people are still buying land and houses in the WaterBoard premises, let the falling of dry leaves, serve as a warning to the green ones.
“A boy came back from school, he opened the fridge, saw a bottle full, he drank it and was no more: For what he thought was H2O, was H2SO4”.
My people say that, “until the rotten tooth is pulled out, the mouth would have to chew with caution”.
For Barrister Alphonsus Eba and all those whose houses are standing on our drinking water pipes, releasing faeces and other effluent matters into the WaterBoard water treatment plants, etc, let Justice Rain Down – That is the way that the cookie crumbles.
Rt. Hon. (Chief) Orok Otu Duke, Ph.D
Duke Town
