FIRST BOKI DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE, SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH 2013: COMMUNIQUE At the end of the First Boki Development Conference held on the 13th day of April, 2013 at The Mirage Hotel, Calabar, Cross River State, the following resolutions were agreed upon: 1. That we, the Boki people from every nook and cranny of Boki land have resolved to continue to live and develop together in harmony with one another and with our neighbours, and to build a society that is prosperous, egalitarian, just and equitable - to make life more abundant for all. 2. The people of Boki are grateful to the Cross River State Government for the attendance of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Barr. Effiok Cobham at the maiden Boki Development Conference, where he graciously declared it open. We are also grateful to the Cross River State Government for pioneering infrastructure development in Boki, especially in the area of roads, and plead with the state government to complete the General Hospital at Onicha-Farm, Isobendeghe, started about 30 years ago. We implore the state government to site a tertiary institution in Boki land, design and construct roads to deliberately link Boki 1 and Boki 2 State Constituencies. 3. That a Boki Development Forum shall be set up to design and follow up a “people’s” Boki Master plan, and also create the structures for dealing with Development Partners on behalf of Boki people, as bona fide agents and representatives thereof (in a seamless cooperation with the Local Government Council and the State Government). The masterplan shall be a useful source document for governments at all levels and development agencies. 4. The Conference agreed that the Development Agenda developed by the Boki Forum will be treated as the Development Chapter of the Boki people for that period and all political office holders will be encouraged to work for its achievement. 5. That we, Boki people, should strive to create and articulate positive Boki consciousness which should, together with Bokyi language and culture be taught at Primary/Secondary school levels throughout Boki, and pursue education that is meaningful and useful to our society. 6. That the Boki Development Conference recognizes Ochibe Boki as our umbrella socio-cultural organization, and will support it to grow, and achieve its aims of promoting Boki unity and peace as envisioned by its founding fathers. 7. That henceforth, Boki people shall only support political leadership that is moral and transformational and with obvious capacity to deploy our natural/human resources to stimulate economic activities and job creation for sustainable development of Boki nation. 8. The Conference called on Boki sons and daughters in all fields, especially the elite, to deploy their political, social and intellectual capital to promote the infrastructural, social, political and human development of Boki nation. 9. The conference admonished Boki politicians to henceforth play strictly by the rules, abhor violence and other forms of illegality. 10. The Boki people noted that, in spite of the huge natural and human resources that they have, the Local Government Area has remained grossly underdeveloped especially in critical areas of infrastructure, economic, commercial activities, educational and medical facilities. 11. That Boki people should take effective “ownership” of their environment and forest while also investing in eco-friendly activities. The people urged government to appoint Boki sons and daughters into key positions in the management of the forests in order to deepen their “ownership” stake which is important for sustainable management of resources. 12. That as a response to the natural disaster that struck Boje town and adjoining communities last year, the State Government should as a matter of urgency, work with the Federal Government to site a geological base-station in Boki for early warning and to commission comprehensive geological studies to determine what exactly happened, measures of mitigation required, the likelihood or not of future occurrences and the relevant technological installations needed to enhance very efficient early warning and human evacuation. The other study will be to fully ascertain the ecological impact of the disaster like the level of land destruction/deforestation caused, streams/water bodies created, wildlife affected, agricultural lands devastated, village settlements destroyed and life and property destroyed. The people further called for the degraded areas of Boki forest to be reforested with indigenous species, while the state government should hasten to construct the road and bridge leading to Boje, the Local Government Headquaters, and to link the Ikom –Obudu highway through Katabang. 13. The Conference noted with dismay the absence of a bank of any category throughout Boki and resolved to invite reputable banks to establish a branch in Boki, while encouraging Boki sons and daughters (who are capable) to come together and establish a micro-finance bank to help support commerce and economic growth of the area. 14. The Conference expressed disappointment with the rate of growth of Boje town compared to other local government headquarters in the state. It calls on the Local Government Council and the State Government to address this anomaly. It also calls on Boki sons and daughters to support the development of Boje town, while admonishing the people of Boje Ward to strive to cultivate a harmonious relationship amongst themselves in order to make the place attractive to outsiders and engender growth and development. The Conference however commends the ongoing conflict resolution scheme in the ward which prominent sons of the area and the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja (with the inputs of the Lutheran Church) have been effectively managing for final resolution of the problems. 15. The Conference resolved to canvass for the creation of more local government areas from Boki, noting that in consonance with the concept of local government creation world-wide and the examples of Lagos, Kano and Akwa Ibom States, no fewer than five local government areas are required in Boki, considering its vast landmass and teeming population. 16. Conference agreed that the Boki people should rededicate their land and their plans to God by way of organizing a SOLEMN ASSEMBLY – (one day fasting and prayer in Boki, involving Boki leaders, drawn from all wards of Boki Local Government Area). 17. The people thanked the convener, Dr. P. T. Tawo for creating an enabling opportunity for Boki people to come together to discuss development issues and resolved to make the Boki Development Conference an annual event. 18. The technical committee that handled the First Development Conference shall devolve into an interim executive to formulate a permanent framework and create relevant legal structures for the formation of a sustainable Boki Development Forum. The rapporteurs, namely: . Mr. Dominic KIDZU . Mr. Austen KACHUA . Barr. Bernard AFU . Dr. Joe EKPANG . Hon. Gerald ODOK . Engr. Paul Asu NJAMA . Mr. Amos KAJANG . Dr. Emmanuel OBI . Mr. Pius BISONG . Mr. Moses ABANG . Dr. Gabriel ODOK . Dr.(Mrs) Itam ABANG . Barr. James ATIBILI will act as interim/temporary executive to work under the directives and guidance of the convener, until a permanent executive is constituted. 19. The Conference noted and appreciated the goodwill messages from Boki sons and daughters who could not attend. They include: i. Amb. Maurice Ekpang ii. Col. Tony Nyiam (rtd) iii. Maj. Gen. Bernard Abang (rtd) iv. H.E. Col. Edor Obi (rtd) v. Dr.(Mrs) Julia Omang vi. Chief Ignatius Ndifon Agbor vii. Chief Valentine Ewor viii.Chief Ben Otu ix. H.M. (Barr) Otu Akom Assanga ii, The Traditional Ruler of Kajifu. (Boki village in Cameroon). x. Barr. George Ekpungu xi. Mr. Mkpe Abang xii. Barr. Patrick Akan xiii. Justice J. A. Binang
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 10:32:41 +0000
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