Bakassi Restores Police Presence As Government Mandates Council Bosses

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

Bakassi local council area in Cross River state has restored police presence in the area one year after Endsars rioters completely vandalised the only police formation there.

The council area, with headquarters at Ikang, is a shouting distance from the Bakassi peninsula which was ceeded to the Republic of Cameroon in 2006 following the ruling of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, at Hague.

Source told this Magazine, that the rebuilt police formation was part of the people oriented projects the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade mandated chairmen of the 18 local government areas of the state to embark upon.

Many of the council bosses are reportedly gearing up to have Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu commission such projects.

“The council chairmen embarked upon projects that directly touch the lives of the people at the grassroots at the behest of Governor Ayade who had charged them, upon inauguration last year, to justify their election and the people’s confidence in them by delivering projects that directly impact on their lives”, Government Houses sources informed The Source.

On Monday, Professor Esu, a one time Minister of state for Agriculture and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, was at Bakassi, to commission projects executed by the council Chairman, Hon. Iyadim Amboni Iyadim administration.

Apart from the rebuilt and equipped Divisional Police Station at Abana-Ikot Effiom which was destroyed during the ENDSARS riots, the Deputy Governor also commissioned the Ikang Ultra-modern Motor Park(phase 1)

While commissioning the projects, the Deputy governor applauded Iyadim for using funds earmarked for projects judiciously, explaining that though he was on a working tour to inspect projects across the 18 local government areas of the state.

According to Esu, the state government holds local government system and people at the grassroots in the high esteem hence his  working tour of the council areas was geared towards ensuring that the council chairmen expended funds  given to them by the state government on projects in line with Governor Ayade’s policy towards on development of rural areas.

The Deputy Governor described Iyadim as a role model whose performance should be emulated , adding that from what he saw , Iyadim was qualified for additional funds to execute more projects

The deputy governor noted that the Ultra-modern Motor Park has the potential of creating jobs as well as curbing  youth  restiveness in the area

He sued for a healthy police/civil  relations and enjoined the police to live above board and perform their duties without fear or favor while describing the renovated and equipped police station as the best in the state.

“I’m not surprised by what I saw here today. Iyadim has not failed and will not fail because of his antecedent as a grassroot person.. what I saw here today  indicates that Iyadim is well tutored by governor Ben Ayade and he deserves a higher position”, the Deputy Governor said.

Earlier, the Bakassi council boss assured that with the  commissioning of the police station, security has returned to area.

On the motor park, Iyadim disclosed that what was commissioned was the first phase which include gate-house, administrative block, water point and a public toilet as the second phase will include lockup shops, security posts and a clinic

He explained that the park will be managed by National Union Of Road Transport Workers NURTW and therefore requested for the provision of electricity in the area for public and private growth.

On his part, the state Commissioner of Police, Aminu  Alhassan  expressed delight at  with the restoration of the police formation in the area and enjoined the youths to see the police, as an organization charged with securing lives and property.