Aniefiok Christopher
The relationship between the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State and its host community may worsen again following the demolition of properties in the disputed portion of the university’s land.
The Chairman, University of Uyo Host Community Relations Committee, Engr. Augustine Udoh in an interview with our correspondent in Uyo was reacting to the recent demolition of people’s property on the disputed portion of land by the University of Uyo.
The affected host communities include Ikot Oku Idio, Ekpri Nsukara, Use Offot, Eman Ikot Ebo, Ofot Usung Ifiayong, and Akamba Nsukara, among others.
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Udoh urged to respect the mutual agreement reached between the host community and the State government’s special committee by stopping further development until the resolution of the matter.
He warned that the repeated cases of encroachment on the community farmland by the University of Uyo management are daily provoking its host communities.
According to him, efforts by past administrations of the state since 1981 to resolve the matter have not yielded results in preventing further conflicts as both parties are still at logger heads over boundaries of the donated portions of land.
While commending the effort of a Steering Committee headed by Secretary to State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem for the steps taken so far, he called on the committee to fast track measures to urgently forestall further encroachment of the community land.
He hinted that the indifference by the University authority to the lingering problem could escalate the dispute to a full-blown violence, and therefore called on the Steering Committee to expedite action on the matter.
“I am saying this because of the harassment of land owners and demolition of their properties. If extra care is not taken, truly there is likelihood of physical confrontation with demolition agents engaged by management of the University,” he noted.
Speaking further, the Chairman said “we received information that the University had gone to mark some buildings for demolition. As if the act was not provocative enough, the University authority went ahead with demolition threat on land outside where the host community had donated to the institution.”
“It is the landlord that shows his tenant boundaries, not otherwise as done by the University. Some buildings beside the entry point to the main gate were demolished just few weeks ago and this is provocative,” he hinted.
Also speaking on the matter, Obong Ime Okon, a member of the University Relations Committee, from Eman Ikot Ebo in Uruan Local Government Area said the latest action has renewed tension in the affected communities and has complicated issues of disagreement on the boundaries between the host communities and the University of Uyo.
According to him, the Community Relations Committee had engaged the village leadership to curb threat of uprising by aggrieved youths. We are provoked undeservingly.
Speaking further, he said the host communities do not want violence as such we are begging our youths and owners of affected property to exercise some patience and not take laws into their hands as we are taking steps to get solution to the matter.
He assured that the host communities are ready to make peace with the University so that both parties can eliminate the reoccurring frictions and then live as good neighbours. Peace is about understanding and conceding to facts.
He asked the youth not to take laws into their hands because the leadership of the host communities is working hard to get the Government to resolve the lingering crisis.
Reacting to the story, the University Public Relations Officer, Blossom Okorie, said she was not in position to response to the encouragement claims of the host Community, but redirected our correspondent to the University’s Director of Survey for facts on the disputed land.
She, however, added that the host communities have over the years reclaimed portions of the University land, after their fathers had been paid compensation.
Okorie pleaded with the community to have a rethink, adding that the host communities have a lot to gain in future, if more faculties are allocated portions for structures.
