By our Correspondent.
There are palpable tension in Mambilla Plateau of Sardauna local government Area of Taraba state, over government plans to sell out the Mambilla Highland Tea Company.
Despit series of protests by the communities, frowning at government decision, the government, through the Managing Director, of the company, Mr. Ezekiel Irimiya.
Mr Ezekiel, as noticed by our correspondent, is bent on carrying out its actions against the wish of the people.
Insisted in privatising the company which is located in Kakara community of the council, the planned by Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku to privatise the Company , according to the MD, “is for the good and interest of all Tarabans.”
The MD who made government position known on Monday in Nguroje, said “if the company is privatized, it would create more jobs, and increased revenue generation as well as expand productivity.”
Describing privatization as key, “anybody who is against privatization” he said “is against investors, development and progress of the state”.
Adding that “the planned to privatise the Mambilla Highland Tea in Kakara is the only way to expand the company’s entrepreneurship and capital”.
The MD called on the people of the Taraba state especially the host community to support the state government policies and programmes to achieve the desired result.
In a swift reaction, the Mambilla ethnic group in Sarduana, kicked against the decision by Ezekiel and Governor’s plans to privatise the only functional company in the state.
Vowing to frustrate the move from seeing the lights of the day, “any investors who does so” they said “is at their risk as Governor Ishaku’s administration failed to provide infrastructure for it citizens in the last past 7years”.
The MD and the governor, as stated by them, have in the “last 7years succeeded in destroying the one and only multi billion naira Green House in Jalingo, which is the best in the whole of the North East, by laying off over 1500 staff of the farm in the name of privatization”
