By Anietie Akpan
The Executive Director of Rainforest Research and Development Centre (RRDC), Prince Odey Oyama has denied media reports credited to him that Chinese foreign nationals operating in Okuni have opened up wood processing Industries in the rainforest estate.
The media reports which was published in several social media platforms, as well as online newspapers, quoted the Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Dr. O’ben Etchi asserting that Oyama confirmed the setting up of wood processing factory by the Chinese in Okuni tropical rainforest estate.
In a reaction dated June 24, Oyama said such an assertion is “entirely irresponsible” and “my position is that the Chairman cannot present, as evidence, a single document to back up the false claim that has been thus mischievously credited to me”.
He said, “I find it entirely irresponsible and exceedingly reprehensible for the Chairman of Cross River State Forestry Commission to associate my name and office with fictitious statements that I have never issued. It has, therefore, become pertinent to demand for the Chairman of Cross River State Forestry Commission to cite the sources of his information.
“For my own part, I have never issued the statements that are now mischievously being credited to me. I have written — letters to the Cross River Forestry commission. In the said letters, I did not say anything about any wood processing industry built by Chinese in Okuni tropical rainforest estate”.
The environmentalist stated, “I have written letters to several relevant authorities about the Chinese incursion into Okuni since 2023. In the said letters, I always addressed the following points.
“That Okuni has been invaded by uncertified and unidentified Chinese foreign nationals, whose name and immigration status have remained unknown.
“That the business certification of the Chinese and the name of the enterprise they are running in Okuni (which ought to be certified by Corporate Affairs Commission – CAC) has remained a closely guarded secret in courts of the Effi Traditional Rulers.
“That the mandatory permit, that the Chinese are expected to obtain from the Cross River State Forestry Commission before commencing wood processing industry at Okuni, has not been sighted by any of the stakeholders in Okuni (except perhaps their business partners in Effi Community’s Traditional Rulers’ Council)”.
He said, “it would appear that the strategy deliberately adopted by the Chairman of Cross River State Forestry Commission has been to use the name of Prince Odey Oyama to create fake scenarios about the Chinese incursion into Okuni since 2023”.
In the process, Oyama said, “the Chairman of Cross River State Forestry Commission has cleverly avoided making statements” about the issues stated in the letter to the Commission regarding incursion by the Chinese and mandatory permit they suppose to get from the Commission.
