Over 150 youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Youths, Cross River State Chapter, on Tuesday besieged the premises of the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA), calling on the Minister of Water Resources to terminate the appointment of Barrister Essien Essien as the current Managing Director of the authority.

The youths, who drove into the headquarters of the authority, outsmarted the security men on duty and opened the gate to gain access without any hitch, carried placards, some of which read in parts, “we are demanding that the so-called appointment of Barrister Essien Essien, be reversed in the interest of peace,” and “Cross River state has not finished its remaining four years, hence he be dropped.”

Others read, “if this so-called appointment is not reversed immediately, we may not guarantee the safety of anybody as well as the entire building. The minister must act fast. The humility and simplicity of Cross River State people must not be taken for granted. Barrister Essien Essien must go.”

Speaking to newsmen, the leader of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Edet, said “the peaceful demonstration came as a result of injustice meted against the state by not allowing it finish its remaining four years following the retirement of the immediate past Managing Director.

According to him, “we have written a petition to the Honourable Minister, reminding him that the appointment is grossly rejected by the youths and well-meaning Cross Riverians.”

He said the group has given the Ministry a two-week ultimatum to reverse the appointment and allow the proper thing to be done, saying, “you can see that we are peaceful and if our request is not met, we shall react to register our displeasure.”

When contacted, Barrister Essien Essien said the news of the protesting youths came to him as a surprise, adding “I have not received any petition from the Ministry. If as they have said they wrote to the Minister, they have to wait for his reply.”