…”My Relationship With His Excellency Chief Clement Ebri, Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke, Sen. Sandy Onor & Owan Enoh.”
                           – PART (1)

“What I was trying to infare or emphasise here was the nark of Chief (Dr.) Clement David Ebri as a highly prospective Governor we never had in Cross River due to the interruption of General Babangida then as military President who terminated their tenure a few months into the life of that administration in 1993. He displayed the ability to identify great souls amongst our people as those deserving to be engaged to serve the state in various capacities whom he selected to partner with him in his journey of building a great state as Governor where there would have been remarkable infrastructures in place and with those selected to serve as capable hands to compliment such resolve by their accomplishments over the portfolios assigned to them based on their known talents to become the pride of all Cross Riverians, not a bunch of nonentities and buffoons often brought as appointees on purely tribal considerations or sentiments to serve where they’re incapable all in the name of partisan politics.”

    – Obi Ojage

“Chief Ebri had in his team the likes of Mr Donald Etim Duke as his commissioner of Finance, who later became the first civilian Governor of the state under the current democratic setting after the military left power. He also had Rtd. Major Akpang Obi-Odu as his commissioner for works within the few months the tenure lasted. Obi opened up the long stretch of road though uncompleted in the present Bakoko in Calabar Municipality which was to serve as an exclusive area meant to harbour Housa’s residents in Calabar. Obi later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea during Chief Obasanjo’s presidency.”

    – Obi Ojage

“However, my recent indisposition from the scene and the failure to appear in political gatherings of my party, the All Progressive Congress, (APC) since the swearing-in of the new administration in the state or on social media, was indeed not deliberate but due to my intermittent ill-health as a result of the rigour associated with my involvement in the last gubernatorial election in my state of Cross River spanning three months consecutively that brought in the current Governor, Prince Bassey Otu into power known to everyone as something I took as a personal project and a challenge from the inception to the end resulting in victory.”

    – Obi Ojage

“His Excellency Mr Donald Duke and I both have respect and high regard for each other for the display of our Nature-given qualities right from the inception of when we met briefly for the first time together with Senator Gershom Bassey in his late mother’s house in Calabar before we later congregated as a formidable team of young men to reenact destiny in the same political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the year of the Lord, 1999, to cause the effect and withered the storm created by divisionist who adorn the state with pessimism a function of their indolence resulting in backwardness of the state and the frightening mentality of the leadership consisting of older men insisting on their grip on power in perpetuity which we collectively fought and surmounted resulting in his becoming Governor of the state at the young age of 38years old against an unsavoury opposition gange-up. Duke was never one who lost sight of those who worked or came to his rescue. I remember that after we had won the elections pending the swearing-in, a week would never have passed without Duke who was now Governor-elect calling me on the phone to ask about my interest in where I intended to serve in the new government we were going to form in the state. I recall vividly also during my appointment to the Board of Directors of (FRCN) Abuja, and there was a delay in our inauguration at the time, in the interim, the Governor had to call and give me a supply contract job worth #12 million Naira then to execute to enable me to use the profit to take care of myself and those depending on me while waiting for our inauguration. This was at the time when monthly subvention to the state from Abuja was less than #2 Billion Naira during the first tenure of the administration with the State monthly wage bill put at #1. 2 million Naira. That was remarkably sensitive of him towards one of the backbones in his fight to conquer.”

    – Obi Ojage

“As a very popular former Governor of the state Duke tried to leverage on that in his support for his candidate Senator Sandy Ojang Onor during the Governorship election alluding to many unsubstantiated accusations in his attack on the sitting Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade who was the principal confederate of Prince Otu and that was hurting the chances of our candidate whose image I was projecting and protecting. I had to figure out the most potent way around his many inciting and demoralising statements and the adverse effect it was having on the chances of Prince Otu with ingredients in my writeup to mitigate such effects, in the cause of which we were both seen on top of our game in the exhibition of our prowess over whose story elicited the facts for acceptance by the masses of the electorate who were fully aware of what was at stake. I never for once blackmailed Duke since we became friends, how can I, neither has he? Of course, I do criticise aspects of his leadership role as former Governor of the state, so why not? As an opinion moulder, activist and critic, if I didn’t do that though constructively, people would turn to doubt my unbiased disposition, credibility and sobriety in the overall. But in the last election, I merely contained his aspersions intelligibly by reversing his own words back to him as though anagramatizing. Anyone who carse could find time to read each of the two or three commentaries on him meant to dunce and erud the effects of his presence when he eventually took charge of campaigns to give Fillip to Onor’s chances. Let me say this here Duke is forward-looking, intrinsically intelligent, highly favoured and is one with greatness in his DNA. Whether he seeks fame or not, these attributes never leave him and it is palpable and resounding. There is no way you can successfully blackmail him as a Cross-riverian and not be guilty, especially to those he helped politically to be what they’d become today.”
            

    – Obi Ojage

Though I am known for my compositeness as a consummate writer, easiest, and a conveyor of the Christ consciousness as a Devotee over matters considered esoteric with religious undertones as well as those of a circular sphere such as exist in politics, there are other sides of me most people are unaware of and this is largely responsible for why those who often conspire against my efforts and goals habitually do so due to my disposition to trust those I entered into partnerships or warranties without compunction.

They are bewildered and in utter surprise as to why I often do not hit back furiously as expected and address the situation squarely with the same resilience and the uncowed attitude I apply to get results or get clattered typical of politicians. It is so because they fail to make a sufficient impact in areas of my values which are rarely primordial but more of what enhances my life as a Christ Devotee.

I am usually undeterred about such nuisances and desperation from my adversaries and haven’t cultivated the habit of waiting for the source of the inner voice which propelled and provided me with the inspiration and urges to move without hesitation in the direction I was predisposed to be engaged to display my skills as expected, it became unnecessary to squirm especially when I equally need the source to direct me on what step to take further without jeopardising the real essence why I was given the urge and provided with the wisdom necessary to make the difference. Men with wicket hearts could only execute what they’re capable of and over one who is guilty, but can never do what is beyond them against the innocent no matter the ganged-up against good deeds over evil failure is apt.

In this case, what I do is bounce like a balloon and retire to my cacoon to keep on the good works of faith and resilient allowing nature’s segmental judgement to fall in drops around my adversaries and their world of emptiness blurred in their presumption that I would diminish by their dubiousness but rather such deceitful act helps to encourage my grip on truth as a sin-qua-none for true redemption. I am witness to many of such deceitful characters who succeed through manipulation of the innocents crumbling before my own eyes not one, many.

No evil exertion no matter who, can twist justice and overcome the display of resistance coming from an innocent heart made to suffer from unjustness that had refused to back down from a deal that was to yield results based on assurances and mutually agreed-on terms from a trusted ally and the contributions made by the one who feels cheated and shortchanged by the outcome that was meant to affect their various destinies positively as the consequence of achieving victory for a job well done. Is ludicrous, to say the least, that such an anomaly should be allowed to prevail at such a time as this where the care of a brother should be a joint responsibility, something must be given to reciprocate and reduce detents.

However, my recent indisposition from the scene and the failure to appear in political gatherings of my party, the All Progressive Congress, (APC) since the swearing-in of the new administration in the state or on social media, was indeed not deliberate but due to my intermittent ill-health as a result of the rigour associated with my involvement in the last gubernatorial election in my state of Cross River spanning three months consecutively that brought in the current Governor, Prince Bassey Otu into power known to everyone as something I took as a personal project and a challenge from the inception to the end resulting in victory.

I was virtually engaged in a rigorous task that involved taking up our opponents in the race each aggressively with almost two articles written weekly with over thirty thousand direct readers on my four WhatsApp accounts where I analysed the issues at stake in their true perspective in addition to statements on marble chunked out to change the mindsets of those of the electorate who are spiritually inclined of highly intellectual content in circulation all over the world particular here in Nigeria where I have audiences in over seven on-line newspapers spread across the country concerning the wrong opinions held by the public on the credibility, competence, acceptability or otherwise of my candidate in the election.

This became very challenging for me every week together with a series of espionage meetings if you like, held in closets with some important personalities that were involved in the elections on the other flank carried out on a few occasions in person or through phone discussions to confirm my fears as well as to gather the necessary information in addition to public opinion to which were to form my next article and from those of our opponents who are often eager to appeal to my conscience to back down on tribal considerations over my consistent attacks on their candidate the effect and impact made thereto who is known to be my close friend either to get my support or “buy me over” but none worked. But here we are, you can’t quantify that, or do you?

People did not know that at some point in my professional endeavours as a cub reporter and further up as a transcriber, I was in the same set with talented writers such as His Excellency Chief (Dr.) Clement Devid Ebri and Late Etubom Bassey Ekpo Bassey of blessed memories both of whom were Economic and News Editors respectively of the Nigerian Chronicle Newspaper. Even though junior in both experience and age, I was given an appointment as editor-in-chief of New Revelation newspaper sponsored by a foreign body, the United Church based in New York, and contracted to be printed at Oweri by the publishers of the Statesman newspapers owned by the Imo state Government.

This was way back in 1979 before chief Ray Ekpo of the famous Newswatch Magazine was employed as the editor of the same Chronicle Newspaper in Calabar after the exit of both Clement Ebri and the late Bassey Ekpo where he later was taken away to Lagos to work in the Concord Newspaper by the late chief Moshod Abiola.

Though the likes of Ebri and Bassey were very prolific in their writing skills they couldn’t ignore me for the courage I displayed then as editor-in-chief of a newspaper with a column where I write every week that matches the quality of the Chronicle on the streets of Calabar. The vendors would always compel their customers to buy both papers otherwise they forfeit the chances of reading any. This was because our paper the “New Revelation” was launched with the vendors association and was the second most popular paper after the Chronicle. And up till this moment, I am exceedingly glad to have Chief Ebri who still finds time to read me as often as my articles are published on social media as one of my audiences whenever I write on my WhatsApp.

Though my relationship with Chief Ebri who later became the first-ever civilian Governor of Cross River in 1993 under the regime of President Babangida as a military head of state was not as close as it would’ve been while in Chronicle, a situation gave itself again when he eventually contested and won the election to become Governor of my state in a party different from mine. He was in NPN while I was in SDP, and he never lost sight of my competence to deliver when it comes to media work, especially the print media.

Nevertheless, a few months into the life of his administration I wrote a short note of congratulation to the Governor on his victory at the polls and expressed my willingness to join him wherever he may need my services. Two days after I received a letter inviting me to meet with the Governor. On reaching the office I was directed to see Mr Unimke Nawa, SA for Information who is now late. He told me that the Governor had just travelled to Lagos that morning on his way to the United States of America. However had instructed that he (Nawa) should enquire from me where I think I can help in the Chronicle Newspapers which the Government was trying to revamp. I said Okay, and he gave a note to meet one Mr George Okoro whom the Government had engaged as a consultant to carry out revamping the State Chronicle.

Mr. Okoro was very excited to have me especially when he saw the qualities of the two newspapers I had edited, we both sat to analyse issues and he insisted he was going to make further recommendations to the Governor about what and where I should come in. Unfortunately, the Governor didn’t return from his trip to America as Babangida in his Maradona-ness dissolved the entire elected government and was going to conduct another election when General Abacha pushed him aside and took over as head of state, the rest became history.

What I was trying to infare or emphasise here was the nark of Chief (Dr.) Clement David Ebri as a highly prospective Governor we never had in Cross River due to the interruption of General Babangida then as military President who terminated their tenure a few months into the life of that administration in 1993. He displayed the ability to identify great souls amongst our people as those deserving to be engaged to serve the state in various capacities whom he selected to partner with him in his journey of building a great state as Governor where there would have been remarkable infrastructures in place and with those selected to serve as capable hands to compliment such resolve by their accomplishments over the portfolios assigned to them based on their known talents to become the pride of all Cross Riverians, not a bunch of nonentities and buffoons often brought as appointees on purely tribal considerations or sentiments to serve where they’re incapable all in the name of partisan politics.

Chief Ebri had in his team the likes of Mr Donald Etim Duke as his commissioner of Finance, who later became the first civilian Governor of the state under the current democratic setting after the military left power. He also had Rtd. Major Akpang Obi-Odu as his commissioner for works within the few months the tenure lasted. Obi opened up the long stretch of road though uncompleted in the present Bakoko in Calabar Municipality which was to serve as an exclusive area meant to harbour Housa’s residents in Calabar. Obi later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea during chief Obasanjo’s presidency.

He also had Mr Liyel Imoke into NPN whom he brought to contest for the Senate seat against Pius Tabi Tawo of the SDP and won. There were also Johnson Ebekpo and Unimke Nawa who is now late both of whom were special advisers and assistants among others. Liyel became the minister of Power under Chief Obasanjo’s regime and further became Governor of our dear state of Cross River after Donald Duke. Now you can see for yourself the quality of bright young men Ebri brought on board as Commissioners, special assistants and advisers and what they became in the state going forward, tells you of his foresight and good intentions, especially Mr. Donald Etim Duke who also became like Ebri, the first civilian Governor in a Democratic set-up.

His Excellency Mr Donald Duke and I both have respect and high regard for each other for the display of our Nature-given qualities right from the inception of when we met briefly for the first time together with Senator Gershom Bassey in his late mother’s house in Calabar before we later congregated as a formidable team of young men to reenact destiny in the same political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the year of the Lord, 1999, to cause the effect and withered the storm created by divisionist who adorn the state with pessimism a function of their indolence resulting in backwardness of the state and the frightening mentality of the leadership consisting of older men insisting on their grip on power in perpetuity which we collectively fought and surmounted resulting in his becoming Governor of the state at the young age of 38years old against an unsavoury opposition gange-up. Duke was never one who lost sight of those who worked or came to his rescue.

I remember that after we had won the elections pending the swearing-in, a week would never have passed without Duke who was now Governor-elect calling me on the phone to ask about my interest in where I intended to serve in the new government we were going to form in the state.

I supposed every key member of the inner team was equally approached by the Governor-elect and asked where they thought they could serve to depend on the sharing formula adopted by the stakeholders. It wasn’t a one-man show of insensitivity, done in obscurity or based on tribal considerations apart from merit and the rule played and contributions made by the individual stakeholders. Though the Governor-elect had an upper hand over some key positions it was mutually agreed upon and not an imposition or done with disregard for the feelings of key members’ interests like the late John Oyum Okpa, Liyel Imoke and a few others.

I recall vividly also during my appointment to the Board of Directors of (FRCN) Abuja, and there was a delay in our inauguration at the time, in the interim, the Governor had to call and gave me a supply contract job worth #12 million Naira then to execute to enable me to use the profit to take care of myself and those depending on me while waiting for our inauguration. This was at the time when monthly subvention to the state from Abuja was less than #2 Billion Naira during the first tenure of the administration with the State monthly wage bill put at #1. 2 million Naira. That was remarkably sensitive of him towards one of the backbones in his fight to conquer.

As a very popular former Governor of the state Duke tried to leverage that in his support for his candidate Senator Sandy Ojang Onor during the Governorship election alluding to many unsubstantiated accusations in his attack on the sitting Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade who was the principal confederate of Prince Otu and that was hurting the chances of our candidate whose image I was projecting and protecting.

I had to figure out the most potent way around his many inciting and demoralising statements and the adverse effect it was having on the chances of Prince Otu with ingredients in my writeup to mitigate such effects, in the cause of which we were both seen on top of our game in the exhibition of our prowess over whose story elicited the facts for acceptance by the masses of the electorate who were fully aware of what was at stake.

I never for once blackmailed Duke since we became friends, how can I, neither has he? Of course, I do criticise aspects of his leadership role as former Governor of the state, so why not? As an opinion moulder, activist and critic, if I didn’t do that though constructively, people would turn to doubt my unbiased disposition, credibility and sobriety in the overall. But in the last election, I merely contained his insinuations intelligibly by reversing his own words back to him as though anagramatizing. Anyone who carse could find time to read each of the two or three commentaries on him meant to dunce and erud the effects of his presence when he eventually took charge of campaigns to give Fillip to Onor’s chances.

Let me say this here Duke is forward-looking, intrinsically intelligent, highly favoured and is one with greatness in his DNA. Whether he seeks fame or not, these attributes never leave him and it is palpable and resounding. There is no way you can successfully blackmail him as a Cross-riverian and not be guilty, especially to those he helped politically to be what they’d become today.

“Please join me here in Part (2) of the series next week in the continuation where I intend to discuss a very astute politician, my friend and helper, former minister of power in Nigeria and Governor of Cross River, His Excellency Senator Liyel Imoke, who rewards political loyalty and is loyalty personified. Without this man’s hold of integrity and humanity, I would by now perhaps be a dead man when I was seriously ill with no help in sight. He, as a Governor of my state, listening to the dictate of his inner man, decided to sponsored me for treatment four times consecutively at one of the best hospitals in New Delhi, India, a gesture I will never forget in my life. He is a man who keeps his word, talks less and honours comradery. He is the current leader of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Cross River.”

“In the same article, surprisingly I shall talk briefly about my admiration for Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Chief Dele Momodu both of whom I attacked in my articles some times during my defence of our former President General Mohammedu Buhari. Their strengths in often the unpredictability of their political choices and their highly talented game-changers-status in their role in Image-making including their courage and prolificness. And in it also, I shall endeavour to discuss the role the image-makers and not praise-singers play in the success of a candidate in a very crucial election and what it takes to be one?”

END Time Message.

GOD WITH US……
StreetReporters.ng

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