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“Former Governor Ben Ayade, of Cross-River, Ran the Government as A Family Business and Not Tribal, Which Was Why He Failed Completely. Atam Congress Was Not Tribal But A Set Of Individuals Opposed To Duke’s Election Then As Governor From Calabar.”

“To put things in their proper perspective, I wish to state unequivocally before the idle minds and talebearers on standby decide to take my message out of context to sell their petty political interests using my name, “Obi Offiong Ojage” as their reference point and a gateway to appointments from a Governor they call their own by mouth while their heart is telling lies. My constant reference to the former governor of CRS, Donald Duke, is not promotional or tacit support of his political party or his ambitions or interests. Far from it. I am not a member of his party. The real motive is to bring into focus what transpired in the past with Duke as a former Governor who left behind a legacy, with the hope that should the current Governor Otu, surpass the achievement of Duke, he now become the new reference point for the future of effective governance, and as a catalyst or a baseline of what should be obtained in the current government which I jointly fought to bring to power. And to do so in a much more modified and inclusive manner as a matter of duty to our people. In other words, those putting pressure on the current Governor, Prince Otu, to yield to their narrow and parochial inclinations on tribal sentiments are not doing the government or the governor any good. It may have a backlash effect. And further, push Senator Otu to face unnecessary public scrutiny from the other ethnic groups whose unwarranted commentaries could breed tendencies laced with hate with a ubiquitous effect that could mar the bright chances the Governor has of clinging to a second term.”
— Obi Ojage. 

By Obi Ojage 

TO my most cherished audiences, I beg to apologise for keeping you all in suspense due to my absence from the scene spanning over two months or so, especially those of you who do appreciate my modest contribution as a Christ Devotee on matters concerning Mother Nature which is an “Idea”, the idea of everything that occurred or waiting to occur in the world of Appearances, including the “Soul”. And which is called the “Holy Ghost” in the scriptures, being the source of human existence. My further expression of “Idea” concerning that aspect of Mother Nature called the “God Almighty” which operates in the void as a Ghost and Holy with emphasis on the “Holy Spirit” as a replication of that Ghost to superintend over the Human Soul as a further extension of recognisances now expressing itself in humans as their Souls to enable it to take up existence in the world of Appearances. Please, bear with me.

In fact, all of that is part of the reasons why I am still participating in political activities to influence governance in any way I can to engage those concerned in our world of politics over the issues of governance to reflect deeply on why the Lord chooses those chosen to head or lead the flock of adherence within their territories with the onerous task of distributing what is available in Nature to sustain the life of all manner of men especially those who are now their subject. And to do so equitably with the fear of the Lord to guarantee longevity and peace of mind and body for those chosen to such a time or whichever time their Souls wish to renew their body through the processes of rebirth where it leaves the present faded human body that has become exhausted and useless over time into another worm of the same or another woman within or yonder, back into existence to continue experiencing and exercising the lessons lent in a world without end.

I must say here in all modesty that as a consummate politician and one of those who worked double-hard to bring the present Government of Cross-river into power with Prince Bassey Otu as the one destined to be Governor on the platform of the APC enthroned by the Lord, where I had wished that our government now in power, certainly would take measures to make a difference from what obtained in the past to usher in the needed fresh air and put to shame all those who thought otherwise.

It is on this basis that I opt to speak and it is my duty to do so as a stakeholder in the project, against what characteristically would drastically distort the good intentions of the current Governor and government to attain those feats where it is expected to give our people a decent leadership comparable to that of Donald Duke of yore, or exceeding it whose legacy has endured through time undiminished. A trend, if not nipped in the bud and halted from taking a form, might lead to an uncalculated disaster.

And all of these, as we can see, are being orchestrated by the present crops of political officeholders thrown up by providence. Mostly those elevated to positions of prominence undue for their capacity and mental absorption of something far from what they’d ever dreamed of becoming in life. Which now intoxicate them to act unruly in total disregard of the consequences that followed such an act. They’d neither aspire, imagine or think of being what they have suddenly become today due to politics of seclusion, which incidentally is willed in their favour.

The resultant effect of all of these phenomena is what is playing out where their excitement and actions turn to provoke certain sensitivities rather than to encourage others who are desirous to join forces with the current Governor who is known to be a good man, to deliver in his promises to let the people enjoy the dividends of democracy which seems to have eluded them due to bad and insensitive leadership.

Withoutany contradictions or bias to anybody or tribe, the rate at which the entrenchment of ethnicity into the politics of today’s Cross-river is unheard of in the history of politics of our dear state, not even when we were one state before the creation of Akwa Ibom from Cross River, or at the emergence of His Excellency Mr Donald Etim Duke, an Efik have we witnessed this level of discontent and murmuring amongst numerous qualified members of the APC and well intended Cross-riverian especially those from the Southern Senatorial District as the result of a deliberate dominance of one ethnic group the Efiks, dwarfing two others of the same district, to say the least, in nearly all key government establishment in the state, cannot be said to reflect wisdom nor could it be termed the “Will of the Lord” in all intents and purposes.

WHEN Donald Duke, in the company of both Liyel Imoke and Gheshiom Bassey, arrived in the state from their base in Lagos to venture into politics to run for Governor, there was a lot of enthusiasm amongst those of us from the south who constitute the inner working team including Ntunkae Grace Eyo-Ita and Late Chief John Oyum Okpa of blessed memories who hail from Akamkpa and Obubra respectively.

Though a few persons who had nursed the hope of a KANU AGABI’S leadership across the state refused to back down long after the overwhelming support given to Duke as an Efik man to emerge as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and subsequently became Governor, some constitute themselves into a group known and called the “ATAM CONGRESS” majority of who were from the central and Northern senatorial districts of the state with no particular tribe in dominance other than individual persons nursing and exhibiting their individual biases against an Efik person becoming Governor. They continued unabated to work underground to undermine activities of Government both within and in Abuja.

Notwithstanding, after the elections were over and swearing-in done, Duke kept all that happened behind him gallantly, ignored their series of threats aimed at destabilising his government and went on to pick from within their people, those qualified to make up his team of vibrant and tested individuals who were mentally equipped and intellectually sound and not those with tendencies to displayed primitive power and sudden wealth causing those outside government to wonder how they came about such homongousity of cash. Those brought on board were to interpret his vision. Donald Duke, the one elected as Governor, called the shorts by giving out instructions and delegating responsibilities to be carried out strictly by those appointed. He did not share power with his brother, friends or anyone as we saw in the past administration headed by Ben Ayade.

THIS was expedient because no sheep with a passenger in it would sail to show successfully with two captains on board it; determines navigation simultaneously without hiccups that may lead to disaster arising from their individual differences over suggestions on how to navigate stormy weather when it arrives.

That was exactly what bedeviled the government of Prof. Ben Ayade. And it is not worth emulating by any sane government. Though he did not flood the state with his tribesmen from Obudu as some would argue, he was accused of gratifying his blood brother who was not elected to function as a defacto governor of Cross-river, where he had things muddled up irredeemably before living office 1as Governor. Should the current government continue in such a trajectory? These are the questions to ask those pushing for a government of segregation and opiniativeness, for a state as Cross-river that needs all hands on deck for result.

Due to Duke’s approach to having a mixed grail in governance, areas of individual deficits or flows were easily dictated, and whoever was responsible for such degeneration or ineptitude was advised to quickly shape in or shape out. In this case, power flows vertically and not horizontally, as the buck begins and stops at Duke’s table, being the man in charge.

Everywhere was tight and busy. What was at work were ideas and dreams over a very slim and tight budget of 2.8 billion to accommodate wage bills of over Eight Hundred Million on salaries alone, coming from the Federation Accounts during the first tenure of his administration.

However, during the period of that horrible fight brewed against Duke by persons from the north and central districts of the state who refused to come to terms with the fact that one from a minority tribe was governor and doing well by showing prospects of a new down, pressure began to mount on the Governor from within his kinsmen in Calabar to do something purely out of fear, but the Governor remained reticent and uncowed.

He later related an incident in a personal conversation we had, of an encounter between himself and a very well-respected Efik son who was a schooler and former minister of Health from the state in the person of High Chief Late Doctor Emmanuel Nsan of blessed memories, who visited him in the office then as the Governor to advise him to note that his tenure was a golden opportunity for the Efik tribe, therefore he should make sure sensitive positions are given to his ethnic group as this may be the last time an Efik man may ever have the opportunity to be Governor of the state again.

But surprisingly, Duke, who said he listened carefully to the advice, politely turned down his request and retorted by affirming that “as an Efik man on that seat, he has covered all the “Efik’s wants”. However, he further assured late Chief Nsan that all he would do in his powers as Governor was to make sure there were developments in all the Efik land as well as other areas in the state in need of development based on the availability of funds. Notwithstanding, when he finds a qualified Efik young man fit to interpret the dream of his administration, he would not hesitate to bring the person in to help in the work. And he did so in many instances.

Not satisfied, though, the late Nsan, who was highly disappointed, didn’t argue further and left. Unknown to him that what he’d proffered rather was an invitation to bigger trouble in future for the minority tribes including the Efiks should Duke out of excitement as the one in charge allow himself to be put under pressure by those whose saw his emergence purely as one to better their lots based on tribal affinity without taking into cognisance other dynamics involved especially the sharing formula enshrined in the constitution which encourages equity and Fairplay or allowed himself to be dictated to by persons who are unmindful of the sensitivity of the issues at stake. Or be persuaded by his kinsmen to go about placing every Efik or a childhood friend found on the streets of Calabar who is unqualified to positions where competence is required and isolate those competent to prove hisa Efikness?

That didn’t make sense, nor would it have augured well, especially with another Efik person clamouring to be Governor as we now have in the person of the present Governor, who is Efik? However, Duke said he declined as that isn’t his style to govern people with similar problems and interests to protect.

And for me, Duke was dead right in his assertions. Doing so would not only fuel hate amongst the majority of those who will be aggrieved and not say it to his hearing as it has been witnessed today. It will be pretty difficult during roundtable discussions in another election circle to arrive at a consensus for those in the minority tribes to redeem themselves in future political consideration based on the majority decision without scapegoating as a way to reinvent themself for acceptability by the veto of those from the majority tribes. I don’t know if I am making sense here?

I must say here again to compliment the stands of Governor Duke then, that tribalism, which enhances nepotism, brings about segregation and is a primitive attitude and show of debility usually carried out or advised to do so by those who do to cover up their ineptitude. It is often a device used by those who want to hide the atrocity they commit or wish to commit in the cause of their work, for fear that persons other than those from their ethnic group, tribe or allies cannot be trusted to cover their inequity.

Nevertheless, and to confirm this further, the current Governor, Prince Otu, was highly supported and worked for by persons of other tribes, mostly sons of the Ejagm tribe where he had his highest support base in the central district during the elections. The Ejagham tribe constitute the largest ethnic majority with a presence across the three senatorial districts. Individual Ejagham sons all over with large following, capacities and relevance were targeted and persuaded by me to carve in, being partly Ejagham. I did so through my highly articulated, very incisive, educative and widely read articles where I deemphasised tribal sentiments and upheld party supremacy with preferences anchored on suitability rather than tribe. That resonated curiosity in the minds of many towards a proper examination of the two candidates, Bassey Otu and Sandy Onor, based on the facts I presented before my very large audiences for an unbiased and concrete accessment of them, beyond tribe and money.

That was how I bought the minds of everyone, including many of those who supported our opponents, to embrace Prince Otu. This saw our party, the APC, with the current Governor being preferred against an Ejagham son in the person of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor of the PDP. Amazingly, those whom some of the Efiks derogatorily had tagged as “ATAM” were at the forefront, overwhelmingly supporting the current Governor as well without which he would’ve lost to the PDP with Donald Duke leading the campaigns.

And that underscores the fact that those who are often described as ATAM to serve a certain end are indeed not poise towards a denominator in that regard since there were not persons from one local government area or tribe as denoted, nor are they from the same ethnic group to warrant them speaking with one voice to cause any upsets in the polity. Therefore, those using that as an excuse to justify the dominance of one tribe in the south into high political offices, for instance, out of three or four others in the same zone, are hypocrites and a bunch of mischief-makers who are bent on bringing the current Governor to ridicule.

THESE persons, contemptible as they relate, are an indolent bunch who are just being mischievous and merely taking advantage of the softness in the character of the current Governor, Prince Bassey Otu to talk about an “Agenda” as sin quo none. But Assuming we were to contain an Ugep agenda during the Ebri government, an Abi agenda of Imoke, an Obudu agenda of Ayada or a Calabar agenda of Duke, how divided or polarised on ethnic lines would the state have been if that did happen? These are those who are unable to measure up in an open market of opportunity but rather are looking for shortcuts or a scapegoat to attain heights they do not deserve.

I am pretty sure that if Duke had taken the suggestion by the late Doctor Nsan of blessed memories, hoke-line-and-sinker and not minded the consequences that may follow in the future, because he had the powers to craving, succumbed to pressure to flood the whole place with his tribesmen, nobody from the other ethnic groups today, would ever want to hear or touch an Efik to head the Government for fear of being marginalised no matter the party. But he was firm enough to resist the enormous pressure on him to do so. That is what I suggest the current Governor, Prince Otu, should do to achieve results and broaden his acceptability state-wide; rather than to limit himself to those group of persons who turn to take his uncommon benevolence for granted under the guise of a so-called Efik agenda which favours but a negligible few in the system. The attitude of most of these outlaws is strange, to say the truth. It is anathema to peaceful coexistence.

But the attitude we find today in the state is strange, to say the truth. It is anathema to peaceful coexistence. I hope an end is put to it through a cabinet reshuffling process including other agencies, carried out by the current Governor to stem the tide.

The idea depicts fear as it is isolative and usually encouraged by a few elements within the state where such behaviours exist of those who are trapped by indolence and bitterness of their heart away from the Lord of Host said to be the one who gives and takes power or positions, now find solace from the embrace of weak or tolerable leadership to employ self-serving measures with little or nothing to offer from the inception of such leadership other than creating indifferences where none exist as a force to enable them enjoy what they didn’t work for except for being identified as coming from the same Local government as the sitting Governor, being from the same ethnic group, church, or a purported childhood friend.

I must add here for clarity that the Governor should abhor the presence of spent forces who are divisionist; they have done their bit, and no matter their calling as appointees, they should be avoided. They’re the ones causing segregation in the state in the name of Efik as a tribe using the Governor as a shield mostly those who had nothingg tangible to offer to interpret his dream other than the crave to occupy big offices to exhibit opulence without the capacity to deliver on anything that the chant of “Emi-locon” based on tribe.

Those of the Efiks Duke brought on board from outside the state to head sensitive institutions of state, and some as commissioners, were core professionals and persons of proven integrity. Though the fight of the ATAM Congressman against the government was still raging on for those he ignored, no one raised an eyebrow on that plank, when they saw persons in the quality of Architect now (Etubom) Eyo Ndem, Barrister Andem Ekpo, amongst others, including Ntufam Ekpo Okon, a journalist and former NUJ state chairman. No sooner did those who ignored Duke as neophytes both in Abuja, Lagos and elsewhere begin approaching me as his confidant to take them to him for discussions.

These are usually persons who had never truly supported any course wholly without a fee attached to it, no matter the political party. And they live by gambling their way through any government in power. Where they’re not carried along by default in the system, they devise a means by which to either destroy the government of the day or the person at the head of affairs, whether a Governor or a President. These are done mostly to leadership that condescends to give catharsis to their trumpeting sound of tribal sentiment meant to create a divide and the right atmosphere to rip where they did not sow.

To put things in their proper perspective, I wish to state unequivocally before the idle minds and talebearers on standby decide to take my message out of context to sell their petty political interests using my name, “Obi Ojage” as their reference point and a gateway to appointments from a Governor they call their own by mouth while their heart is telling lies. My constant reference to the former governor of CRS, Donald Duke, is not promotional or tacit support of his political party or his ambitions or interests. Far from it. I am not a member of his party.

The real motive is to bring into focus what transpired in the past with Duke as a former Governor who left behind a legacy, with the hope that should the current Governor Otu, surpass the achievement of Duke, he now become the new reference point for the future of effective governance, and as a catalyst or a baseline of what should be obtained in the current government which I jointly fought to bring to power. And to do so in a much more modified and inclusive manner as a matter of duty to our people.

In other words, those putting pressure on the current Governor, Prince Otu, to yield to their narrow and parochial inclinations on tribal sentiments are not doing the government or the governor any good. It may have a backlash effect. And further, push Senator Otu to face unnecessary public scrutiny from the other ethnic groups whose unwarranted commentaries could breed tendencies laced with hate with a ubiquitous effect that could mar the bright chances the Governor has of clinging to a second term.

“Next week on this page, the Lord willing, I shall discuss the official visit last year, of the state Governor Prince Bassey Otu to my modest house in Big Qua Town, Calabar, which doubles as my private office, with the complement of all the staff of the Governor’s office including the Chief of staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, on a thank you gesture which lasted for more than an hour. Which was a great honour I truly appreciated. And so were my kinsmen of the Quas of Calabar Municipality including neighbours, friends and admirers who beseeched the short but an untarred street to my house to catch a glimpse at their Governor, even though I am yet to be given my due as agreed to between myself and Prince Otu, the current Governor, expectedly; as a mandatory compensation just as everyone else enjoying appointive position in light of my contribution towards the party’s victory, both as a politician, paty man and a friend to Otu; as the turncoats often describe my person. Please, stay with me here!.”

End Time Message.

GOD WITH US…..

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