DAVID AGBA asks what the Northern Cross River seeks to do with the privilege offered it to produce the next governor of Cross River in 2015
The meeting
Nigerians from all walks of life have always guarded their flanks in terms of protecting what belongs to them with passion. This usually comes to the fore especially during electioneering, rallies, political meetings and such associations held as pivot for the actualisation of set dreams.
This was recently brought to the fore when the people of Northern Cross River state in South-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria held a consultative meeting in Ogoja local government area to chat a new direction for the zone to produce the next governor come 2015.
Imoke gives the nod
The meeting followed the declaration by the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had agreed to zone the governorship to the zone for justice and fairness.
Imoke had while addressing leaders from the zone, comprising Bekwarra, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja and Yala local government areas under the auspices of Northern Forum in Calabar, said zoning the governorship to Cross River North was not only justifiable, but an exercise that would continuously unite the state.
His words: “For me, it is not something that I can negotiate. And it is not something that we can negotiate. Rather, it is something that my party and I are strongly committed to.
“Based on the commitment we have put into the development of the state and the peace we enjoy, it is only proper that the third zone that makes up the state is given the opportunity to rule the state in 2015.”
The governor added: “In this same Cross River State, under this present democratic dispensation, the Southern and Central Senatorial districts have produced a governor each, so I cannot go back to say there was no zoning for the first two, therefore, there should be no zoning for the third. It will be most unfair.”
His predecessor, Donald Duke had, at the twilight of his 8-year rule assured the zone of the next governor, but this never saw the light of day due to political intrigues that led to the emergence of Senator Imoke.
Composition
With Imoke moving to right this wrong, the various segments in the zone came together to seek a way out. The Cross River North Stakeholders’ Consultative meeting is a forum comprising leaders, elders, youths and women cutting across the five local government areas that make up the Cross River North Senatorial District of the state.
Agenda
Participants discussed issues such as actualising the governorship aspiration of the zone, which has never happened before; the forthcoming National Conference and the future of the Ogoja province which has remained the only one not yet made either a state or a state capital as the case may be.
The Forum insisted that the next governor of the state should come from the north for the purpose of justice and fair play. At the meeting held in Ogoja Council Hall, the forum said the north with the support of other parts of the state, is working towards the actualization of that goal which will translate into visible improvements in the lives of people of the state. It also resolved to present a memo for the creation of Ogoja State for discussion at the National Conference.
In a speech, the convener, Senator Musa Unim Adede, affirmed that though the tribes and tongues of the people of the Northern Senatorial District differ, the people must “remain resolute in our determination to find common grounds on issues that bind us together and must rise here and say never again will our weaknesses be exploited to our common disadvantage and detriment”.
He said with both the PDP and the governor supporting the zoning of the position of governor to the north in 2015, the zone stands at the threshold of history which “we must either seize the opportunity and write our names in the sands of time or remain silent and leave our people stranded in the ocean of history.”
He emphasized that a great deal of work remains to be done as there are still hurdles to surmount even though the chance of Ogoja producing the next governor in 2015 is bright. “While we thank Senator Liyel Imoke our governor for this ground-breaking decision, a lot of work still needs to be done; for once it seems a straight fight amongst us. But how will it turn out after the gloves are down?” Adede queried.
Senator Adede stated that it was for the purpose of ensuring a peaceful outing in the governorship race that the meeting was convened so that they could play their part in the processes that will culminate in the election of a governor from the zone. “At the last count, we have over 22 individuals who have indicated interest for this one position. It is my earnest prayer that we can find common ground and play the game in a brotherly manner and fashion so that after the contest, our brotherhood and our unity will remain
“There can only be one winner, those who win must learn the fine art of statesmanship and those who don’t, succeed now, life goes on and our overriding interest and goal is to preserve our unity and bring development to our communities ,” the former lawmaker pleaded.
Also speaking, another major stakeholder, retired Brigadier General Anthony Ukpo, said the meeting was convened to agree on which part of the northern senatorial district the governor should come from n 2015, as well as the zone’s agenda for the national dialogue, particularly as it borders on creation of Ogoja State which is one of the few provinces that have remained without a state.
The former army spokesman noted that “Some people are not here out of fear that they may be sanctioned if they attended the meeting but I came through Calabar and saw the governor – he gave me the two cars that brought me here and he did not say do not attend that meeting.”
He said the Forum would meet with the Elders Forum led by Dr Matthais Offorboche so that the time lines for credible aspirants genuinely interested not just in the development of Ogoja, but the entire state as a whole would emerge.
Need for free hand
Also speaking, former publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr Venatius Ikem, restated the fact that beyond the voicing of platitudes, the position of governor of the state in 2015 naturally is for the northern district and that the paramount issue is for the people to be given a free hand to work with other zones and elect a governor of their choice.
He called on people of the northern senatorial district to be courageous enough to face the fight, and advised people not to shy away from politics. The former PDP spokesman noted that it is only through politics that one can positively affect people the most.
Justice is fast playing out in Cross River in the sharing and allocation of political offices. But will the Northern zone of the state make use of this opportunity?
