I recall with a deep sense of satisfaction events that heralded the 2015 gubernatorial elections in our dear state, Cross River. Elders, youths, women and even children alike in the Northern part of the state had a common yearning, a similar dream…power to Cross River North. The people needed the occupant of the Iron Throne (Seat of Power) of the state to come from the North. And as a people, united by one ambition, worked together and as one force, achieved that which we yearned for…we now have the power. But like it’s said about power which ‘corrupts absolutely’, we have become a people divided by politics, selfishness, greed and even our ‘common enemy’ and in that craziness we have forgotten where we came from, what we have been through and the pangs of pains that drove us to be a united voice two years back.
History holds that our Progenitor ‘Ukani Agba’ had us all as one big, happy family but today, the common bond that kept us together, the bond that gave us one voice and dream has been shattered and broken by our very selves in the name of politics. Bold I am always when I introduce myself as an OGOJA MAN not minding the subsets that exists therein, this is because as young men growing up, we imbibed the spirit of brotherhood that transcended time and events. I remember sitting in a youth forum where the Speaker of the Cross River House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo one said that ‘the youth are the unspent currency of any nation’. Having that in mind, it’s sad that the youths have let themselves be fooled by self styled political activities, political activists that where nowhere to be found when our other brothers steered the affairs of the state. Today, our brothers young and old alike has been so conscripted into attack dogs and hirelings to our collective mandate. There is so much falsehood everywhere and the gullible populace swallow it hook, line and sinker refusing blatantly to apply common sense.
Leadership has overtime proven to be a ‘ship’ that no one man alone can stir. This mandate we passionately won deserves our continuous support, prayers and backings as every leader ascends the saddle of leadership with an ideology about governance all geared towards the common good. Allowing ourselves to be divided isn’t the way forward. This mandate is ours collectively and we must stand by it. It’s in line with fostering this bond amongst us that the proposed maiden Northern Cross River Festival (#NORTHFEST!) 2017 glades by heart.
The #NORTHFEST! would be for us what the Calabar Festival is to our brothers in Cross River south, what Lebokun Festival is to our central brothers. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t in anyway trying to divide our dear state…no!. Without sentiments, these festivals promote our cultural heritage, unites us as a people and provides a platform to mend broken walls amongst us and build enviable dreams and voice as a people to mention just a few. This is why I lend my voice to supporting this lofty idea. Let’s come back together as a people, driven by one positive desire to protect our mandate and cultural heritage. We cried for a chance and a shot at leadership of our great state, let it be on record that posterity, history would not forgive us if we are not United enough to deliver an exemplary leadership to the people of our great state. It will remain a sour grape in our mouth if we fail to put in place a kind of united leadership that will make our children and generations unborn to be proud of us.
On the proposed maiden NORTHFEST 2017, Dominic Kidzu wrote…’ A good project. It will no doubt strengthen filial bonding amongst the people of Northern Cross River, advertise the rich and similar cultures of the people, while opening up the tremendous tourism potential of the area to the rest of the world. This could also offer the kick for the much needed resolve for the North to begin to think, feel, and work together as a people and a political group, and perhaps resolve also to be more protective of it’s own.’ in this vein, we must return back to our corners and with remorse, think as leaders and followers from Northern Cross River on the way forward else our brothers will keep looking at us as a disorganised people who are not supposed to be. Collectively, we must forge a common, united front to the shame of our common enemies and the happiness of our amiable Progenitor Ukani Agba.
#IamEmmaOlayi
#ISupportNorthfest’17
#IThinkCrossRiver