To whom it may concern;
In 2015, Nothing could stop the then Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke to replace Senator Victor Ndoma Egba with Senator John Owan Enoh now Minister. Not even his National contacts and closeness to the then President, Goodluck Jonathan was able to save him. By hook or by crook, Senator Imoke ensured that the all powerful, vocal, visible and experienced Senate leader was removed.
Same 2015, Not even the massive grassroot popularity and appeal by the current Governor, then Senator, Prince Bassey Otu was able to discourage the then Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke from replacing him with his friend Senator Gershom Bassey. In Fact, the first primaries that was slated to hold at the cultural centre main bowl had to be cancelled because there was absolutely no way the government would have had their way. At the UJ Esuene Stadium where it was shifted to the following day, Richard was bearing Richmond and James was bearing Emmanuel because almost all the delegates were rooting for ‘Sweet Prince’ hence the easiest way out was to have people bear the names of the original delegates through the help of Security.
My point is, if you like share the same bedroom with the President in Abuja or be the only name the market women, taxi drivers and the common man in the street of Mbukpa or Edibe Edibe know or remembers, if you don’t humble yourself by subsuming yourself into the politics of the State as ably led by the Governor and Chief Security Officer of the State, then you are on your own.
Yesterday I watched a video of the Cross River State Hon Commissioner of Works, Mr Pius Edet insisting that the current roads construction and rehabilitation in Calabar metropolis is done by the Cross River State Government and not the Senator representing Southern Senatorial District as it’s been speculated in some quarters. Truth is, there wouldn’t have been any need for such clarifications by the Commissioner if the Senator had not called for it directly or indirectly.
I understand that politics is showmanship. There is always this urge to show-working as we called it in political parlance but then in this case, wisdom should have been allowed to prevail. Both the man who is Governor and the one who is Senator aspired to be Governor and luckily one got it and the other was compensated with the Senate seat. But every now and then, if the one who is at the Senate is not inspecting solar light installation project in Bayside, he is somewhere in Calabar Municipality inspecting road project with cameras and loud cheers of the ‘The standard’ by bystanders. To proof what exactly? He was the best person in the South for the number one seat abi?
A few days ago, I came by a post by Ukorebi Esien where he insinuated that he doubt the possibility of Odukpani retaining all three seats it currently occupies in the next dispensation and I couldn’t agree less. However among the three, we know which one would stay for 8 years and the one that ‘may’ leave in 2027. It is therefore not surprising that the first Salvo that is hinting on this political chessboard that is about to be unravel is coming from an Akamkpa Son. The next will come from Biase.
Trust me, that interview is only a prelude of what is to come IF the man at the Senate doesn’t stop the ‘If not me, then who’ politics. Make no mistake about it, behind the fine face and the gentle mien of the Governor, is a man that takes no prisoners. Mistake his gentility for weakness at your own peril.
If they like, let them take this as another ‘SANCTIMONIOUS RUBBISH’ but I will be here to remind them. Before ‘The Standard’ they was a ‘Sweet Prince’.
RR.