Princewill Odidi|13 February 2016|9:43pm
The emergence of opposition politics in Cross River state is a very welcome development. Even though the new party comprised mostly of defectors from PDP, it is still a good development.
The one party structure dominant in the state for the past decade destroyed the innovative voices and independence of our people, making it look like a taboo if anyone attempts to criticize the government.
The one party state made most cross riverians too scared to be engaged in anything, some are even too scared to comment on social media on any anti government publication, the one party party state created a prison of conscience with our high and mighty as her inmates, it entrenched timidity and gave our people the impression that only the political leader was wise enough to think for them.
This was evident in our politics as political leaders in their bedrooms would choose all counselors and council chairmen at their wish, the people had no say but to vote as instructed.
The emergence of opposition at least means some people will have the guts to voice their opinions in the state. At a point CRS was moving towards being a mini North Korea in Nigeria. CRS people were at a point caged in a box, and those who revolted were denied reelections, or denied the ability to seek political office.
It is our prayer that the new opposition group makes democracy participatory. We hope the new APC machinery would muscle enough strength to match PDP in the state.
The very first test to determine if these new defectors are worth the clout we ascribe to them will be their performance in the incoming local government elections.
It is our prayer, that these political big names should be able to deliver at least their small local government areas and produce opposition Council Chairmen.
Failure to deliver their local governments would send a wrong message as to the footing of APC in the state. The true value of any defector is not the number of political thugs they command to rally's, rather it is their ability to deliver their wards and local councils in the next elections.
Defectors should move beyond public pronouncements of defections with fan fare, to building concrete party structures that can actually check make PDP at the grassroots level.
The APC at the state level should build internal structures that will empower her members financially. The state APC should move beyond policy criticism to the creation of new policy initiatives and alternatives that the electorate can compare.
The state APC in an attempt to gain the confidence of the people should build capacity through contributions from some of her wealthy members and decampees by creating job creation opportunities for youths, micro credit programs for women and small business owners and engage the people in a form of empowerment different from the KekeNapep and sewing machine empowerment associated with PDP.
Farmers in Ugep, a town where I attended secondary school, need fertilizers. The population of the town is large compared to available farmlands, so farmers are forced to farm in the same farmlands year in and out. Our new defectors should consider a fertilizer distribution to farmers in that area.
Development only makes meaning only if you provide to the people items they will appreciate because thats what they need. development is meaningless and a waste of state resources if you build structures and projects that an average person may never use. While farmers in Ugep may need fertilizers, small traders in Ikom Market may prefer micro credit loans, Rice farmers in Yala may need better farm equipment, and fish sellers in Calabar may need better refrigeration facilities to preserve their commodities until the next day.
These are the components of people oriented development indices that over the years African political leaders have continuously missed. Rather they have continuously embarked on large meaningless capital projects. We hope the new party will view development from this holistic people focused perspective.
The new party should come up with a different plan to win the hearts of the people. They dont need to wait until election time and start distributing salt and rice, our people should not be converted to electoral beggars, but help them with productive ventures before election time, and you will not need salt and rice during elections.
Over the years, the likes of Okoi Obono-obla and Obun have kept the light of opposition shining in the state with little or no resources. Now that the likes of Jeddy Agba, Ndoma Egba, Bassey Otu, and host of other heavy pockets are in APC, its time we see a better and more efficient structure built in the state.
Politics only makes meaning when theres an opposition. We hope the new party in the state will play politics with ethics and show the people the true meaning of representation.
Princewill Odidi
Is a Social Commentator writing from Atlanta.