Many were pampered and persuaded to take up political offices across board in 1998 just to sustain the infant democracy which was constantly threaten by boot and guns.
How would we have known that the military will not strike again?
Clearly it was their relics.
Again, adjudged high moral citizens shrouded, cleared the space for and humbugs were chosen.
The case of Agama Lizard hanging in for Crocodile because of their uncanny resemblance.
In Cross River State, the case was not completely different as we saw a revolutionary take over by a very young class.
A 37 year old was elected governor.
The State House had well over 90% of under 40 members as same with the State Executive cabinet.
These group of persons set a new dimension for Leadership in the State, anchoring every facet of government and controlling the resources thereof with merely rotating positions within the circle.
Just a handful of them got pushed out and replaced with extended family members.
The dividends of democracy was just a myth to the common man who’s duty was merely to execute the executive orders in his domain.
The cartel soon almagalmated into an institution of power brokers where jobs, contracts, scholarships, grants, sponsorships, quality healthcare etc were relegated to just their family members.
State Government would fund medical trips for certain individuals overseas.
Sponsor children of these cabal members abroad for education.
Government contracts would be given to their family members.
We technically breaded gods amongst men.
Credibility didn’t matter in a Leadership.
The political class practiced the Igbo batter system where a servant who has served for years with proven record of loyalty can be consider as a single term Counsellor in his ward as settlement while their children were appointed Commissioners, Special Advisers and other sensitive portfolios for family members.
In 2015, they snapped!
You understand the ideology of “ownership by prolong use?”
The concept attempts to underline that human nature of having that ownership instinct of a thing he/she has been in position of for a long while without being challenged.
That’s a core human flaw.
The moment these exclusively exotic amenities are taken away, it would be seen as a trample on their rights.
That’s it.
Unfortunately, the advent of Gov. Ben Ayade with a different ideology about governance drawing his bearing from the Japanese style of governance which clearly puts every citizen within the circle.
Hence, his all inclusive style of governance with plurality of it’s own criticism and indisputably great merits and fair for our complexities borne of many tribes, tongue and bias.
The system successfully disenfranchised and disengaged the old cabal from the business of government and those who envisaged such future had long retired to other businesses beyond just sitting to milk millions from the very lean resources of the State.
The adamant and hardheaded political oldies still feeling the need to give a good and hard fight before they are finally relegated have taken to the business of hate sponsor against every decision and actions of the new dispensation.
They go as far as instigating religious leaders, youth groups, party support groups etc, indoctrinating them with falsehood to take actions against government pointing to every lapses as core basis to back their arguments.
Hence, the Ayade must go campaign. Seriously?
Of course even their children who have not been able to pay for their luxurious lifestyles at the expense of the state had long joined the crusaders of wailers on the social space.
To say the least, I am flabbergasted to see that everyone now has a well leveled playing ground.
Looks good but still strange though!
The Son of whoever and the Son of whoever is not sitting in caucuses. Ha!
Game’s Changed!
Yes, today in Cross River State, beyond the rhetorics and campaign of calumny against this revolution, the new generation who have been placed their destiny in their hands have been blind folded to match against their liberator.
The children of nobodies now in government have soon forgotten that yesterday they were merely ward messengers and yet, they still want to mortgage their future to advance pranks by that same old predator.
Sitting in the kitchen cabinet and the various control tower today are young and versatile C’riverians who have the capacity to change the narratives through a cankerworm movement to protect the generational shift initiated for the interest of Cross River State.
The ball now is with you this generation.
Choose to score own goal… e concern Una!