Following the recent attack on the offices of the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and that of the Chairman in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, the State Government through the Permanent Secretary, Special Services and the State Security Advisers, yesterday 10th February 2020 called a stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar.
The meeting which took place at the Council of Chiefs’ Chambers, was presided over by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mboto had in attendance, State Security Advisers for Central and South, Ransome Odey and Ani Esin, the Commissoner for Industry, Peter Egba, House of Assembly members representing Obubra 1 & 2, Rt. Hon. Friday Okpechi and Hon. Frank Ovat, the Obubra HOLGA, Chief Bari Inyang, the two contending candidates, Dr. Bassey Tom and Abri Theophilus, and other prominent Obubra sons And daughters.
According to Dr. Mboto, the purpose of the meeting was to deliberate on possible ways to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act and to bring them all to book, to serve as deterrence to others and also to resolve amicably any animosity in the minds of the aggrieved and to consolidate on the way forward for the party ahead of the 2020 elections.
Dr. Mboto enjoined all the candidates to embrace peace for the sake of the People’s Democratic party and support whosoever has been put forward, in order to ensure that development and good governance reach the good people of Obubra, irrespetive of faction or party affiliations.
Dr. Alfred also called on both candidates present as well as all those absent to call to order their supporters,advising them on the need for peaceful coexistence, without which no meaningful development can reach the Obubra Nation.
The Honorable members also jointly condemned the wanton destruction of properties by the perpetrators, reffering to it as “barbaric and a show of weakness.” Hon. Okpechi said that the Local Government Area is lacking in many things already as compared to the other Seventeen Local Government Areas, therefore it is pertinent to unite to foster growth and development, rather than division that brings about decrease, stagnation and backwardness.
Hon Okpechi continued by saying that politics is a matter of interest, and that interest is backed by God. He therefore called on the aggrieved to accept the will of God and work to support the candidate who emerged , in order to build a greater Obubra Nation.
His associate, Hon. Ovat on the other hand called on the party to outline a bargaining strategy to accommodate the interests of the aggrieved, saying that this will go a long way to pacify their supporters. He used the opportunity to appeal to the candidates to sheathe their swords and meet more often, so as to restore peace and harmony amongst their supporters.
The Honorable Commissioner for Industry, Peter Egba also lend his voice to the cry for peace and harmony amongst the people. He said that no meaningful progress can take place in an atmosphere of crisis. He reiterated that for the sake of a new Obubra they must be a deliberate effort towards the consolidation of Governor Ben Ayade’s developmental plan of situating one Industry in each Local Government Area of the State and any form of impunity and animosity will truncate this process and Obubra will lose out from the scheme of things.
The State Security Advisers for Central and South, Ransome Odey and Ani Esin reiterated that power comes from God and no man can fight whom God has chosen, hence the need to embrace the will of God at all times.
Mr. Ransome added that the State Party Chairman, Ntufam Inok Edim Inok should create a social media platform for all party members across the state, where grievances and complaints of members can be channeled, before escalating into serious security breach.
The emerged winner, Dr. Bassey Tom and one of the aggrieved candidate, Abri Theophilus, both promised to work together and they also pledged their unflinching support to the peace initiative. They further gave their words to call their supporters to order to guarantee the attainment of law and order before and during the March 2020 Elections.
Finally, as part of their resolutions, they were all tasked to provide in the next two weeks, the names of the perpetrators of the evil act, and a communique to the office of the Permanent Secretary on Special Services, as part of the modalities to restore peace and normalcy back to Obubra Nation.
BEATRICE AKPALA – SSA COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY