6 July 2017
Your
Excellency,
Senator
Liyel Imoke,
Former
Governor of Cross River State.
Sir,
SENATE
2019: WHY YOU SHOULD ENSURE JUSTICE FOR YAKURR.
Your
Excellency, just at the young age of 30 years, you were elected as Senator to
represent the Central Senatorial District of CRS in the Nigerian Senate in
1992.
With
the truncation of the Third Republic, and the return of the military to power
in November, 1993 when Gen Sani Abacha, as he then overthrew the interim
National Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan and abolished the democratic
institutions at the State and National levels, most especially the National
Assembly, you returned to your private life, but still kept your eyes on the
State, hoping that a day shall come through the ballot box, where you shall
again have an opportunity to serve not just your immediate constituency of
Abi/Yakurr federal constituency, central senatorial district but the entire
state.
As
when the opportunity came with the return to civil politics between 1998/1999
you demonstrated your avowed commitment to serving the State when you worked
very hard for the emergence of an Efik man, Mr Donald Duke to become Governor
in 1999, there after, erasing the erroneous notion/believe that it was
impossible for an Efik man to win election into the office of Governor of CRS.
Of course, it is still fresh in our memory how a group of people (me inclusive)
under the umbrella of Atam Congress agitated seriously to truncate the reign of
Governor Duke in a desperate attempt to stopping him (Duke) from having a
second term.
Sir,
it is on record that you scuttled that process and made sure Mr Donald Duke had
his second term in office, you ensured that for the first time what can be
described as political unity was attained across the State, through the
effective zoning of office for elections and appointments.
In
2007, you became Governor of CRS, after serving the Nation as Special Adviser
to President Obasanjo and later Minister of Power and Steel, you also served
briefly as Minister for Education, under Papa OBJ. Given the roles you played
in the political history of CRS and Nigeria, from a very young age, there's no
doubt that God has been good/kind and benevolent to you as a person by placing
you in leadership positions you've occupied. I thank God for you sir.
Leadership
comes with responsibility, and we are happy that so far you have not failed in
discharging this responsibility providence has bestowed on you, the latest
being that you ensured power was handed over to the North as you did promise
years back that your successor will come from the North of CRS in 2015.
Your Excellency,
though it's over two years since you left office of Governor, and somewhat
retired to private life/business, your position as political leader of our
state cannot be denied/questioned or taken away from you. In fact, it is in
this critical but auspicious moment in our political history in the Central
Senatorial District that your leadership acumen/wisdom and ability is most
needed as the count-down to 2019 general election gets closer.
Sir,
it is not for nothing that God created you as an Itigidi man, from Abi Local
Government, Central Senatorial District of CRS. I believe that amongst other
numerous reasons, it is for a reason/ moment like this that the Yakurr Nation
is crying out for JUSTICE, EQUITY, and FAIR-PLAY on the political turf, God has
created you leader for this times/situations.
WHY
YAKURR AT THE MOMENT?
Your
Excellency, please recall that, since you went to the Senate in 1992, Old
Obubra, consisting of Abi, Obubra and Yakurr LGAs, these areas have not again
produced a Senator for the Central Senatorial District, from records,
it's 27 years ago since a Senator showed up from this zone. It's pathetic and
worrisome sir. It is a fact that Old Ikom, comprising Etung, Boki and Ikom
(LGAs) have been in the Senate for the district since 1999, which will make the
zone 20 conservative years in the Senate in 2019.
Those
who argue that Old Obubra could not have produced a Senator for the zone from
2017 to 2015 may be right because you were Governor of the State, but would
they be right too in arguing that Old Obubra didn't deserve/have a right to
produce a Senator between 1999 to 2007? Some may reason/argue that you HE Liyel
Imoke was Special Adviser, Minister for most of the period with Mr John Oyom
Okpa of blessed memory who served as Deputy Governor during the first term of
Mr Donald Duke, that it was impracticable for old Obubra, let alone Yakurr to
produce a Governor.
The
above line of argument falls flat when the fact is established that the
position of Special Adviser and
Minister
are appointive and not elective and only come by consideration based on the
Leader/President's discretion/prerogative/Choice.
On the
issue of Senate for the Central Senatorial District, it is on record that the
Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency has produced a Deputy Governor in the person
of Late John O. Okpa between 1999-2003, and are currently occupying the
position of Senate through the current Senator, Sen John Owan-Enoh, who
incidentally falls under Old Ikom, as he is from Etung. It would amount to the
height of Injustice to Yakurr in particular, if Senate returns/remains
comes from Old Ikom/Obubra/Etung Federal constituency combined.
This
is so because since HE Chief Clement David Ebri served as Governor between
1992/1993, Yakurr has not produced a Senator, the highest office from Yakurr
was the position of Speaker through Hon Bassey Eko Ewa, during the
administration of Donald Duke. Having waited patiently for this long Your
Excellency, it is the turn of Yakurr to produce the next Senator for the
Central Senatorial District sir.
Ordinarily,
one would have thrown the demand open for Abi/Yakurr, but having served as
Senator before and Governor, it is appropriate and godly to state that the next
in line for the position for Senator is Yakurr, even though the area has
produced a federal representative position for a sort of balance.
Sir,
you have achieved political stability for the State on two different occasions,
I pray your next task should be to ensure YAKURR produces the next Senator for
the Central Senatorial District.
This
you should do for history to completely vindicate you, and the long-held
erroneous impression that you hate the Yakurr people.
God
bless you sir, as you hearken to the cry of the Yakurr Nation for 2019.
Thank
you.
Goddie
A. Akpama
Former
Chairman IPAC CRS Chapter.
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