Cross River State and the Inheritance of its Throne

“His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State has announced that he will support a candidate from the Northern senatorial district to succeed him as Governor of Cross River State”. And so, pellmell to the Governors residence. The North of Cross River State (Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra, Ogoja and Yala LGAs) has had the misfortune of never producing a Governor of the State, yet, as a group they provide the largest number of votes. The people are simple, loyal and forward thinking, however, almost everyone from the North is a “big man”. The North has had quite a few shots at powerful offices in the past- deputy governor, speaker, minister and a host of commissioners, special advisers and board members to say the least. Due to these “big men”, it hasn't been easy fostering a unified front, candidate or policy. Somehow or the other, the masquerades of the North never really dance to the same tune.

At this juncture; let us call upon the drummer or drummers of the North, the pied pipers if you must. Among the big men, there are big men. There are those whose decisions sway even the most unlikely situations, there are those whose lips are ever lined with honeyed words and are planted firmly to the ears or is the it rear end of the puppet masters themselves. We ask these masquerades, these powerful men to please sheath their swords, put away their personal pipe lines and focus on the good of the people of Northern Cross River, nay Cross River itself. And let us produce someone of great character, a man of vision, of capabilities and network, a simple man, a man of good conscience and steel, who will lead this great state to greater heights.  You see, the North has great big shoes to fill, in the recent past we`ve had the mercurial visionary Donald Duke and the incumbent grassroots developer and stabilizing hand Liyel Imoke. Between these two men, Cross River State has been put and kept on the worldwide map as a tourist destination, investment haven and a rapidly developing State. Whoever comes after these two men has a herculean task set for him or her.

What manner of man or woman? How do we find you? If you are out there, and you know you have a desire to govern this Cross River State, that has been declared as promising, safe and secure, peaceful. You will have to get off your lofty horse or stool, you`ll have to submit yourself to the people of the North 1^st and then the people of the State. We have questions to ask you, and you must have answers for us. These people of the North and of Cross River are no fools, we have tasted the juices of good fruit, we can’t and won’t hand over such a lush vineyard to just any “big man”.  Enough said!!!