A WIND OF CHANGE
Youths in northern Cross River are clamouring for a change in representation, writes Ofem Uket
The political scenario in the northern senatorial zone of Cross River is evolving strategically to replace the incumbent senator representing the zone, Senator Rose Oko, a two- time member of the national parliament. From all indications, she would likely be replaced by Jude Ngaji, son of former Senator Greg Ngaji, a fourth Republic senator. A youth alliances cited inactive representation on the floor of the Senate and protracted stay in office as reasons for the new choice.
The youths said Senator Oko had served as education commissioner in the military administration of Ernest Kizito Attah in the early nineties, when over 90 per cent of the youths clamouring for change today in the area were in primary and secondary schools. Independent investigation and random sampling of public opinion in the area point to the fact that the clan heads, youths, men and women and constituents of various communities in the zone have been involved in consultations and dialogues to effectively change its representation at the Senate come 2019 general election.
They claimed that since their representation in the House of Representatives in 2011 and the Senate since 2015 had not been effective in terms of community development, quality employment, skill acquisition, health services, water resources, agriculture and the develop- ment of rural roads in the area.
The constituents are also saddened by their representative’s inability to sponsor bills and motions at the National Assembly to attract federal institutions to the zone, which most likely will translate to social services in employment and trade within and around the communities where these institutions are situated. They are worried and concerned about the repeated representation at the parliament without cognate performance that has direct bearing on the people, especially when existing health centres, primary and secondary schools classroom blocks are dilapidated, and no deliberate efforts are made by political representatives from the zone to rehabilitate these local educational and health institutions.
However, there are various caucuses, political formations and a grouping that convene consultative forums to educate the people on the choice of candidate in 2019, bearing in mind the peculiar experience and deprivation the people have suffred in all facets of governance in the zone. It is clear to everyone in the zone that the new formations drumming support for Jude Obgeche Ngaji, State Security Adviser, to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River, is the preferred candidate to represent the area in the green chambers of the National Assembly come 2019.
Jude Ngaji is considerably enjoying and leveraging on the just assented to Not Too Young to Run bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, an act of parliament that youths all over the country have stood for and are willing to translate into action in various states with particular emphasis in the Cross River North zone.
Perhaps, the politics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River to conduct primary elections, which of course can be described as a selection process for the choice of candidate that will emerge to win elections in contest with other political parties, the candidature of Jude Ngaji is likely to get the buy-in of the people.
In fairness to the process of emergence at the primary elections of PDP in the state, stakeholders have resolved on a transparent and open process devoid of imposition by political leaders, which has always been the practice in the past, culminating in poor representation and non-performance.
The youths, clan heads of communities in Cross River North have not only jostled for the emergence of Jude Ngaji as senator representing the zone, but have taking steps further to source funds to purchase INEC forms for the preferred candidate. The consensus of the predominant voice of the people is to ensure that the wind of change and effective transformation in the political history of the zone is not compromised.
Quite clearly, there is immense pressure on the mid-40 year- old security adviser of the state to run for the senate on the platform of the PDP, because of his immense contribution to the development of communities in the area through a foundation for the less privileged, the youth empowerment programmes and educational scholarship awards for deserving and indigent students.
Determinations and the readiness demonstrated by constituents in the field at a private visit to the area for fact- findings indicate that the process of change is inevitable. Again, in no distant time, concerted efforts will be made to bring the so-much-talked about candidate on board to unveil his vision and promises to the people. With so much accolades given to him by constituents, the position and voice of the people, if they anything to go by, means the incumbent senator representing the zone has to dialogue with the preferred candidate to have a common ground in the 2019 elections. Overwhelmingly, dialogue and harmonisation will surely be melting points for the zone since the duo are members of the PDP.
The reformative agenda of the youths and constituents for a change in command is borne out of ineffective representation, which according to them has impeded and stunted development in the area for about a decade, while stressing the fact that the youth representation will bring about the needed change and the desired progress that it has long for quite a while.