Efio-Ita Nyok|12 September 2016
As at the time of publishing this report, the apex students union body for all students of Cross River State origin, namely, National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS) Worldwide is operating parallel executive councils —the Comrade Caleb Obaji's led EXCO and the Comrade Romeo Ojong Lawrence's led EXCO, respectively elected on 13 August 2016 and 20 August under the NACRISS WW Electoral Committee chairmanships of Obo Emmanuel and Ukam Ngwu respectively.
The Comr Caleb Obaji's NACRISS WW EXCO which was elected at Eastern Commercial Secondary School, Ediba includes:
1. Caleb Obaji —President
2. Christiana Alawa —Vice President
3. Emmanuel Orok Duke —Secretary General
4. Martha Ayim —Deputy Secretary
5. Gregory Odey —Financial Secretary
6. Hillary Umoh Umoh —Treasurer
7. Emmanuel Usani Usani —Director of Information
8. Eleazar Ita Anwan —Director of Welfare
9. Dien Ekpo Ekpo —Director of Sports
10. George Godwin Egbe —Provost.
While the Comr. Romeo Ojong Lawrence's NACRISS WW led EXCO reportedly elected at Women Development Centre, Parliamentary are constituted thus:
1. Romeo Ojong Lawrence – President
2. Helen Efenji – Vice President
3. Prince Ngwu – Secretary General
4. Philomena Ejue – Deputy Secretary General
5. Eneji Gabriel Sunday – Financial Secretary
6. Ogban Tatey Neji – Treasurer
7. Abem Raymond – Director of Information
8. Nyiam Paschal – Director of Socials
9. Isek Violet – Director of Welfare
10. Ayo Goddy – Director of Sport
11. Ferdinand Kakwa – Provost.
On the one hand, the swearing-in ceremony of Comr. Obaji's presidency was done on 16 August at #5 Nyok Esu Street, Calabar Municipality at the Secretariat of NACRISS WW and was witnessed to by Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Branding to the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Dornclaimz Enamhe being supported by Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Asu Okang, 18 LGA worldwide presidents, and a host of others. The Legal Adviser of NACRISS WW Legal Adviser Barr. Tony Adinye Ocn did the official oath taking. On the other hand, the inauguration ceremony of Comr Lawrence's NACRISS WW EXCO was done in Pyramid Hotel Conference Hall (other sentiments has it that it was done in Chief Kanu Agabi Chambers) on 9 September 2016 in the presence of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mrs Tina Banko, Special Assistant (SA) on Students Affairs & Youth Mobilisation to Governor Ben Ayade, Prince Michael Abuo, etc. The barrister that performed the inauguration was one Barr. Ijom.
The primary reason for this dichotomy in NACRISS WW originates from entrenched arbitrary interests of powers both resident amongst and obviously transcends the student activists. For instance, there was no election conducted on 20 August at Women Development Centre, Parliamentary by Ukam Ngwu because that process was frustrated by NACRITES and Comrade Ndiyo Ndiyo, State National Youth Council Chairman with other students/unionists who busted into the venue with security personnel and halted the process. In fact, it was reported that SA Abuo who is supporting Ngwu was seriously beaten! Abuo left the scene of a frustrated election to evolve a list of successful candidates of a purported election.
Again, another challenge revolve around the electoral committee (Eleco) chairmanship of Obo Emmanuel and Ukam Ngwu. For instance, Okam Johnson, the eleco Secretary of NACRISS WW in a 6th September press release opined that, '(1) On the 6th of May, 2016 the NACRISS-WW Led Uke, Uke Marshall Executive was dissolved at a national dissolution congress presided by Uke, Uke Marshall himself at Millennium Park “II-II round about Calabar, where the president appointed George Ajangson as Sole Administrator and Obo Emmanuel as Electoral Commission Board Chairman as provided in section 67(2) of NACRISS-WW constitution and other Four (4) Electoral Commission Board members were nominated by the congress to cut across the 3 senatorial District of the state as provided for in section 67(3) of the constitution'.
'There are 3 evidences to show that the dissolution took place on 6th May, 2016. One of such is the press release made by NACRISS-WW and aired by CRBC, the press release is still with the GM of CRBC. Secondly, the official press statement on the official web page of NACRISS-WW announcing the dissolution and the appointment of Sole Administrator/Electoral Board members'.
The question becomes, if Obo Emmanuel was duly recognised as the electoral committee chairman, who and how did Ukam Ngwu came on board as Eleco Chair? Ngwu is the erstwhile Chief Judge of NACRISS WW who was later reappointed Eleco Chair when Obo Emmanuel was reportedly removed from office. But independent findings by Negroid Haven suggests very strongly that there was no Congress held anywhere that dissolved Obo Emmanuel's electoral committee. Ukam Johnson contends in the said press that, 'The electoral commission inaugurated on 6th May, 2016 at Millennium Park, Calabar led by Obo Emmanuel stayed in office beyond 3 months i.e 6th of May to 6th of August and was dissolved on 11th August, 2016 at a general congress held in Open Pavilion through the transitional president Uke, Uke Marshall and the appointment of Ukam Ngwu as the electoral Commission Board Chairman. Congress men also raised motions to the fact that the dissolved electoral Board Chairman Obo Emmanuel graduated 2 years back and no longer a student and cannot be entrusted with leadership responsibility in NACRISS-WW as that will always amount to illegalities and that any election conducted by him as a graduate more so, that the term of his office has expired after 3 months is a nullity', but contact made to the Chief Security Officer and Dean of Students Affairs of University of Calabar, the institution where the said dissolution Congress held has it that no such Congress held as clearance was not granted them. Beyond this, the names of the NACRITES who moved the motions for the dissolution of the electoral committee of Obo Emmanuel and the institution of Ukam Ngwu have refused to surface despite plea for same.
Therefore, it stands to reason that the assertion that the SA on Students Affairs and Youth Mobilisation to Governor Ben Ayade, Michael Abuo, due to his vested interest in Comr Romeo Ojong Lawrence is directly responsible for the 'katakata' in NACRISS WW seem plausible and founded. Nevertheless, on contacting SA Abuo he denied having any interest in NACRISS WW business. In his exact words, 'There is no problem rather than some people moving about with false allegations…I have and hold no interest in NACRISS'. The Governor's aide who said the issues have been resolved, an information I am yet to independently confirm further noted that,
'Romeo and his team won an election as seen by the press release endorsed by the electoral college…I wasn't the one who conducted the elections that was keenly contested…so I marvel when I hear I have an interest…Various security outfits were briefed and witnessed the said election from SSS to Police and approval given…Rather, it is some persons who are neck bent on stalling legitimacy…If you have followed this NACRISS elections you will realize that graduates have an over bearing influence and some even participate in the elections which is against their constitution…all the electoral team insisted on is that only constitutional candidate can participate in their elections or vote in it….for more details let it not look like I am speaking on partial grounds I will send you the numbers of the immediate past president, Solad and the eleco Secretary and even their electoral member…so you confirm for yourself….so the truth is I know the truth and I am standing by it….Every positive change comes with some form of chaos and a new pace has been set….if you even check the official page of NACRISS WW you will see that a press release has been made to this effect…'
I am therefore calling on active unionists in NACRISS WW to refrain from taking NACRISS WW business to government officials for solution. The Constitution of NACRISS WW should suffice. Again, for the purpose of peace I am calling on public office holders in Cross River State to leave NACRISS WW alone and rather think on how to deliver on the campaign promises of their principal the Governor.
Let NACRISS WW be; let there be peace!
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of NegroidHaven.org (Negroid Haven)
