Efio-Ita Nyok|19 October 2016
Obudu, Cross River-born but Lagos-based social commentator, Simon Utsu, yesterday took a swipe at what he referred as 'senior Cross Riverians in Buhari's cabinet', against whom he alleges the latter want to usurp the incumbent government of Cross River State as manned by Sen. Ben Ayade.
Utsu was in his usual manner making an observation of the anti-kith and kin trend prominent among south-southern Nigerians and Cross Riverians in contrast to the pro-kith and kin orientation obtainable from Nigerians of the northern, south-western and now south-eastern axis of the country. He was attempting to demonstrate how the said trait amongst northern and south-western Nigerians that allows them to always ensure the welfare of their kith and kin while in public offices and private institutions has allowed for the 'hijack' of powerful institutions of government/public by these designated ethnicities. Unlike south-southerners and particularly Cross Riverians who would deliberately fail to 'help' to both their undoing and that of the entire state and region.
Utsu adviced that 'infiltrating' public institutions and the private sector with Nigerians of your immediate states of origin and geopolitical zone especially by those of south-south and Cross River is 'beating them at their game by joining them at their game'. The observant social commentator particularly frowned at those he referred to as 'senior Cross Riverians in Buhari's cabinet' who are objecting to Ayade's style of governance for the sole purpose of usurping it. Though he didn't mention specific names of these senior indigenes in the federal government he showed in his way how Obudu-born Prince Goddy Jedy-Agba was an example of a Cross Riverian who was well placed in the country but failed to stretch out a 'helping hand' to fellow Cross Riverians in regards to specifically ensuring their placement in choice public and private positions. Utsu aired his curiosity under a social media thread yesterday titled: Jobs, Jobs And More Jobs'.
Albeit, Ifere Paul the media aide to Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, SA Prosecution to the President and Honourable Non-Executive Commissioner at the Nigerian Communication Commission came to the aide of his immediate boss and Jedy-Agba his ally. Excerpt:
Simon Utsu:
'Few weeks ago, I was somewhere in Lagos and saw several employees of the federal fire service moving around the place. I carefully observed the names on their nametags and discovered that most of them where Idoma. That is one of the several good things immediate past Interior minister did for his people. From feelers out there, Abba Moro was able to flood paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior with his kinsmen- agencies like the Nigerian customs, immigration services, civil defence, Nigerian prisons, fire services etc. Many people will call this tribalism but to me its a rare case of beating them at their game by joining them at their game.
'For decades, the Hausa/Fulani have flooded state owned institutions with their kith and kin. By doing this, they've been able to take control of those institutions. This is how real politics is played- by 'hijacking' institutions. If you control Federal institutions, by simple inference, it's much easier for you to control Federal politics. The yorubas on their own part have been able to take control of the private sector by using the same model – always giving a 'helping hand' to their kith and kin. And by so doing for decades, there's hardly any blue chip company in Nigeria you would go to that you won't see at least two Yoruba men on its board.
'But what about my south-south brothers? Can same be said of them? The first thing you're likely to get from a highly placed south-south person when you go to meet him as his kin that you are, is a big excuse. It's either he is telling you to come back tomorrow or he is telling you that you aren't qualified enough in his eyes. Go to some Federal institutions and see people with only O-level results, people who can't even string a proper sentence in English holding sway. Even the southeasterners are now wiser in that regard. Ngige is currently being probed for filling up a Federal agency under his ministry's (Labour ministry) watch with his kinsmen.
'I am going to use politicians in my state (Cross River) as a case study in the south-south geopolitical region. I don't think there is any state in Nigeria whose politicians steadily decline offering help to their kith and constituents in need of such help like Cross River. An average Cross River politician will want you to worship him and see him as a god of some sorts before he can even THINK (emphasis mine) of rendering help to you.
'About five years ago, I had a couple of personal experiences in Abuja with politicians from my state when I came back into the country and needed to fix myself up somewhere. The Federal legislators I met weren't very helpful. Out of all those I had one on ones with, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Ben Ayade who were both Senators back then were the most helpful- at least I got some referral letters(that ended up not pulling much weight in the long run).
'Then, there is a Goddy 'Jedy' Agba who was a top-top shot in the NNPC up until early last year or thereabouts. As information savvy as I was, I never knew there was someone called Jedy Agba not until sometime in 2013, when he indicated interest in contesting for the governorship position in my state. It is then that I got to know how influential he was in the Nigerian oil & gas sector. From the little research I did afterwards, I came to the conclusion that he didn't do much for Cross Riverians during his time at the NNPC; I stand to be corrected.
However, Ifere Paul countering concerning Goddy Agba explained accordingly:
'Well, Prince Jedy is one person who never played ro the gallery. He is media shy. A philanthropist of the highest order. And a man that can lend a helping hand at all time to anybody at anytime. I didn't know him too until the campaigns. But his works transcends above him being a GM in the NNPC.
'Jedy has helped many people into the Corporation. Some of which are millionaires on their own accords now. At least he has fixed prominent Obudu and Obanliku boys and girls into NNPC, Nigeria Movie & Films Proprietary Board, NDDC, Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, National Assemblies Commission, NPF, NIS, NCS, Ministry of Justice, etc. Jedy is one big shot that has as an individual made it possible to have an Attorney General from CRS. He has contributed to the successes of different people in Senate, HoR, etc.
'He is the highest employer of labor now in Cross River State. Prince Jedy has no intention to usurp the governor or anyone holding a political office right now without participating in elections. He has pledged support through various ways and synergies with the government of Cross River State, including allowing his brother to share his experience with the governor as a member of his administration. Until the government is able to call for his wealth of experience, he cannot force the government to tap from him.
Utsu continued:
'In the current political set up, so many senior Cross Riverians are serving in Buhari's cabinet. Instead of them rallying around for each other and their constituents, they're currently embroiled in internal and external political wranglings. Internal in the sense that, they're fighting themseleves for supremacy and external in the sense that, by all means, they want to usurp the current governor, Ben Ayade who is in the opposition PDP. I can place a bet with anyone who is interested that, at this pace, Cross Riverians who are looking up to them will be disappointed in the short and long run.
'It's factors like this that make me to conclude that southern Nigeria (Cross River state especially) is still in the stone age politically.
Ifere Paul proceeded to make some points concerning Obono-Obla, rationalising his political activities against the government of Ayade as proper opposition politics where there is differences in ideology. According to him,
'For Okoi Obono-obla, he is an opposition APC member to the PDP led government in Cross River State. It is his fundamental human right to play politics against the ruling PDP in the State. He has to make sure that come 2019, his party the APC takes over the mantle of leadership in Cross River State. Whether this comes to pass is not a do or die affairs.
'His magnanimity is boundless, patriotic, and never parochial. He has empowered over 20 youths at various fronts through scholarship and fees assistance. He has also recommended many Nigerians from all works of life, colour, and shade into different civil service jobs including Civil Defence, Police Recruitment, Ministry employees, parastatals, and other agencies. At present, we have over 17 young and old graduates that has been placed in various government departments through his recommendations letters. He has also recommended people into different political appointments including committees. He has no grudge against the government other that which difference in political ideology and inclination has placed before him. He plays politics without bitterness.
'To conclude, I must say that conditions to usurp the government of Ben Ayade were made possible by Ben Ayade himself. Ayade is fighting vain battles and his crime of omission is hunting him badly. If tomorrow he is removed from office, I don't see why fingers should be pointed at anybody but himself.
'If I have my way, like any other Cross Riverian tired of the Ben Ayade's ineptitude to governance, I will usurp him at anytime before now'.
Is Utsu correct in submitting that south-southerners of Nigeria and Cross Riverians particularly are anti-kith and kin? If yes, shouldn't this trend be discouraged? Or, wouldn't a south-southerner be playing to the tribal gallery by ensuring that his/her kith and kin are well placed in both public and private institutions of the country? Did our concerned commentator made sense or non sense in contending that if a Cross Riverian or south-southerner who is well placed ensures in turn the well placement of his kith and kin he/she is by the action 'beating them at their game by joining them at their game'?
It seem to me that Utsu despite the fact that he obviously means well is placing the south-southerner especially the Cross Riverian in the precarious dilemma of nationalism and tribalism. What do you think?
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is the Publisher & Editor of NegroidHaven.org
