Richie Romanus|13 April 2018
Recently, I incurred the wrath of some people when I frowned at the positioning of the Special Adviser, Budget to the Governor, Hon Moses Onoh in one of the numerous pictures that were taken by photo journalist during the signing of the 2018 budget by the Executive Governor, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade.
The truth is that, the Special Adviser's positioning in the said picture was deliberate and not deliberate. It was deliberate in the sense that he already knew the content of the budget since it is a document that was prepared by him hence, the need for him to stand aside and not deliberate because he cared less about his standing position since it never dawned on him that in all the pictures that will be taken, the one he is wrongly positioned will be the one that will be preferred by reporters.
Personally, the major point I wanted to drive home was to illustrate the Obubra socio-political backwardness like I have always done using the picture. It was never meant to slight him or anybody. It has never been in my character to lampooned any of my leaders in the public domain no matter how badly they perform. For those who feel slighted, I apologise. Na we-we o!
Some people have argued that part of the reason for our ugly situation is self inflicted through the needless infighting and backbiting amongst ourselves. While I cannot agree less, it will be foolhardy for one to believe that they are no external forces who have deliberately made themselves our obstacle. As a matter of fact, yours sincerely believes that, this external forces are our biggest problem. Yes they are.
But for these external forces, Late Raymond Obeten would have completed his tenure as Commissioner for Local Government Affairs. Even when he was transferred to the Youths and Sports Ministry, same people followed him there and made sure he did not emerge the Chairman of the Local Organising Chairman of the then FIFA under seventeen world Cup that was hosted in Calabar. What about Barr Margaret Ebokpo? Her name was changed two days to her inauguration as Commissioner of Women Affairs. Shortly after been appointed as Special Adviser, Special duties to the Governor, the Cross River State Fire Service that was been overseen by the department of Special Duties was withdrawn from Hon Fabian Okpa. But for the kind hearted nature of the present Governor who in all fairness to him has shown commitment to the Obubra situation, the list of the last appointments would have passed without even a name coming from Obubra. What about the proposed siting of the Civil defence training School in the disputed boundary between Obubra and Yakurr that I now hear the Commissioner of Lands is making attempts to take to his community, Idomi? This is to mention but a few.
The sad truth is that, the grand plot by these forces basically has always been to render us politically and financially incapacitated else we become uncontrollable and unbendable. They have vowed to continually make our population ineffective. They have vowed to continue to foist their interest on us etc.
Again, I give it to the Governor. He may have not lived up to expectations in terms of security judging by the poor handling of the last communal crises between some Obubra communities and Izzi in Ebonyi, I make bold to say that he has shown more than enough commitment to bring us out of political and economic backwardness.
Richard Romanus.
Is a Social Commentator
