By Abasi Ita
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of Cross River Northern Senatorial District ,has implored his state governor, Senator Bassey Otu to be weary of political weaklings who are plotting to drag him into unnecessary political battles for peculiar selfish motives.
Jarigbe made the call in Ogoja during the celebration of the 2024 Bakor New Yam Festival held today Sunday, September 15, at Alladim,Nkum Clan in Ogoja local government area.
The federal lawmaker lauded Governor Otu for his stable developmental strides and robust synergy with political class in the state irrespective of party affiliations, pointing out that that the peaceful disposition of the governor has checkmated the polarisation of the state along party line which was gradually creeping into the state before the emergence of the Otu-led administration.
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According to Jarigbe,Our governor has proven beyond any doubt that he is a man of peace. I am appealing to him to be on guard pepertually to avoid being dragged into unnecessary battles by political weaklings who have since lost touch with trending political realities in the state, especially in Cross River North where glaring performance speaks louder than inducements or intimidations during elections.
” After almost a decade, we now have a governor who is disposed to robust synergy with other political stakeholders, especially members of the opposition. This ludable gesture signpost the trademarks of a servant leader who has a listening ear,one who accord priority attention to peace and development of his people”
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly,Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem extolled the developmental strides recorded by Senator Jarigbe across Cross River North Senetorial District.
Ayambem who spoke in dual capacity as a Bakor prominent son as well as the representative of Governor Otu stated the present administration has prioritize the development of the state as a top agenda with a view of equal spread of democratic dividens across the nooks and crannies of the state.
Ayambim averted that” I am delighted to be here as a Bakor son to celebrate our rich cultural heritage. The Bakor nation boast of rich cultural antecedents emanating from our common ancestry. Politics is merely a vehicle to accelerate economic development and improve the well-being of our people. We must never allow politics to break our common bond as a people with historical affinities.
” Bakor sons and daughters across the globe must unite to pursue a common blueprint to harness our vast potential and accelerate grassroot development. We need to add value to the lives of our people and communities. Let’s guard against enemies breaking our boundaries and instigating us against ourselves. The pull him down sydrome must be stopped”
Earlier in his welcome remarks, a former Chairman of the Cross River state Forestry Commission,Dr Ikani Wogar applauded the prevailing peace in the state attributable to the cordial relationship between Governor Bassey Otu and members of political class.
” I want to appeal to our amiable governor, Senator Bassey Otu to sustain the current momentum of collaboration so as to create enabling environment for peace and progress. We are impressed with his peaceful disposed and interest in the overall development of the state”
Dr Wogar who also the Chairman of the occasion applauded Senator Jarigbe for his effective representation and the various people- oriented projects across the senatorial district, assuring him of unflinching support in his quest to bring Cross River North at par with other part of the state with regard to socio economic development.
In his remarks, the President,Bakor Nation,Engr Robert Obeye traced the origin of celebration to 1963 following the amalgamation of the nine communities which cut across the old Ikom and Ogoja local government areas arising from the common dialect, cultures and traditions.
He described the New Yam Festival as the” Flagship of our cultural heritage which has remain sacrosanct, and a deeply entrenched platform for bonding amongst the nine clans that made up the Bakor Nation”
Highpoints featured the symbolic harvesting of the yam, roasting and eating of the yam by the nine clan heads, cultural displays, colourful parade by royal fathers as well as presentation of gifts.