‘’IS IT ABOUT THE UGEP MAN’’ PART 11

‘’IS IT ABOUT THE UGEP MAN’’ PART 11
The second series of the Essays of Bob Tee on the political imbroglio and conundrum on Yakurr was as explosive and controversial as the first which is still generating intense interest in Yakurr. It certainly ruffled some political feathers and stirred controversial in the different political camps and factions which the PDP has splintered into in Yakurr. One of the first people that confronted me was Mr. Francis Ubi Lekam, a well known Community Leader and Opinion in Ugep who is a known protégé of Chief Obeten Okorn.
Mr. Lekam confronted me in my father’s house in Ugep on Saturday the 17th July, 2010 when he tersely asked me ‘’ Have you seen what Bob Tee wrote about Chief Okorn? I answered in the affirmative and told him I had written a rejoinder to it. He had grumbled what on earth Bob Tee should write such a thing about Chief. I answered that I do not see anything wrong with why Bob Tee has written. I told him what Bob Tee wrote was the truth nothing but truth. The next person was Mr. Neil Offem, the irrepressible Editor of the X-Ray Newspaper; which opinion was similar to the one Mr. Lekam had expressed. Apparently he too was not happy but I told him that Bob Tee was in order and that who ever is not happy with what Bob Tee had said should feel free to write a rejoinder rather than castigating him in the true spirit of democracy.
The next person that confronted me was Dr. Dan Abubukar. He called me on Friday to express his reaction to my rejoinder to Bob Tee’s essay. He had commended me firstly but when he wrote me an email his reaction was different. He accused me of being bitter and too hard on some political leaders who are not my friends in his reckoning. He thereafter commended me for my various contributions to national discourse and promised to engage me any time we meet face to face. I replied to the email telling Dr. Abubukar that I was not bitter and do not harbour and hatred against anybody but that was merely expressing my personal opinion in very passionate way which I have the right to do. I told Dan Abubukar that I had never being a bitter man but a jolly good fellow despite all the disappointments. It is pertinent to reproduce the email sent to me by Dr. Dan Abubukar thus:
‘’ My Broda,I just read ur rejoinder on Bob tee’s paper. And ur brilliant personal opinion noted. Nearly marred ur brilliant presentation with outbursts of hatred of some leaders who are obviously not ur friends. U poured out ur heart and d anger in ur tone was palpable. I am a doctor and I know about bitter pills and their effectiveness. Truth is bitter but it must be told. And it cannot be held down for ever. Like Othman Dan Fodio conscience is an open wound. Only truth can heal it’’. We need leaders with conscience, wisdom, passion to serve above self providing effective and transformational leadership. Hope to see u soon for a face2face engagement. Tanx 4 ur timely contributions to national discourse always. Dr. Dan’’.
I do not know why Dr. Abubukar fees that I hate some of the politician leaders who are not my friends. Why should I hate anybody? I do not have any reason to hate anybody. Any body who knows me will surely confess that I do not hate people. It is regrettable that some body as learned that I hate these people he has in mind simply because I criticise them or spoke the truth in my own estimation about them as far as the imbroglio in Yakurr is concerned. It is this kind of mentality that has leads our country to the present despicable and nadir it has descended into. People do not want people to speak out. When ever somebody critics or demands accountability from some body in government or a high placed person his friends, associates or his kinsmen who start making such insinuations against those they think are responsible. We have seen how government functionaries who are facing corruption cases are followed to the Court with hired crowds dressed in uniforms with the inscription of them of those who do not think that these people have done anything wrong. Dr. Abubukar is a protégée of Imoke, Anani and Bassey Ewa. Perhaps these were the political leaders he allured that I have so much hatred for. In all repressive society those who are beneficiaries of the system are always afraid of dissension. They are scare of free speech because they do not want the system expose. So I understand the negative reactions generated by this debate on Yakurr politics initiated by Bob Tee.

However, Thomas Ofem called me on the evening of 16th July 2010 to tell me what Mr. Bassey Eko Ewa called him to say about my person. He said Bassey Ewa was very bitter and had threatened to deal and expose me. Let me make it clear that I do not have any skeleton in my cupboard which I will be afraid of. Anybody who thinks he has evidence of any thing I have done is free to expose me. I went to four Schools, Mary Knoll College; Federal School of Arts and Science, University of Jos, and Nigerian Law School. I was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 6th June, 1991, the same day with Barrister Eric Ifere, Barrister Edmund Ebri (all from Ugep) and Barrister Gabriel Suswan (Governor of Benue State of Nigeria). I did my National Youth Service Corps in Benin City. I adopted my grand father ‘’ Obono-Obla’’ a renowned Political and Community Leader of the Ijiman People in Ugep in the 1930s-1960s as my surname after all my schooling and National Service as a way of immortalizing. This has inspired the puzzling and mystery about me by some people as a lot of my school mates did not know me by that name. I will not want to say more on his but if anybody has any doubt about me, he is free to investigate. I want to say that nobody will intimidate me to deter from the causes which I believe in.
The threats, foul language and harassment employed by some people who are not comfortable with this discourse triggered by Bob. Tee and the contribution made by some of us has brought to the fore the despicable under development of the country; the intolerance and lack of accommodation of alternative views in our country particularly by public officers who are always wont to adopt such crude and dirty tactics when ever we demand accountability from them. Public office is a trust which the holder holds on behalf of the people or his constituents. It follows that anybody who goes into public office must be prepared to face public scrutiny and be humble enough to accept constructive criticism. It is really disturbing when a public officer who is holding public trust feels he is an overlord who can talk down on the ordinary people and begin to threaten them when he is asked to render account for his stewardship. I make bold to submit that threatening people that are critical of their performance in office by these public officers holders smacks of admission that they have not performed and that they have something to hide.
I want to say something about Bob tee‘s second essay which was more or less focused on the behavioural pattern of Bassey Ewa and his influence in Yakurr Politics since 1999. I have been very critical of Bassey Ewa but I think my criticism should be taken in good faith. However I want to say that the experience Thomas had associating with Ewa which was well articulated in his very lucid style is not different from my own personal experience. I remembered that I had never been close with him until 2004 when we had a brief relationship which soon went sour because of his style which I previously described as sly and dodgy. Mr. Ewa visited my house in Mekenge Layout Calabar sometimes in May, 2004 to tell me that he had nominated me for appointment as a Commissioner in Donald Duke’s government. I had never told him I was desirous of an appointment before then. I had always been adverse taking up an appointment with government because I wanted to make a career in law practice and thought I was too independent minded and critical to accept an appointment in government because of the trend to appoint only those who are amenable and pliant. I was never thrilled by what Mr. Ewa had told me. Of course I knew that he was merely playing politics with me. He said that he was very happy because I would help him lead Yakurr because he had been going it along. However, to my chagrin and consternation I soon found that Mr. Ewa had told so many people the same thing he had told me. He had promised nominating several people in Yakurr with an appointment in Donald Duke’s government. Until this moment this promise to these people had not been met. My own brother, John Ofem Obono was one of the people he had promised. I was very disappointed when I discovered this.
Other aspect of his political behaviour and style which Bob Tee has aptly described in his essay is his predilection to quarrel with all those who had helped me to climb up. He had quarrelled with Usani Usani, Patrick Iwara, Chief Obeten Okorn Obeten just to mention but a few. Bob Tee left our late Chief John Oyom Okpa who was Deputy Governor of Cross River State (1999-2003) before he was impeached by the Cross River State House of Assembly after he fell out with Governor Donald Duke; Ewa was the Majority Leader in the height of John Okpa’s reign as Deputy Governor. Ewa was a protégée of Okpa until he lost his position after Donald Duke moved against Okpa’s Men after he got wound of the plan by Okpa to challenge him concerning the gubernatorial seat. Ewa decamped to Duke’s camp immediately Okpa fell out of power. Ewa soon became very strong in Duke’s camp and got dug in through the help of Patrick Iwara. I do not know the reason he has for picking quarrels with these people and falling out with those who had helped previously but it gives an insight to the type of politicians he is. I do not see him as somebody who wants to promote any other Yakurr person and this is why he keen in enhancing the political career of any other person expect himself.
I think Ewa is a good student of Machiavellian brand of politics which is built upon ruthlessness, deviousness, treachery and chicanery in his rise. But this brand of politics as far I am concerned is anachronistic because it is devoid of morals and principles and could only work in a prebendal Nation State such as Nigeria. It will surely end when democracy is fully entrenched in the country and more people become conscious of their political rights and election are properly conducted. I think in the present culture of impunity and lawlessness coupled with endemic and chronic corruption and confusion in the country those who do not have scruples and jobbers are having a field day.
I do think know why Imoke is enamoured with having Ubi Itam Ettah as Chairman of the Council despite his disastrous performance but there is a School of thought that says Ewa has drummed into Imoke that he needs a ruthless and devious character such as Ubi Itam Ettah in Yakurr which is perceived as volatile and to check mate Patrick Iwara who is nursing an ambition to become a senator. I recall that in 2007 Primary Election to pick the flag bearer for the PDP for the House of Representatives, Ubi Itam Ettah led a band of thugs armed with pump action rifles to stormed Itigidi to disrupt the election which was declared in favour of Ewa. Perhaps Ubi Itam Ettah is being compensated for being anti-Yakurr so much so that he is ready to do the bidding og the forces that are bitterly against the Yakurr people making impression in Cross River State politics . These are the people that participate in the sharing of the monthly allocation of revenue from the Federation Accounts to the detriment of the development of Yakurr. I do not know why they think that Ubi Itam Ettah has monopoly of igniting violence. It is clear that these people do not believe in the dictates of democracy but are just power mongers who have seized the reins of government to use it to enrich themselves and oppress those who do not agree with their methods.
Lastly I do not agree with Bob Tee’s insinuation that he was left high and dry when he made a when he contested the massively rigged Local Government Council Chairmanship against Ubi Itam Ettah in 2007. We strongly supported BOB Tee from the begriming to the end and even issue a press statement condemning the election on the ground that it was massively rigged and a complete sham. My statement was published in some of the national diaries including the Daily Independent.

OKOI OFEM OBONO-OBLA
* Obono-Obla is a Barrister & Human Rights Activist. He lives in Abuja, Nigeria