By Rt. Hon. Prof. Jake Otu Enyia
Historically, the first PDP Chairman, Cross River State in 1999 was Rev. B.O Ikobi followed by Hon. Chief Amb. Soni Obache Abang
The dou delivered massive votes for His Excellency, Donald Duke in the preceeding elections metamorphosing the rise of young political gladiators of Boki extraction.
Fast pace to build up to 2023 Governorship election in the state, Chief Amb. Soni Obache Abang was again appointed as campaign Director General to His Excellency, Sen. Apostle Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
Boki again gave the then APC candidate massive votes.
In reciprocation, Amb. Soni Obache Abang is appointed, Executive Director of Finance, South-South Development Commission.
Meanwhile, when power was to change hands at the level of Cross River State APC Working Committee, His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu in alignment with party stakeholders exhumed an underdog, RT. Hon. Chris Soni Etta from political ‘grave’ like the biblical David tending sheeps in the field.
According to theological historians, David was anointed as the future King of Israel by the Prophet Samuel in Bethlehem, as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:1-13
God directed Samuel to Jesse’s house, rejecting his older sons, and choosing David, the youngest son who was a shepherd-tending sheep.
Samuel poured oil on David’s head in front of his brothers, signaling divine election.
God told Samuel that he looked at the heart, not outward appearance in choosing David as future leader of Israelites.
From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.
Juxtapose David experience to RT. Hon. Chris Soni Etta, their narrative shares similarities in that after leaving office as Member, Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency in 2011 with a glittering track record of stewardship, Hon. Etta was no were near the corridors of power.
Instead, he was preoccupied with self-development and impacting humanity behind cameras.
Little wonder, at the U.J Esuene stadium Calabar, miracle of the century was performed as the dumb spoke in awe, the deaf heard in clear terms, the blind regained her sights from flashing colors which radiated the atmosphere with the mention of RT. Hon. Chris Soni Etta as Cross River State APC Chairman.
Statistically, despite her avalanche of human and natural resources, Boki remains the least developed Local Government Area in Central Senatorial District of Cross River State.
From the high mountains of Beebo-Bumaji to the forested regions of Abo, down to arable lands of Boje, to the planes of Osokom/Irruan, relics of gross socioeconomic underdevelopment plagues inhabitants even in the 21 century.
To overcome these voluminous deficiencies, Boki first and second political strikers inclusive of Amb. Soni Abang, RT. Hon. Chris Soni Etta, Dr. Pius Tawo, Sen. Mathew Mbu Jnr, Prof. Jake Otu Enyia, Hon. Victor Abang, Hon. Cletus Obun, Hon. Dr. Alex Ebu, Hon. Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, Barr. Tina Banku Agbor.
Others are, Hon. Mrs Beatrice Nyiam, Barr. Attah Ochinke, RT. Hon. Dr. Hilary Ekpang Bisong, Hon. Engr. Dane Osim Asu, Bishop Ann Ugbo, Barr. George Ekpungu, Barr. Christy Okoi, Dr. Julius Kejuo, among other serving and former political office holders both at home and in the diaspora across party lines should close ranks in delivering another landslide victory for Prince Otu’s reelection in 2027 given that the governor has demonstrated uncommon dexterity as true friend of Boki who reciprocates kind gestures including advent of RT. Hon. Chris Soni Etta as APC State Chairman.
Additionally, the Boki APC Chapter Chairman, Chief Engr. Kelvin Osang Njong and all his Excos, all Chapter Chairmen of other political parties and their Excos, APC women groups, Youth Associations in Boki, student bodies, political support groups, Otchibe Boki, religious pressure groups, community town councils, traditional institutions, opinion leaders, trade Associations, and women leaders of other political parties should rise to the occasion in supporting Hon. Chris Soni Etta to ensure success at polls for Sen. Apostle, Prince Bassey Edet Otu come 2027.
This realignment of purpose is the surest path to strategically position Boki in her questing for paradise in 2031, hence the Governorship would be zoned to the six LGAs of Central Senatorial District of Cross River State.
RT. Hon. Prof. Jake Otu Enyia, SSA Political Affairs to Governor Otu writes from Calabar.
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