By Efio-Ita Nyok|11 August 2015|5:00am
On Sunday 9 August 2015, the present author posted an article on social media titled: 'An Open Inquiry To The Administrators Of CRSCFC On The Perceived Imbalance In Her Administration'. The said article was posted to the Facebook group, namely, Cross River State Coalition For Change (CRSCfC) which as the name suggest, is a Cross River based social media platform.
It is a virtual socio-political platform boasting about 23 thousand membership. In fact, it is adjudged, at the present, the single, largest and most influential socio-political forum in Cross River State. This auspicious 23 thousand membership sociopolitical organisation is been led/administered by the following Nigerians of Cross River origin, to wit, Kennedy Nsan, Okoi Obono-Obla, Joseph Odok, Edward Onabe. Lambert Agama, Declan Genesis Ogar, Raphael Ogar Oko, Egbara Emmanuel and at some point a fictitious Angela Gold.
The Coalition, as it is usually tagged, has constituted itself into that viable platform via which the masses engage the socio-political leadership of the state at all levels of governance in view of appraising government policies. It may interest the reader to know that through this platform unsavoury public policies have been reneged upon and refined to be people friendly. In other words, 'the coalition' stand to defend strong democratic ideals like freedom of speech, freedom of association, the right to hold whatever opinion, etc. At some point therefore, CRSCfC represent the vehicle that communicate the minds of the masses to the leadership of the state. What is more, CRSCfC is unarguably the virtual hotbed for political activism in Cross River. It is the thermometer, if you like, through which the Cross River government read the political temperature of the citizenry.
Despite the positive credentials of The Coalition, the present author highlighted the fact that seeing that the state is distinguished into three geo-political districts which include the southern, central and northern senatorial districts; and whereas the leadership of CRSCfC comes from the north and central with the south not been represented at that level, that it makes suspect the structure of the coalition and cast a negative light against her. That is to say, there is need for balance. This submission by the present author incited mixed responses from the membership of the coalition. Some of the critical responses hammered on a perceived tribal slur amongst others.
I have therefore reproduced the article unabridged in view of putting the entire debate, both for and against, into context. This trend is understood to be meta-critical, that is, appraising the critique in view of making her a better critique. Below is the complete article as originally published. The reader is free to enter her opinion with regard to the subject under review by participating in the reaction beneath the original post or evolving fresh perspectives. Continue reading, please:
It has become pertinent to call the attention of every concerned member of 'the coalition' as well as the leadership of the said 'coalition' to salient observations:
1. Cross River comprises 18 local governments areas(LGAs).
2. These 18 LGAs are further distinguished into 3 senatorial districts, namely, Southern, Central and Northern senatorial districts. The South comprises 7 LGAs, Central Senatorial District has 6 LGAs, while Northern Senatorial District has 5 LGAs.
3. Its indigenes are politically inclined so much so that in the Fourth Republic she evolved a viable social media platform, to wit, Cross River State Coalition For Change(CRSCFC) among others. This platform has evolved into the most viable and influential social media platform for all Cross Riverians both resident in the state and in the diaspora.
4. This perceived success of CRSCFC subsist in one thing, that is, leadership. For it has been contended among foremost leadership experts that every thing(including Cross River Coalition For Change), rises and fall on leadership.
5. However, the leadership spread of CRSCFC seem to wear a tag of triabalism/ethnicity, one of the banes of national unity and development in Nigeria and by implication Cross River State.
6. In view of '5' above, it should be brought to the notice of the general public and the entirety of the members of 'the coalition' that CRSCFC is administered by basically Cross Riverians of the Central and Northern extractions(in exclusion of the South).
7. We have for Central Senatorial district- Kennedy Nsan, Okoi Obono-Obla, Joseph Odok, Edward Onabe. For Northern Senatorial district- Lambert Agama, Declan Genesis Ogar, Raphael Ogar Oko, Egbara Emmanuel and at some point a fictitious Angela Gold; but for the Southern Senatorial district -none!
8. Is it a mere coincidence that 'the South' with the largest number of LGAs in the State is deprived of a leadership representation amongst the administration of 'the coalition'?
9. Is this not another form of marginalisation of 'the South'? Or,is Cross River now made up of 11 LGAs? Or, is CRSCFC a propagandist element for the actualisation of the much converted 'Ogoja State'? Or, is CRSCFC buying into the concept 'Atam'?
9. Please can any member or administrator in the coalition rationalise why not even one Cross Riverian from the Southern Senatorial district has been elevated to the status of an 'administrator'?
These questions have become important if progress courtesy of unity must be achieved in our dear state. I rest my case.
