Prince Thomas Abi Jr|29 June 2016|8:10am
We must collectively work as a people to put Ogoja on the world map. We must make Ogoja work. We must make Ogoja great again.
I am glad the current leaders of Ogoja are people who are ready to serve and have a listening ear. But we as a people must continue to work towards the growth of the ancient city. We must see Ogoja as our project.
The development of Ogoja should be our primary focus. I desire to see a town bubbling with fresh air. A town where many have jobs,good schools, electricity and a good means of transportation.
As a people, we must begin to look towards the direction of Ogoja. Sons and daughters of Ogoja who are well to do, must begin to set up businesses in Ogoja. We must understand that no one is going to develop the ancient city for us if we do not contribute our own little quarter.
I remember sometime ago, at the University of Ibadan, someone asked me where do you come from, and I told him Ogoja. He said so many things about Ogoja but rounded it with "sadly the place is still not developed".
I felt ashamed. We must make Ogoja our project. The Ogoja project is for the good of all of us.
The youths of Ogoja must begin to speak with one voice. The Ogoja I expect to see is a town driven by smart young men/women who are ladened with ideas. Young men/women who are fire brands. Fully loaded and ready to contribute their ideas towards the growth of Ogoja.
We must make our fallen heroes proud. Where they stopped we have the responsibility of finishing or contributing our own quarter.
Let it be known that Ogoja is in dire need of development.
As a people, we must protect the vulnerable, the lowly heard, the market women, children, old and young.
Times are changing, Ogoja needs to be transformed with the speed of light. Ogoja is a land of endless possibilities, natural endowment, waiting to be explored. My brothers and sisters, these God given resources must be ultilized for the benefit of all.
We must create jobs. By diversifying into our natural resources. Keying into farming, flour production, cocoa finishing, wheat production, and refining our palm oil. Yes! We can create wealth in Ogoja. It is possible, only if we begin to look inward. Only if, we hold Ogoja at heart.
Ogoja's prosperity must be upon the shoulders of all us. It is our responsibility to add value no matter how small towards the growth of Ogoja.
Ogoja needs to be industrialized. Repackaged and sold to the outside world. It can only be through our collective efforts. We can achieve it through unity, one-ness and our determination to see the ancient city grow and develop.
Ogoja remains the mother of all Local governments in Cross River State, she remains the pillar of support to other sister Local governments. No wonder our people outside CRS pride themselves as indigenes of Ogoja. And so, we must lead by example by attracting development to Ogoja.
It is now our generation task to carry out what our fallen heroes began. Our heroes and heroines saw and left a prosperous Ogoja and so we must not let them down. We too must write our names in the history books of Ogoja as part of those who made Ogoja succeed. We must put Ogoja in her rightful position by working tirelessly towards developing the ancient city.
With our common effort, and common voice, with passion and dedication we can make Ogoja great again. For our future is better than our yesterday.
Let's build a new story for Ogoja by contributing our own little quarter towards the development of Ogoja.
God bless!
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Egbe-Mbube, Ogoja LGA
