21 July 2019
The ceding of Bakassi by Obasanjo has over the years become "a welcome address" by successive first term senators representing cross River State in the national Assembly. I am certain that aside from the desire by our first term senators to lunch themselves to the national scene or to exhibit their power of public speech and eloquence, nothing of significance can be achieved by these self aggrandizing motions.
A further reason for these repetitive and rudderless motions may be the desire, by our Senators, to be used as pawns in the hands of our successive state Governors to blackmail the Federal Government to part with crumbs, that may eventually end in the pockets of the Governor. You can ask Governor Donald Duke, and senator Liyel Imoke to account for the Billions that they obtained through similar legislative theatrical performance orchestrated during their tenure, and how the said billions impacted on the lives of Bakassi natives.
During Donald Duke's second term, several billions released by the Federal Government, for the resettlement of the people of Bakassi, was partly utilised for the building of the resettlement camp at Ikang, while an undisclosed amount was never accounted for.
Those who dared to ask questions about the total sum of money released, were pushed into political oblivion.
In Liyel Imoke's tenure, an initial sum of two billion Naira was released, followed by a monthly release of five hundred million for three years. Again, nothing of significance was done with these monies, that impacted on the lives of Bakassi natives.
FAST FORWARD to Senator Ben Ayade's tenure; a yet to be finished estate for the resettlement of Bakassi natives is under construction at Ifiang in Bakassi. The state Government has claimed sole financing of this project. This is however an untenable claim as this project is financed with funds provided by the Federal Government.
The question I have to ask is, why are the natives of Bakassi and other well meaning Cross Riverians deliberately kept in the dark about these monies, injected into the state to provide relief for the affected people of Bakassi. The answer is without doubt an inconvenient truth that we all know.
A Further question is, why can't our brand new Senators allow the Ghost of Bakassi to rest in peace in the vault where it was collectively buried by the lackadaisical attitude of all Cross Riverians, including our new arrivals at the national legislative theatre. Again, the answer is obvious. The dancers are performing according to the beats of a hidden drummer. Bakassi natives are the sand upon which the dancers trash. We are indeed tired of being trashed and spat upon by our legislators for either self aggrandizement or enabling the drummer to grow fatter. Stop emulating the representative of Buncombe.
Hon Joe Etene
July 20 2019.
