2015: Cross River Should We Still Go This Road? By kalita Joseph Aruku

When in 2009 President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan emerged president of the fedral republic of Nigeria after the death of president Shehu Musa Yar”adua it brought tremendous joy to not only to his ijaw nation but to the entire south-south region who hitherto have felt marginalized despite been the goose that lay the golden egg of the nation. Infact he was not seen as an Ijaw man but a Niger deltan who will protect the interest of the entire region which accounted for the massive support he got from the region during the PDP primaries and even the general elections.


In cross river state the Goodluck maniacism was so much that anybody against his candidature was considered an enemy of the state. During the voting process both agents of the ruling party and that of the opposition became members of the same political party that shared one common interest “Goodluck” and so they all canvassed and mobilized for votes for him. Infact, Cross River state was accounted to have delivered more votes to Jonathan than his own state bayelsa. Infact before the PDP primaries many states  governor seven in the south south e.g Akwa Ibom and even his own state Bayelsa were not disposed to his candidature it was the Cross River Governor Senator Liyel Imoke who rallied round as chairman of south-South governors forum to mobilise support for him which contributed immensely to his victory at the polls.

But now the question is what have we benefitted from the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan presidency because even the bible says “a workman is worthy of his wages”

The first benefit we received from the presidency was seizure of our oil wells and handing it over to Akwa Ibom state thereby reducing our revenue base which had adversely reduced our development as a state. During the appointment of ministers juicy ministries were allocated to state that was not even disposed to his presidency but what did we get, an inconsequential ministry known as “culture and tourism”. While the presence of federal government is felt in terms of projects in neighboring/ states they is nothing to show in Cross river state. Infact, after the last time he came for campaign, the presidency has not visited cross river state but has visited neighboring Akwa Ibom more than thrice since he assumed office as president for a fresh four year term. Cross River state is among the states with the lowest number of Federal appointments while states that were opposed to jonathan had more. During  issue of reclamation of our Bakassi, President Jonathan practically turned a deaf ear to the cry of Nigerians and especially Cross Riverians to appeal the ICJ judgement that handed over Bakassi to cameroun. Infact, Hon.Nkoyo Toyo admitted that the minister of justice refused to meet with the committee that was setup to look into the matter. I believe he was following instructions from “Oga at the top” popular comedian Julius Agwu said “Na wey man the work na there e dey chop na it make oyibo call am workshop” but in our case after we worked  we were  denied  the opportunity of eating rather we were tormented. We were used not only dumped but punished for supporting Goodluck by Jonathan.

Politics they say is a game of interest and if our interest cannot be protected by those we entrust it to is it not advisable that we choose carefully next time we want to entrust our mandate to a person or platform that can best protect our interest?

As 2015 general election draw near are we ready to commit the same offence of supporting Goodluck that has brought us so much pain and misery? are we ready to walk in the same path that ended us in pain, humiliation and reproach. Should we still follow this road or choose the path that our collective interest can be protected.