Donation of 25 campaign buses: Obono-Obla spits fire, describes Wike as ‘local potentate’
3 min read
Obono Obla
Mr Obono-Obla, former Chairman of the disbanded Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), has called out governor Nysom Wike of Rivers State, describing him as ‘a local potentate’ after it was reported that the controversial Niger Delta born politician hosted the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates for the State and National Assembly elections in Cross River where he donated 25 buses for political campaign to the visitors.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in a statement which was obtained by News Band, stated that governor Wike is plotting to put Cross River State under his thumb. Though, he said such will never happen as the state will never be a satellite colony of Rivers State.
Obono-Obla while noting that the next governor who will takeover the leadership baton from Mr Ayade will be a home breed, said that the individual must also source money and materials to fund his election from the State.
He however, said that the person’s allegiance must be to the good people of Cross River State and not to a local potentate in Port Harcourt.
The statement reads, “Undoubtedly, colonialism and slavery are brewing!! Rivers State is plotting to put Cross River State under its thumb!!
“Cross River State, cannot be a satellite colony of Rivers State. Cross River State at its creation on 27 May 1967 was known as South Eastern State. In 1976, its name was changed to Cross River State.
“In 1987, Akwa Ibom State was carved out of Cross River State.
“Rivers State was also created on 27 May 1967. Therefore Cross River State and Rivers State were born on the same day. They were part of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria.
“All the leaders of the Calabar Ogoja Rivers State Movement that championed the creation of a State out of the defunct Eastern Region, were from the present Akwa Ibom and the Cross River States.
“The Calabar Ogoja Rivers State movement started in the defunct Eastern Region House of Assembly in Enugu in 1953.
“It was a protest against an act of injustice and disrespect meted out to our illustrious son, Professor Eyo Ita, leader of Government Business in the Eastern Region.
“After 69 years, it is sacrilege for politicians from Cross River State, to troop to Rivers State to beg for political support, favours and money to run elections here in our State.
“Our Governor comes in 2023 and must be a local and home breed. He must source money and materials to fund his election from our State.
“His allegiance must be to the good people of Cross River State, not to a local potentate in Port Harcourt. Our Governor must not be beholden to external influences and interests.
“The people of Cross River State are well-educated enlightened, good-natured, peaceful, clean, proud and fiercely independent.
“One of the first schools in sub-Africa was the Hope Waddel Training Institute, Calabar, founded in 1895. The First capital of the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria was Calabar from 1900 to 1906.
“We have a proud and illustrious history and one of the richest cultural heritages in the World.
“Our Governor cannot kowtow to some principalities and godfathers in Rivers State over filthy lucre!!
Never!! Never!!”
