BY DOMINIC KIDZU
Your Excellency, the Governor.
I am sure you know that your recent appointment of Chief Obi Ayuk Afor into the Cross River State Executive Council is creating near seismic waves of excitement throughout the length and breath of Boki local government area, not only because the position which became vacant as a result of the demise of Hon. Abubakar Ewa, who was your Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Arts has at last been filled, but also because of the strategic choice that you have made in bringing in a towering grassroot mobilizer.
Once again you have demonstrated your love for Boki and fulfilled the promise you made that the position was still going to return to the local government. Now the office has returned not only to the local government area but also to Buentsebe Ward, in Eastern Boki, where the late Abubakar hailed from. Now the people are reassured that everything that went away has fully returned and nothing is totally lost in the end. Let me mention with gratitude that you also appointed about nine other worthy and deserving Boki sons and daughters into your Administration in the same press release that announced the nomination of the commissioner.
Your Excellency, you have shown us love and responsibility in project allocation and execution and in the development of the abundant human resources that Boki has been historically known for and widely acknowledged. I cannot fail to thank you for the nomination of some of our worthy sons into offices of very high service demands. His Excellency Ambassador Soni Abang, the Right Honourable Chris Etta and Engr. Kelvin Njong are only a few of such people who have enjoyed your magnanimity and for whose sake we, as a people shall remain eternally beholden unto you.
Boki East – West road which you committed to only a few months ago is already being rapidly asphalted with very high quality engineering work that is destined to withstand the vagaries of our tough environmental uniqueness. I will freely back a wager that the asphalting will connect the road to Ikom – Obudu road before the end of this year. This is a huge project with tremendous economic and logistics consequences for the long – suffering people of Boki who will now be able to travel between Boki East and West without having to take a bath and have a change of clothing at the end of the trip. The huge agricultural products that are the mainstay of our economy will also be moved freely to the markets as a result of this road.
Your Excellency, I am abreast with the recent flurry of criticism that your administration has received and wish to assure you that this is all part of the democracy we asked for. The criticism that is genuine and in good taste is obvious to the citizens, the ones that are sponsored and baseless are also crystal clear to all. Cross River people are very intelligent, discerning and sophisticated and can recognize the mischief and chicanery behind the boogeymen. Your Excellency, do not be deterred or distracted. The dogs will surely bark and bark, sometimes without ceasing, as it is their nature to do so, but the wayfarer must with determination continue on his journey till the just and joyful end.
Let me assure you of one thing, Your Excellency, and this is a given, that is already engraved in the hearts of the people – that in 2027, on that fateful election day, Boki people will respond in kind to your goodwill and good deeds for us. This, you can gladly take to the bank, as a matter of fact.
All people of goodwill are grateful to Your Excellency for the broad based reforms you have introduced in accelerated infrastructure projects development spanning transportation, education, healthcare, rural access roads and the human capital development in terms of employment, payment of salaries and arreas, including offsetting of decades-old lingering gratuities owed our senior citizens. In only three years as governor, you have given permanent employment to over 5,000 Cross Riverians at both the state and local government levels, a feat that was last achieved between 1985 and 1987, shortly after Akwa Ibom state was created.
Your Excellency, the people of Boki are proud to identify with your genuine efforts at moving our dear state to higher ground and are prepared to work with you for the greater glory of our dear state, because we are very concerned about the development of our state and the masses of our people. Once again accept my humble thanks and best wishes, always.
DOMINIC KIDZU
(Still writing from Butatong)