It’s very consoling to realize that Obong Nsima Ekere has noted the cries of the Oro people and is willing to take a bold step and do something about it.
It is true Oro people have been crying for years now. In fact before Gov Udom Emmanuel came to power, one of the ways to identify an Oro man was from his blood-red eyes appurtenant with someone who was always in tears. Gov Emmanuel has taken some bold steps to dry the tears of the Oro people part of which was the recent appointment of Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem as SSG. But there is still more to be done and just like any re-building process, it cannot be done by one person. It’s in realization this that Obong Nsima Ekere may have decided to extend his own contributions and the main one for that matter.
Obong Nsima Ekere is a good man who presides over one of the strongest and most viable platforms in the Niger Delta Region - NDDC. This is an intervention agency that was established in 2000 with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.
Unfortunately, these goals have never been targeted as successive handlers of the commission, always swamped by sycophants and sometimes prophets and sometimes their own greed do look down on such exceptional opportunities for service but rather switch into campaign-mode and start from day one to seek to replace their respective state governors using the platform as a political launching pad rather than a place to offer service. It never occurred to any of them that if well handled NDDC can be a better platform for one to write their names in golden marble than any state governors. By so doing they drift into series of sub-optimal decisions leading to projects skewed towards political considerations rather than needs. And the people are worse off year after year.
I have always believed that Obong Nsima Ekere is different. It seems I am vindicated. With the knew thinking towards sharing in “Oro’s cry” for which he fully knows the implications change is coming to Niger Delta.
Only a few days ago President Jacob Zuma said “I want the people of South Africa to treat me the same way they treated Nelson Mandela”. Julius Malema, the opposition leader immediately responded “what a great idea. Let’s start with the 27 years in jail”.
Barely 24 hours later the indefatigable MD, Niger Development Commision in person of Obong Nsima Ekere, a governorship hopeful, during a courtesy call on him by the Oro Think Thank, informed the Oro people that he has decided to make “your cry my cry”.
The Oros would not want to borrow a leaf from Julius Malema to advise the Obong to start with ceding his governorship ambition to support an Oro son to secure the ticket of his great party. That would be begging the question as the Obong and indeed every Akwa Ibomite knows that that is the greatest “cry” of the Oro people. The words “your cry is my cry” is already pregnant with meaning to suggest to any discerning mind what Obong Ekere has decided to do. He must have made up his mind to make that sacrifice and cede the ticket to Oro nation before making that pronouncements because Obong Nsima Ekere is not given to vain talks. The Oros on their part should get the message and go put their house in order especially within the APC where Nsima belongs to avoid the experience of 2015 with a proliferation of candidates. They should immediately settle for one person and hand him over to Obong Ekere before his new Oro tears dries up.
With this new spirit Niger Deltans on their part should expect to see a new NDDC which would focus on the Core Mandate for which the commission was set up. The losers in this new focus would only be political contractors, sycophants, prophets, seers and political jobbers who benefit from confusion.
This writer recalls that Obong Nsima Ekere has Real Estate background. We may not be surprised to hear announcements in the next few days of bullish developmental programs in the area of real estate like 50,000 low cost housing units to be spread across the nine states in line with the mandate of assets and wealth creation. This in itself would radically create thousands of jobs and immediately impact on the GDP of the region. That was the focus of the initiators of NDDC not politics.
We may see a state of emergency declared on tertiary education in the Niger Delta by NDDC with an ambitious Bursery Award of at least N100,000 per beneficiaries systematically administered and graduated to promote professional education with a 5 years feed back period.
Many many things may begin to happen that would positively impact on the region now that the revered paternal leader has shifted his focus from politics to service.
Great men speak in parables. Oro leaders should immediately decode the parable “your cry is my cry” and send Obong Nsima Ekere message of appreciation which must be delivered by a high powered delegation. They should also use that opportunity to present to him their preferred candidate to enable him commence the process of taking over their tears (“cry”) like Jesus Christ.
James Abang R828
Atte-Okiuso Village, Urueoffong/Oruko LGA
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