The Chairman
Bekwarra Local Government Area,
Abouchiche
June 12, 2020
Dear Hon Dr Joe Emeka,
Congratulations Sir.
Let me Welcome you to the only stunted Local Government Area since after its creation
You reminded me of the 3rd Executive Chairman of Bekwarra
Hon Arc. Tony Akobi
A home boy just like you (with an Igoli touch).
He was 42 years at Swearing-in, married with children.
He was from Gakem Ward, while you are originally from Abouchiche but now you are from Bekwarra Ward.
Tony had an interesting election.
Bekwarra was divided in to 2 parallel party lines- APP and PDP.
His Councillors were from both parties; from his native Gakem was APP Olom Ikado
Abouchiche, Hon Kingsley Agabi-
Nyanya, Hon Julius Iyashie of APP-
Otukpuru, Hon Isaac Ogar.
And in PDP we had the following
Beten: Hon Augustine Odey,
Ibiaragidi: Hon Odey Gabriel,
Ugboro: Hon Okara Ekawu,
Ukpah: Hon Godwin Amajama,
Afrike Okpeche: Hon Fred Adode
Afrike Ochagbe: Hon Sunday Ashiubi.
So you can see how lucky you are that all your Councillors are from your party.
A party I can tell you only a few of us were foundation members:
Senator KG Agabi (SAN)
Chief Hon Tim Omang
D.C Enamhe
Arc Tony Akobi
Rt Hon Mike Ogar
Hon Bar Marc Enamhe
Hon Moses Oko
Chief Anthony Akobi
Rev Abel Adinya
Bar Tim Ekawu.
From the list you can see our time has passed, so shall yours come and go.
That is why you have to be at your best at all times against all odds with relevant responsible policies and programs in government that will benefit the people. So you can leave indelible mark and write your name in gold.
How lucky can you be that you came on board when the party is over 22 years.
Bekwarra as you know, though it is bounded to the North by Benue,
South by Ogoja, East by Obudu and West by Yala. Bekwarra remains as underdeveloped as when we were in Mary Knoll back in those days.
Dr Joe, back in Mary Knoll, you were a privileged student; your father Chief Peter Emeka tall, handsome and very elegant entrepreneur lived in his own home ( a rare feat then) had properties and filling stations around ( long and short you were privileged ). So nothing should overwhelm you.
Today, you are extremely educated and married to a beautiful wonderful woman of God with lovely children. Thanks to God.
Recall that Obudu, Vandeikya and Yala used to look up to Bekwarra for direction, leadership and commerce, but today, that’s no more.
You can put us back in the map as Chairman of Council.
You must consolidate on the unity of the major population groups of Bekwarra, that is Ujia, ,Unwagba, Oti East, Oti West, Eya Aba, Beten, Eya Adie, Ika-Ichia, Udomu, Afrike, Okpeche, Ikachi, Ochagbe and my native Atibulum.
You should give Abouchiche an urban town look with roads and street names.
Bekwarra should be able to enjoy power supply and good water system.
Let our economy boom once again.
Direct the trafic to Gakem with tourism, to commemorate the sad events of the civil war.
Return our youths back to school and encourage them with bursary/scholarship. And let our youths know that no one has ever added his/her Cult Membership to his/her CV.
Let our farmers be the envy of all Cross Riverians by your assistance.
Let our mothers proudly say if you marry a Bekwarra girl, you should count yourself lucky.
My dear brother and Chairman;
I love you
We will support you
We will fight for you
We will pray for you
But don’t let me or any of us constitute a nuisance around you. If you do, they will destroy you and when your time is over, they will laugh at you and say “we knew it”.
Bekwarra has always been lucky with wonderful Chairmen, but a few people have always seen themselves as owners of the Bekwarra project.
From Chief Peter Abibang to Chief Dr PS Odey, Hon. Emma Agbaragba, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbor, Hon. Linus Ede, Hon. Anthony Ushie Onyi and others.
Can I blow your mind?
None of us in the political class gave you a chance, so don’t let us ruin your outing because, we had long ago prepared someone for Chairmanship.
Let me allow you run the Local Government.
Please put God first (our people have in recent times become very diabolic).
Once more, Congratulations and Happy Democracy Day Mr Chairman.
Signed:
DC Enamhe (Ukpang-1, ‘The Failure that Refused to Fail’), writes from Atibulum- Gakem, Bekwarra LGA Cross River State.
