By Comrade James Asel
In comparative analysis, the use of superlatives is indispensable. That is while taking an indepth look, howbeit, dispassionately into political events, economic circumstances, natural occurrences and even in individual affairs, there are always difference.levels.
Human beings may all be created the same with flesh and blood, so to speak, yet we are endowed with different capabilities, skills, intellects and all that. Perhaps that accounts for the fact that with over two billon people on earth, we all have diffent faces and thumbprints.
When this is juxtaposed with human activities particularly in competitions, examinations, elections and interpersonal contests, the norm is to put forward the team or individual who has the highest prospects of winning or carrying the day, as the axiom would state.
In retrospect, Ukelle has always been the weeping child when it comes to bearing the standard of political platforms with capacity to carry the day in the elections. This is not borne out of the fact that Ukelle lacks the individuals capable of doing so but political jeerymeandering has often left Ukelle shortchanged. Right from the days of Hilary Ogbu who contested against Mr Mark Ukpo in 1983 to the Dr Julius Okputu and Mrs Martina Odom against Dr Rose Okoh in 2011 down to Dr Julius against same Rose in 2015. We still recall vividly how in 2003, Senator Greg Ngaji was substituted to go for the Senate against the Ukelle House of Reps ticket. Initially, Chief Eddy Agbe was billed for the Senate and Dr Julius Okputu for House of Representatives but the ticket was at the last minute substituted. They forced that one too from us
Despite the fact that Ukelle has always put forward a strong showing the powers that be seem to have other plans, Ukelle has always been at the receiving end of the rough side of the rod. However, in the light of recent.political events in Cross River North, Ukelle stands strong.
In politics, like Shakespeare would have us believe, ‘come what , come may, time and the hour runs through roughest of days”. Put in another way, what is going to happen will happen. So our faith is strong that what we have been clamouring for is about to happen this time around and how we are going to handle it will speak volume.
Again, in politics issues are always resolved Ifavour of the direction the calculus pulls strongest. It is on the strength of this that we should eschew emotions, tongue affiliations, age long animosities and work towards actualisation of the collective interest of our nation. Ukelle should at this time prove a point that ,”Bokaat”is “Likeh” and act as one and put forward our best foot Someone who has been able to put up a bloody nose in the previous fights for the position. Someone with. a track record of political service . Someone who has been able to build relationships across the length and breath of Ukelle. We know virtually everyone in Ukelle is qualified to aspire or contest for the position, only one person will occupy it.
The views expressed are the author’s.
