The www.calitown.com team recently caught up with Orok Bassey Okon, in subtle contention for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State. Okon spoke extempore on his background and motivation to run for the seat as well as his dreams for the state and its people. Excerpts:
You are a relatively unknown aspirant, hoping to become governor of CRS. Can we get to know Orok Okon?
Thank you. I am an ordinary Nigerian citizen. I live and work amongst other ordinary folks. I drive one vehicle and do not be surprised to see me waiting on pedestrian walks for public transportation when our only vehicle is grounded. I am 50 years old. If I win the election, I shall be the oldest person taking oath as governor in CRS in very recent times. I studied Law in the University of Calabar and have been working in the state since I graduated. I am proud to say that I am homegrown, having lived in Calabar since 1982. Most of my friends and associates will be found within the state. I will likely be the first elected governor of CRS who will be based in the state after leaving Government House because this is where home is for me.
Isn’t the gubernatorial race a tall order for you? Why did you not start from say, the House of Representatives?
The gubernatorial race cannot be a tall order for me; we have to get this straight. You need to understand that I have enormous hands-on experience in the affairs of the state government. Politicians come and go, per administration but I have been a permanent factor in the Executive arm of government for over 20 years. I work with political heads and other bureaucrats daily to get things working in the state. That backroom knowledge and the experience garnered therein will be best deployed as the head of the government. I do not belittle legislative work but in terms of comparative strength, mine is best in the Executive. And then, my motivation to seek the office of governor is from a dispassionate belief in my strong character to render honest service that will markedly improve our land and people.
Do you believe you can win the primaries, with the array of established politicians with “structures” who seek the PDP guber ticket?
I believe I shall emerge the PDP gubernatorial candidate. The preponderance of Nigerians in CRS and all over the nation, yearn for new and younger political leaders. The past two governors of CRS who are leaders of my party had publicly called for younger elements to step up and take over political leadership in the State. Incidentally, governors Duke and Imoke came to political prominence at age 30yrs, when they served as Commissioner and Senator respectively in 1992. Here I am, 50yrs old, this would be my first stint at political office. I see the field filled with men and women in their 60s. Ordinarily in the public service, most of the aspirants would be retired as the maximum age to serve is 60yrs. While no retirement age is prescribed for political offices, I believe equity and good conscience would advise my elders in the race to step aside. Cross River State has been celebrated for producing very youthful governors and leaders, right from the First Republic. The venerable M. T. Mbu has the record of being the youngest federal minister ever. It will be tantamount to retrogression in the state’s psyche and subjugation of the younger generations if persons we supported as very young men and women in their early 30s to lead us, will today in their 60s refuse to leave the arena for another generation of Nigerians to also manifest their innate leadership potentials. I strongly believe in the leadership of my party to weigh in at the appropriate time and direct appropriately, for fair play and justice. Justice is not just about rotation amongst districts; there is also a need to rotate amongst generations. The generation of the Imokes and Dukes which includes Gersh Bassey, Efiok Cobham, Nkoyo Toyo, Sandy Onor, Ekpo Okon and the rest born in the 1950s to 1960s must now take an honourable bow from the political stage. There is wisdom in bowing out when the ovation is loudest.
What are your plans for the state if you become governor?
I have a modest but passion-driven manifesto which has realisable plans. A lot of what I will do is really very low hanging fruit. I do not need any money to galvanise a new work ethic amongst our workforce and population. I do not require a kobo to ensure that our finances are published each month to show all receipts and outgoings of the previous month. Essentially, I want to restore our position as the cradle of Education in Nigeria, outside Lagos. It is an aberration that a territory where the premier schools outside Lagos were established, would still be in the dishonourable league of educationally less developed States. We shall refurbish all public schools, provide books and learning tools all free. No child shall be left behind as CRSG shall pay the tuition and board of all pupils up to SSCE. Vocational education shall also be given impetus. With the array of tertiary educational institutions, and the sound foundation we shall avail our pupils, I dream of CRS being a centre of knowledge-driven economy. Whilst we shall also promote agricultural activities by supplying free, all needed materials from seedlings, pesticides to tools to our farmers. We want to have an urban-rural migration drift as high food prices prevalent will mean greater income to farmers. We also want to have a healthy and secure population and shall be intervening in health and security massively. We plan to train youths in diverse high-in-demand vocations at ITM Ugep, the Tinapa Knowledge City and the Songhai Farm for agri-related vocations. These trainings shall be funded 100% by CRSG. We also will enable citywide internet access in the Smart City Project. The Smart City will open our youths and other demographics to all the opportunities available online for e-business, education, finance and every imaginable stuff on the net. Start-up grants and business expansion grants shall be availed trainees on successful completion of our capacity-building programs. The details are in my manifesto.
We wish you the best, going forward.
Thank you. I say to fellow Nigerians and humanity within our State- IT IS TIME to breathe again.
