Senator representing Cross River North in the Senate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, says the North of Cross River State as well as several other parts of the state are “below standard when it comes to health care, education and other amenities.”
Jarigbe who spoke at a thanksgiving mass in Ogoja to celebrate his electoral victory, further lamented the quality of amenities available to Northern Cross Riverians and came clear that driven with this clear lack of these amenities, he has remained focused on working to see how he can attract national attention to these inadequacies. “What I have done so far is a tip of the iceberg because I can only do more by the grace of God for my people, more than what I have been celebrated for in the past”, he added.
“I can’t find words to express the way I feel. I return all the glory to God and I thank my constituents for coming out en masse to vote for me. I have a social contract with them. And, since they have done well for me, the only thing I can tell them is that I am going to reciprocate.”
“As it stands today, it is clear as crystal that PDP is the party in Cross River North and that is because myself and other elected members of the party have done so well for our people and our people do not have a choice but to support what they have seen that is adding value to them.”
Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, Most Revd. Donatus Akpan, reminded the lawmaker that God gave him his position to test the stuff he is made of. “God has set his light upon you as his witness. He has given you this exalted office to test you and find out the person you are.”
The bishop who said he has heard good things said about Jarigbe, cautioned him not to lose focus. “God made you victorious for the sake of your people. Maybe God saw that you were struggling to be counted in, not for yourself, but for your people. Don’t disappoint God.”
On the importance of truth in governance, the Bishop was emphatic that “our nation has never known the truth and that is why we are still in bondage. As long as you stand by the truth, something pleasing God, there is no need to be bothered about other distractions.”
The well attended ceremony was graced by eminent politicians, captains of industry, traditional rulers and jubilant constituents.