By Beatrice AKPALA.
Broadcast Journalist, Calabar,
Cross River State, NIGERIA.
WE’RE POISED TO CHANGE THE WRONG PERCEPTION, NARRATIVES ABOUT CROSS RIVER NORTH POLITICS-HIGH CHIEF HIGGINS PETERS.
A highly respected political figure and noted entrepreneur in the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, High Chief Higgins Peters, has declared that the time has come for Northern Cross River State to regroup and regain its pride of place and past glory ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
He stated this while answering probing questions about the necessity of forming the Northern Cross River Coalition (NORTHCCO). High Chief Peters noted that the State, hitherto looks up to Northern Cross River State for both economic and political succour, resulting in its mega position and the respects it has always deserved and accorded.
Chief Higgins Peters stated categorically that no force will be strong enough to stop NORTHCCO from achieving its aims and objectives ahead of the 2027 General Elections and even beyond. He clarified the seeming confusion in the membership structure of the body which, he noted, has been thrown open and extended to anyone or group of persons with the interest of Northern Cross River at heart.
The clarifications became necessary as the rationale behind its creation has been questioned in certain quarters and various political meanings ascribed to it. While some were of the opinion that it was a purely political idea of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, others believed that its membership might be limited to reflect some other political undertones.
High Chief Higgins Peters further stated that the conspiracy theories that have taken over the public discourse are just a reflection of people who are interested in contesting for various positions, adding that they have a right to be agitated about their aspirations. He emphasized that what is playing out in the Cross River State Political landscape is indicative of how politically conscious Cross Riverians have become. He further maintained that no one should classify the voice of the people in the polity as toxicity.
On the politics of permutations ahead of 2027, he disclosed that he is yet to hear from the figures at the forefront. He described the situation as the lively outcome of people who are politically active, and further stressed the need for unity, cohesion, understanding and brotherliness on the part of everyone if the Cross River State Northern Senatorial District must make appreciable progress.
He drew attention to the famous Okuku Market, in Yala Local Government Area which has now become a shocking shadow of its past, as he expressed regrets that the market, which used to draw businessmen and women from Benue, Taraba, Ebonyi, Enugu and other Eastern and North Central cities, has become so neglected and unpatronized that nobody remembers its existence anymore.
He therefore called on all well-meaning and patriotic northern Cross Riverians to come out in their numbers and join the ranks of the new body which has a lot of promise for Cross River north and the entire State in general.
High Chief Higgins also regretted the non functional State of the Obudu Cattle Ranch, which has been in comatose for quite sometime now until the recent intervention of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of Cross River State.
Chief Higgins reiterated the fact that of all the Senatorial Districts in Cross River State, the Northern Zone has always contributed the highest overall cumulative votes in all elections since the return to the democratic rule in 1999. He wondered where the North miscalculated or went wrong in the scheme of things to be in its present sorry state. He called for a complete new approach in order to get back what the North has actually missed. As he stated categorically that, it is truly the time of the North to take its proper place in the scheme of things.
According to him, NORTHCCO will become the most sought-after political organization in the whole of Cross River State that will be able to strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in all ramifications. He maintained that whoever hails from Northern Cross River State and has the interest of the zone should be interested and feel free to become members of the coalition.
