Dear dynamic Youths and great People of Cross River State and our great nation, Nigeria,
I write to you today not only as the Special Adviser to the Governor on National Assembly Matters but as a fellow citizen who shares in your dreams, your hopes, your pain and your desire for a better future. My heart overflows with admiration for the boundless energy, innovation, and potential that each one of you embodies. It is this very passion that I appreciate, and it is with a heavy heart, yet undying hope, that I reach out to urge us all to consider the path we tread ahead.
As many of you are aware, there is a planned protest from 1st to 10th of August 2024. While the right to peaceful assembly and expression is a cornerstone of our democratic values, it is crucial that we reflect on our recent history—the scars and pain we encountered during the EndSARS protests.
The EndSARS movement was a profound testament to our collective voice and the significant issues that needed addressing. However, the aftermath left our dear Cross River State in distress and disarray. The violence and destruction that ensued not only left lasting physical scars on our infrastructure but deeply impacted the emotional and psychological well-being of our communities. Lives were lost, families were shattered, and the economic backbone upon which many young entrepreneurs and businesses rely was broken irretrievably.
You may all wish to recall how Calabar came under siege where our Internationally recognized and prestigious CICC, TINAPA, CHRONICLES, INDUSTRIAL PARK, GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES BUILDINGS, PILES AND PYLONS, HOTELS, SHOPING MALLS, RESIDENTS etc were looted with hate, in a manner reminiscence of the loss of Bakassi Penninsula and our 76 Oil Wells. A situation that has kept our dear State crawling to date. This time, we must rise in solidarity for the protection of our common heritage, the Land of Birth. Never shall Cross River State be brought to her knees by sponsored Aliens.
While I serve here as your liaison and or representative in the dialogue with the Cross River State National Assembly members, I assure you that your voices have not only been heard but are being earnestly considered. You already know that His Excellency, the Excutive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu together with your members of the National Assembly are all very capable and committed to ensuring your grievances are addressed through constructive and human oriented means. It is through these robust conversations and legal frameworks that we can nurture lasting change—a change that builds rather than destroys.
We must not allow the fervor for justice to blind us to the lessons of our recent past. The most profound power we wield today is not in the magnitude of our rage but in our capacity to channel that energy into positive and constructive avenues. Our great State and nation bleed not from the multitude of eager hearts but from the wounds we inflict upon ourselves, when hijackers of peaceful protest are led to take over against your wish to cultivate seeds of disunity and violence, which must certainly overshadow our quest for a better tomorrow.
I implore you, my brothers and sisters, let us recall the pain of those tumultuous times not to fan the flames of bitterness, but to remind ourselves that there is a better way—a way paved with dialogue, cooperation, and a collective effort towards rebuilding and renewing our communities. Your resilience and innovative spirit can transform Cross River State and Nigeria into beacons of progress and hope.
In this earnest appeal, let us not rally in the streets with the threat of destruction but come together in spaces where ideas can be transformed into policies and actions that uplift every Nigerian. I appeal once again to your sense of wisdom, optimism, resilience in nationalism and unity. Together, we can champion the causes that matter without falling into the abyss of chaos and anarchy.
By standing together peacefully and resolutely—through dialogue, through engagement, and through constructive action—we can honor the spirit of those who sought change before us by ensuring that their legacies fuels a brighter, stronger Cross River State and Nigeria.
May our efforts be guided by compassion, and may our future be forged with wisdom.
With deepest respect and solidarity,
Hon. Chris Njah Mbu-Ogar
Special Adviser to the Governor of Cross River State, on National Assembly Matters
Comments
Post a Comment