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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu
Hon. Okechukwu Maduekwe, a business mogul is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State and Special Adviser on Non-Indigenes Affairs to Governor Bassey Otu. Though originally from Ideato in Imo State, Hon. Maduekwe has actively been constant in Cross River politics. At one time, he held a strategic position in Calabar Municipality local government area. Having spent over four decades of his life in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Hon. Maduekwe sees himself as an integral part of the state.
In this interview with Daily Sun, he spoke about his appointment by Governor Bassey Otu as his Special Adviser on Non-Indigenes Affairs, why the vast population of non- indigenes in the state are fanatically rooting for the governor’s re-election and how they are contributing to the economic growth of the state.
Excerpts:
How did your appointment come about? Were you chosen by the non- indigenes’ community in Cross River State and then presented to His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu for appointment?
It is the prerogative of His Excellency to appoint anybody of his choosing to any position. Besides, prior to His Excellency’s emergence as governor, I had a good relationship with him. During his electioneering, I mobilised non- indigenes resident in Cross River to campaign and vote for him. I was a member of the various campaign committees set up for his election and I criss-crossed the 18 local government areas of the state canvassing votes for him. Aside all these, I have a robust relationship with the non- indigenes and indigenes alike having spent 43 years of my life in Cross River and having at one time, participated in the governance of the state at the local government level. So, I believe all of the above are some of the factors that contributed to His Excellency graciously appointing me His Special Adviser on Non- Indigenes Affairs.
You said you once participated in the governance of Cross River at the local government level. Can you speak more on this?
Yes. I was once in charge of Business Development Strategies for Calabar South local government area. In my capacity as Special Assistant on Business Development to the council chairman at the time, I contributed significantly to the revenue generation growth of the council during that period.
What is the strength of non- indigenes residing in Cross? Can you put a figure to it?
I cannot readily tell you categorically the population of non- indigenes in Cross River but I can confidently tell you that it a sizeable population, an integral part of the population of Cross River State. Because of the hospitable nature of Cross River and the prevailing conducive business environment in the state, there is no local government area or senatorial district you go that you won’t find non- indigenes living in peace with their hosts and engaged in various economic activities. For example, the Calabar metropolis boasts of a large, sprawling Hausa community called Bogobiri. In fact, most members of the community are now more Efik than Efiks themselves. I’m talking of people whose forefathers were born in Calabar and who know no other place as home but Calabar, people who engage in various commerce and pay taxes to the Cross River State government. In Northern Cross River Senatorial district too- Ogoja, Bekwara, Obudu, Obanliku, Yala- probably because of its proximity to the Northern part of the country, also boasts of a vibrant Hausa community with many members of the community now completely acculturised and assimilated. In fact, in the last government, the commissioner representing Ogoja was a Northern Nigerian of Ogoja origin, a Muslim.
In Calabar, you also find a large number of Yoruba, Igbo, Edo and other non- indigenes in strategic economic ventures that boost the state’s economy. In fact, many business men of Igbo and Yoruba extraction are property owners and developers in Calabar. I will not mention his name, for example, a certain business man from Imo State who has lived in Calabar for close to four decades is the single largest property owner in Satellite Town axis of the capital. I also know of a number of Yoruba property owners in Satellite Town. So, you can see that Cross River is a conducive home for business and pleasure for diverse people.
You painted a graphic picture of a vibrant, cohesive, progressive and formidable community, as the Governor’s Special Adviser on Non-Indigenes Affairs, how are you leveraging on that to build a solid support base of non-indigenes for your principal, preparatory to 2027 when he will seek re- election?
Good question! His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu enjoys enormous, confidence and support of the non-indigenes in Cross Rivers, he enjoys tremendous goodwill of the people. I dare say that no governor in this state had enjoyed the kind of massive support of non- indigenous Cross Riverians as His Excellency does and this is because, apart from my consistent engagement with them, the governor runs an open-door policy, an inclusive government that sees everyone, irrespective of tribe or religion as a Cross Riverian. The mantra of his government is “People First” and “People” here stands for everyone who lives and earns a living in Cross, non-indigenes inclusive. Besides, his sterling performance in office in the past 24 months has won him hearts and effusive applause and will also win him votes and victory in the 2027 governorship election. Every resident in Cross River, non- indigenes inclusive are happy with Governor Otu’s performance and this can be gleaned from the organic support and goodwill he continues to receive from the people. So, in a nutshell, the governor has a robust relationship with non-indigenes in the state. He also has humongous support base among the non- indigenes. I can assure that if election is held this minute, Governor Otu will clear 99 percent of non-indigenes votes. So, come 2027, given my close knitted engagements with them and the governor’s unparalleled performance, non- indigenes in Cross River will queue behind him without looking back.
You speak with certainty about the Governor’s re-election. Why are you so confident he will be re- elected in 2027?
He will be overwhelmingly re- elected for second term. As I said earlier, Governor Otu’s performance these past 24 months are self- evident, he has re- invented Cross River and brought new lease of life to Cross Riverians and people are happy with him. Let me tell you this, Governor Otu will need minimal physical electioneering campaign to get re- elected, his achievements, his projects will campaign for him, the people will speak for him. The evidence of his socio- economic, infrastructural and human capital development is all over the place. For example, take a tour around Calabar and other urban centres in the state and see for yourself, the massive urban renewal effort he has brought to bear in those places . Then take a census across the state and you will find overwhelming majority of the people eager and ready to return to office in 2027. Besides, there is no more opposition in Cross River, the opposition has collapsed in Cross River, opposition parties, in recognition of Governor Otu’s performance and style of leadership, has collapsed their structures into the APC and joined the party, so, His Excellency, Governor Otu will return to office in 2027, virtually unchanged.
I can tell you confidently that His Excellency’s re-election in 2027 is fait accompli.
You have decribed the Gov in glowing terms and passionately defended him, can you tell us the rare qualities Gov.Otu has that separate him from other political leaders.
Fear of God, honesty, integrity and purposefulness are some of the cardinal attributes of His Excellency which have enabled him navigate temptetsous political terrains unscathed and which also act as template in his People First administration.
Secondly, His Excellency, visionary and ever desirous of the best for Cross River, populated his cabinet with dedicated men and women with a burning zeal to serve the state selflessly and who fanatically align with his vision for the state. One of such persons is Dr Emmanuel Ironbar, the Chief of Staff to the Governor. Dr Ironbar is an unassuming young man silently but amazingly driving the Governor’s vision.
How do you respond to the allegation that businesses owned by non- Cross Riverians are targets of illegal taxes by agents of the government?
This a lie from the pit of hell! There is nothing like that at all here. As I said earlier, non- indigenes are integral part of Cross River and are legitimately carrying out their businesses and contributing to the economic growth of the state just like other Cross Riverians. If anything, His Excellency has set Cross River and the people on the trajectory of economic growth and prosperity by creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, call it ease of doing business and you won’t be wrong. So, when you talk of ease of doing business, you are basically talking about Cross River.
