Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V has described the acclaimed Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan as a fallacy that the Presidency should defocus attention from in order to face true governance.
According to him, Nigerians have become desperate for good governance. He, therefore, urged the Jonathan administration to provide basic amenities like electricity, as this alone would solve a lot of problems bedevilling the country.
He said that if the president could ensure 24-hour electricity supply, he would have done justice to governance instead of the transformation agenda that is only visible on newspaper and television.
“I’m sorry to say this, but I have to say it because at this level, I don’t have to pretend again. My subjects are complaining just as Nigerians are complaining,” the monarch said.
“We are tired of agenda this, agenda that; all the agendas are fallacy and deceit and the ordinary man on the street does not believe on that.
“The only agenda Nigerians are asking for at 53 years of nationhood is good governance that will translate to development and let that development start from power. Electricity is very crucial to development both in the towns and cities as well as villages.”
The king, who was speaking in his palace with journalists, expressed support for the proposed National Dialogue, saying this is the only way to move the country forward from its current state. That, however, is if the dialogue does not end up being politicised.
He recalled that in the first instance, the amalgamation of Nigeria was an accident and a forced marriage by the colonial rulers, as the people of the country never at any time decided to live together.
“What the president has done is what many Nigerians, including some of us the traditional rulers, have been calling for, for a long time,” he said. “I welcome it on behalf of my subjects and I pray that something good come out of it that will make Nigeria a better place for us all.”
He also made a case for Calabar, the Cross River State capital, saying despite its contribution to the development of Nigeria, not much had been done to give it a befitting status. He clamoured for an even development in Nigeria “no matter how far or close the person or villages are close to the seat of power.”
