By Godwin Abah
The governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu, and the Senator representing Cross River North in the National Assembly, Jarigbe Agom, have called for unity among the Bakor people of the state.
The governor, speaking through the Speaker of the 10th state Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, disclosed this at Alladim Nkum Clan in Ogoja during this year’s Bakor New Yam Festival.
Otu said political parties should be seen as a ladder and that the Bakor people should know their strength is the unity they portray.
“I stand here of the APC extraction, and Senator Jarigbe is of the PDP, but when it comes to the unity of Bakor, parties are seen as a ladder for development.
“I came here to honour Senator Jarigbe in solidarity and let our people know that our strength as Bakor people is the unity we portray.
“Senator Jarigbe is the pride of Bakor Nation, has empowered so many people, and there is no better humanity than what he is doing,” he said.
Also speaking, Senator Jarigbe, who was honoured by the Bakor Nation, said he seeks unity, and the Bakor people can only get better as a people.
“We have come here as a people and seek unity among ourselves. Nothing can stop us when we are together, and we can only improve as a people”, he said.
He promised to deliver on his promises to the Bakor Nation, where he had the highest number of votes, and the entire northern senatorial district.
He added that a number of projects for the senatorial district in the 2024 budget will commence shortly.
Earlier, the president of the Bakor Nation, Robert Obeye, said the New Yam Festival remains the flagship of their cultural heritage.
“Bakor New Yam celebration on the 15th of September remains sacrosanct, deeply entrenched, and provides an indelible platform for our contact. It is the rallying point of our rich culture, the re-enactment of our commonality, and the resilience and undying spirit of our farmers, ” he said.
He added that it’s also a veritable platform to retrospect on the ensuring legacy of love, unity, team spirit, and brotherhood.
This year’s Bakor New Yam Festival, with the theme “If politics divide us, culture should unite us,” was graced by all nine clans.
