THE CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT CHAIRMAN OF OBUBRA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

In 2015, the people of Obubra witnessed another milestone in the political history of the local Government Area as one of their illustrious sons, Rep. Michael Etaba the Chief Executive Officer of Future Oil, was elected under the umbrella of the peoples Democratic party (PDP) to represent Obubra/Etung  Federal constituency Of the State in the lower house of the national Assembly, replacing the Etung  born veteran politician and present senator representing cross river central in the upper chamber of the national assembly. The people have been celebrating what they call the dawn in Obubra as for a very long time now, no son of the Local government area has tested that exalted office in the state. On the other hand, the Obubra sons, Hon. Friday Okpechi( catch fire) and Hon. Dr. Elucate Ekom were also elected under the same platform to represent Obubra 1 and 2 respectively in the cross River State House Of Assembly. These three honourable members as well as their commissioner counterpart in their best of efforts have been trying to attract development to the area but their efforts are being frustrated by the incessant communal clashes in the area. Coneri Magazine and Conerimedia blog visited the Local Government recently, particularly the war torn zone of Adun- Okum and learned that there have been well over 20 independent clashes in the area due to land or boundary disputes leading to the wanton loss of lives and properties.
There have been constant clashes between communities in the local government and their counterparts in Ebonyi State. The people of Mkpani in neighboring Yakkur Local government have also been at loggerhead with the area as battle for ownership of land. Apart from foreigners warring with the area, Obubra has formed the habit of fighting, killing and destroying themselves in the name of fighting for their rights. Frankly, there have been communal clashes between Appiapum and Adun, Owakande and Obubra Urban, Iyamite and Adun etcetera. All these wars and rumors of war in area are detrimental to the development of the area. For instance, the NYSC located at Obubra Urban has been moved recently to Akamkpa due to this menace, the same way we have lose other significant things in the area. Businesses are on hold and people are moving out to neighboring Ikom, Yakurr and Abi Local government. Although, Mike Etaba, Elucate, Friday Okpechi and other concerned leaders have sued for peace among the warring communities to pave way for development in the area yet the menace seems to be on the increase. Is Obubra heading for total destruction?
These constant clashes pose a great challenge to the next chairman of the local government if they are not promptly checked as the thin resources allocated to the area will be channeled into resolving conflicts among troubled communities instead of the electricity, road, pipe borne water and other social amenities that they are meant for



The Obubra solution is with Obubra. Every Obubra son and daughter, home and abroad and even strangers and friends of the area must realize that  trouble or war does no one any good. Rather it destroys the collective good of a people and create boundaries where they don't exist. They must rise up in words and actions against the menace threatening the peace, unity, existence and peace of the area. It has to be now else the generation unborn shall suffer the consequences.