Sixteen Years After His Demise, Former Deputy Governor Of Cross River, Chief John Oyom Okpa Is Yet To Be Buried

Sixteen Years After His Demise, Chief John Oyom Okpa Is Yet To Be Buried

By Eriacy Confidence 

Obubra has been very unkind to HE Chief John Oyom Okpa and other good leaders who have sacrificed their all to keep the name alive. One would expect that by now, Obubra would have decorated the streets of her villages and towns with pictures, philosophies and memories of the first son of the area to have attained such a height as Charity they say begins at home. But it is unfortunate that sixteen years after his demise, the former deputy Governor of Cross River State has not been buried. "Like Buried?" You would ask. Yes, buried. The acient Egyptians believed that a good or great man who has not been immortalized has not been buried. Hence, they were famous for building pyramids to immortalize their kings and great people. 

 It is unfortunate that Sixteen Years after his death, I am yet to hear of any charity, advocacy or foundation in honor of chief John Oyom Okpa to help in the advancement of his philosophy;not even by any member of his family. Yet this is the family that has produced a deputy Governor, a two time House of Assembly member, a commissioner, a Local Government chairman and other vital positions in the state. What would it  cost one to start Chief John Oyom Okpa Foundation(JOOF)?

This is the platform we would have leverage on to ask for his (or our) entitlements in the state. Successive administrations of the council have been very busy doing nothing in this regard. 

It is unfortunate that sixteen years after, I have not seen an official biography or book in honor of our hero when we have so many writers of Obubra extraction flaunting their talents on social media. No chairman of council has deemed it necessary to commission writers to produce literature in this regard. This is the reason very little is known about the area despite the fact that it is one of the oldest LGA and irrefutably one of the most endowed. Our sons who try to create such platforms are shunned, mocked and discouraged.

It is unfortunate that sixteen years after his demise, we are yet to unite and collectively pursue the vision he (Chief John Okpa) and his contemporaries in vision like Dr Eyaba, Etc had for Obubra; the Obubraness in his thoughts and actions and his efforts to see a peaceful, united and fast developing Local Government. 

Today, we have factionalism and selfishness trailing every facet in Obubra; politically, economically, socially, Etc with political parties,the youth council, the students union and other organizations having two people laying claim to one office. I know you would argue that such anomaly is a democratic flavor and not peculiar to Obubra but such a political culture was not inherited from their fathers by our ancestors and therefore should not be patronized by the civilised and future thinking people of Obubra. This should have been a memorial for HE.

It is unfortunate that sixteen years after his demise, we are yet to achieve the needed economic and political development. I had suggested that all major infrastructures in Obubra such as schools, the Stadium, roads Etc be named after Chief John Okpa and other great sons of the Local Government. Would it be wrong to have the Local Government council, the chairman's residence, the stadium, the Urban road,  the junction and other major projects named after Chief John Okpa and other sons of our soil? Absolutely no. 

Our failure to immortalize and acknowledge in deed the sacrifices of Chief John Oyom Okpa, has gone a long way in exposing our collective attitudes to talents and efforts in Obubra. It has shown that we do not celebrate our local achievers. And if that's the case, how can a community that doesn't reward and honor her good people grow? 

Thank God, I read in one of the articles that Dr. Bassey Tom's administration is making effort to correcting this error. I pray it is positive and timely as this would spur up so many people into aspiring for greater achievements in life and interestingly for the good of Obubra. 

Eriacy Confidence 

Obubra son.