REPORTER’S DIARY: Truly, David Eleke is dead, and Ben Ayade failed Cross River North

By David-Chyddy Eleke

Last Sunday, I took a trip to the ancient city of Ogoja in Cross River State. The last time I was in the town was in 2017 when my dad, Mr David Eleke (Snr) was murdered.

As I entered the town, instead of moving straight to Ishibori to see my dad, I rather went to a relatives place in Igoli. That was when it dawned on me once again that truly, David Eleke is dead. While Pa Eleke was alive, I used to take out time to visit him once in a while. I left Ogoja in 2003 to further my education, after sufficiently pounding the entire Cross River North and parts of Benue State for what we used to call Bush Market trading. Since after I left, I always made time to visit my Dad, especially after our mother’s death, and my younger siblings had moved out of the town in pursuit of greener pastures.

Each time I was visiting my father in that town, he always booked fresh palmwine for me. In cases where he failed to, he would take me to a beer parlour and order his favourite small stout, and we would discuss about everything under the sun, while clutching our drinks in our hands. The absence of such treatment during this visit was a blow to me. May God continue to grant his soul good rest. Amen!

While in my relatives place, a friend called me and said he would come to see me after a meeting of our towns men in the Ogoja. I quickly told him I would rather come see him there. After my father’s burial in 2017, I had taken out time to visit the town to greet them specially for the role they played in the burial, and they were so happy to receive me. I went again a second time on Sunday, and I saw the faces of my dad’s old friends and I couldn’t help but remember him again. Upon my arrival, it was as if the meeting started all over again, with as many members as possible giving testimonies of my father. His uprightness, hardwork, dedication to anything he believed in, and many more. At the end, they told me that my father lived a life that was so transparent and trustworthy that it can open any door for me. I was so happy. I plan to visit Aso Rock to see if doors open there. I will just tell the security people that I’m the son of David Eleke. Lol.

Ben Ayade Failed Cross River North

In the full eight years of two tenures that Prof Ben Ayade spent as governor of Cross River, his achievements are not visible in northern Cross River, except of course if I am blind.

Ayade is from Obudu, Obudu is in Cross River North Senatorial zone. To go to Obudu from Calabar the state capital, you have to go through Ogoja. I confess that the road from Abakiliki in Ebonyi State, through to Yahe in Yala is so very beautifully paved. But the road from Yahe to Okuku, a major town in Cross River North has been long abandoned.

To go to Okuku, commuters have to veer off towards Mbok junction, just to enjoy a good drive. Your drive of course will be enjoyable until you get to Mbok, where you immediately start battling bad roads.

For emphasis sake, I must say that when you hit Mbok junction from Yahe, left is a straight drive to Ogoja, while right leads you up to Ikom, and straight to Calabar, the state capital. That long stretch of road is referred to as Trans African Highway (TAH). The road starts from Obudu which itself is a boarder town with Cameroon and leads up to Bekwara, Ogoja, Ikom, Obubra, Ugep, Akamkpa and Calabar. But few drivers I spoke with said it is hell travelling from Ogoja to Calabar these days. One said: “As an Ogoja man, if I want to go to our state capital, somebody from Cameroon would have journeyed all the way from Cameroon and landed Ogoja and be resting, before I will get to Calabar. This is because of bad roads.”

After experiencing a certain spot just before Ndok junction, I couldn’t help but weep for drivers. Two trucks are already stuck in the road. Smaller vehicles have to opt for bush tracks that passes through people’s compounds, and the owners of the compound saw a revenue window, and they to set up a toll point. For every compound you pass through, you have to ‘drop something’.

At some point, I had to ask once again if there was another road that connects Obudu from Calabar except this road? I needed to know how Prof Ben Ayade, the immediate past governor visits his home town. I was told none except that one.

In Abia State, Aba was regarded as being the cash cow of the state, but remained underdeveloped. A son of that area, Okezie Ikpeazu was entrusted with power in the hope that he would develop it, but he failed. He left Aba even worse than he met it. It is the same thing Ben Ayade did to Cross River North. He is from the area, but in eight years, he left the area even worse. Please do not tell me it’s a federal highway because records of governors constructing federal roads are in excess. He is also of APC and could have used his influence to get the federal government to work on it, or better still work on it and wait for reimbursement. He failed his people. That is my thinking, and I’m entitled to it.

High Cost Of Transport, Tet Rickety Vehicles

I noticed that fares to Ogoja are higher than normal. But what was more annoying was that only very thoroughly tired vehicles plied the route. For example – from Onitsha to Abakiliki, a journey of about 200kilometer in a very comfortable Sienna car, with three per row and one passenger in front is N7,000. But from Abakiliki to Ogoja of about 110 kilometers, in a rickety Peugeot 504, with four passengers per seat and two passengers in front is also N7,000 or more.

Since President Tinubu imposed high cost of fuel on us, I have learnt to be using public transport everywhere, but it is still not cheap. But in the case of Ogoja drivers, I guess they have to make you suffer as much as their vehicles suffer for the bad roads by ensuring that passengers are packed like sardines, but I concede to them too that many factors contribute to their high charges.

Abundance Of Checkpoints

If you travelled through the roads in Cross River area, you will be surprised at the preponderance of checkpoints. In some cases, the checkpoints are so closely knitted. They consist of Police, Road Safety, army, immigration, haulage, produce checkpoints and so many more.

What do the personnel at the checkpoints check for? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Plying that road will give you an idea of how corrupt Nigeria and her security agencies are. Nobody checks for anything. Just drive by, park, give them money and drive away. Save for immigration officers that came around at a checkpoint to interview passengers to detect foreigners, every other checkpoint was for revenue collection.

In those areas, giving bribe is the right of security personnel. They block the road with huge logs, which has attached to their underneath a roller. Once you pay, they roll away the big log and you drive past. And you must keep paying until you hit your destination. Now I know you’re not surprised why the fare is high. They factor in the cost of fuel, wear and tear their vehicles undergo because of bad roads, and the cost of bribing security operatives on the road. Poor passengers, we bear the brunt without option.

Peaceful Town

Despite glaring under development, I still commend Cross River for largely being a peaceful state. On Monday, I moved around and Igoli town was bubbling with commercial activities. On same Monday, states in the South East are usually crippled with stupid tales of sit at home.

I was told the town,save for stories of petty thieves, there are no incidences of killings, kidnappings and abduction as we see in Anambra. While returning on Tuesday, our vehicle broke down in a thick bush, and I was afraid that Fulani herdsmen may emerge from the bushes to rain terror, but the driver just laughed at me. “No be for this place” he muttered.

Yahoo Yahoo, Rubber Rubber

I was in Asaba months back, and one guy said to me, “Na here be headquarters of Yahoo boys”. The guy said they have raised the prices of virtually everything. In Aguleri too in Anambra State, a town I considered not to be so highly developed, a lady who invited me for a coverage also told me that prices of things have gone up because of the activities of Yahoo boys.

In Awka, Yahoo boys have become a menace too. One would expect that an ancient town like Ogoja would be away from such dent, but it would be ignorance to think so.

In Awka, a boy who I know very well does not have a job once bought a pure white Mercedes Benz GLE SUV. He was celebrating close to my house, and when I got back from work, he said to me – “Oga, make them give you drink ooo, I dey wash my new car.” I was shocked. I declined the drink and said I was in a rush to go somewhere. My wife blamed me, saying my things are always different. She said everyone was happy for the young boy, and now I want to spoil their fun. I asked her what job the boy does to be able to buy that car. She couldn’t tell.

On a later day, I saw the boy and congratulated him again on his new car, then I told him he would have just bought a small car like Toyota Corolla and invested the remainder (I heard he bought the car for N16million). The boy laughed at me and said – “I just talk say I must buy this car. My friends get white ones, they dey always brag say white Benz no dey market anyhow, na him make me wait until I see this one before I buy am.” True to his words, it is almost an unspoken rule that Yahoo boys must have white Mercedes Benz, be it SUV or saloon.

You know what, while white Benz is an identity for Yahoo boys in Awka, a certain fanciful motorbike codenamed Rubber Rubber is the identity of Yahoo boys in Ogoja. They can kill to buy it. Infact they can not just kills, but they are ready to kill their most loved ones to buy the bike. It is a status symbol for them, and announces that one has arrived. I heard it is sold for N1.3million.

An old woman I discussed with in Ishibori told me – “Ah, the biggest problem we have now are Wahuu Boys ooo. Everything is now expensive because of them.” The way she pronounced Yahoo and WAHUU almost made me laugh off my head.

I was told that the boys who make up these WAHUU boys are boys in their teens, school leavers and others. I was told that in Abakpa area of Ogoja, one teenage boy recently stabbed his mother to death because he was told that was what he needed to do to make money. Quick riches is now the in thing in today’s world. No one wants to work hard to earn. I truly fear for this generation and the one to come.

Appreciation

I confess that the two days I spent in Ogoja was thoroughly enjoyable. Ogoja has not seized to be the headquarters of local enjoyment. The people of that area are not known for all the struggles people go through here to acquire things they do not need. They go to their farms very early, return home as the sun makes to unleash it harsh rays, and the next thing is, you find them in beer joints enjoying their lives.

In Ogoja, with little money you will live well. Rent is cheap, food is almost free, and their women are friendly and receptive. Don’t ask me if I discovered this during this journey, I have always known. I was born and bred there and schooled there. Good night.

Picture Captions

1-5: Videos of bad portions of the road along Mbok to Ndok junctions. Also shows people compounds where drivers pass through, and locals collecting tolls.

6. Shows a signpost along the Ogoja-Calabar Trans African Highway (TAH).

7. The kind of rickety vehicles that ply Ogoja routes and packs passengers like goods.

8. A rubber rubber motorbike. A Yahoo boy can kill to own one.

9. Security operatives collecting and giving balance to motorists on the highway.