Ukelle needs unity to unmask forces stifling its growth

In recent times, Ukelle, the Yala II state constituency in Cross River State, has witnessed spontaneous unrest within her environment such as communal war, land disputes, unhealthy activities of the social miscreants orchestrated by some clandestine politicians in the region, who have been in charge of the constituents for over three decades without any form of resistant from the helpless constituents.

Amid severe poverty, the area also battles with lack of basic social amenities across the six political wards, poor school enrollment, higher number of out of school and malnourished children, uncontrollable child labour, and widespread early child marriages.

Ukelle sits couspicously in the centre, bordering the neighbouring states of Ebonyi and Benue. The area is very rich in staple foods such as rice, long beans, ground beans including yam, garri, cocoa yam, kernel and palm oil.

Her agricultural products are second to none. However, lack access to market due to impassable road has continued to inflict untold hardships of residents, who are mostly farmers. Rather than fix the bad roads, politicians in the area are only fond of using the situation to garner support during elections.

Recall that several illustrious sons and daughters from ukelle have risen to prominence in politics occupying offices such as SAs, SSAs, commissioners, MPs but none has been able to deliver the democratic dividends needed in the region.

Like shadow parties in crisis situation, they remain invincible but their heneous activities continue unabated.

With the formation of Ukelle Youths Development Forum–UYDF in 2020, a pressure group with the motto; “Quest For Better Ukelle”, along other socio-political fora such as Save Ukelle, Ukelle Renaince, Ukelle Youths Progressive Forum, Ukelle Youths Vanguard to mention but a few; there is hope that the jinx of political capitalists will soon be broken.

The silhouette of godfatherism and political capitalism continue to echoe their drums across the Ukelle’s six political wards with a view to keep a strong hold of their nefarious activities to remain at the top.

No doubt that with the recent victory of distinguished Senator Agom, Jarigbe Agom, Ukelle is in a snuggle path to tighten the synergy with Ogoja constituency and negotiate for support and a chance to be allowed to produce MP for the first time in history just as Ogoja had broken the age long jinx by having a Senator for the first time the history of existence.

We can collectively expose forces behind Ukelle setback and underdevelopment if we speak in one voice.