By Kadiri Abraham
April 23, 2019
Dr. Okputu Julius Ochim, a former Commissioner for Works and one time governorship aspirant in Cross River State, yesterday called on Wanihem and Wanikade, his community – all in North Ukelle, to follow the footprint of Jesus Christ by accepting to coexist in peace and harmony, stating that Easter is symbolic of love, peace and redemption
He made this call in his message to Ukelle sons and daughters during the 2019 Easter celebration in his country home at Wanikade Town, North Ukelle; an occasion that drew men and women of timber and caliber from all parts of Ukelle - Mfuma Ntrigom in South Ukelle to Wanihem in the northern hemisphere. Prominent among his guests were Mr. Isaac Okpokpo, Former Secretary of Yala Local Government Area, Mr. Asegem Emmanuel, Peace Ambassador of Ukelle and Member, Anti-Deforetstation Task Force, Governor's Office, Calabar; Hon. Maurice Ilom, SDP flag bearer for CRSHA, Yala II Constituency during the recent past General Election (now in PDP); Mr. Justin Laffin, Mr. Ibida Michael, Mr. Godwin Onyukwu, Mr. Uwakwe Joseph, to mention but a few.
In an apt, sagacious and spontaneous tone, he reeled out his unprepared, but coherent speech in a subtle and unimaginable eloquence that elicited an atmosphere of awe and admiration amongst his guests, who cheered him to a rousing applause. In his usual patriotic disposition, he enjoined his political allies and protégés as well as traditional rulers, elites of Ukelle land and most importantly, youth – both home based and Diasporas, to accept the olive branch being extended to them.
Emphatic on the need to embrace peace by the warring communities, Wanihem and Wanikade - he said the two, right from Adams have been undeniably coexisting as one people, before the clamour to grab land set in.
He said if all efforts made so far to restore peace between these communities proves abortive, then it means that Easter Celebration is of little or no significance because, just before he departed the sinful earth, Jesus Christ handed down lasting peace to his followers, of whom Ukelle people are, since majority of them are Christians.
He further stressed on the need for understanding between the warring parties. According to the words of Martin Luther: “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." Out of the lingering conflict, he is confident that a new bond can be fashioned out because chaos is a way.
What could be inferred from his message is the fact that if we all believe Peace can be achieved in the society, then we must imbibe the biblical ideals and believe in God’s power of providence which is declared in Lev. 26:6: “I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country."
He summed up his speech by saying that the desired progress and development by Ukelle people is a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck, in an atmosphere devoid of conflict, to make it a reality. He, therefore, calls on every patriotic Ukelle indigene - starting from those present, to continue to advance the worthwhile course of restoring peace and harmonious coexistence.
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