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Our attention has been drawn to a laughable and fallacious publication credited to a faceless group parading itself as the “OBO Movement.” This group, which is nothing more than a poorly disguised front for the failed political duo of Senator Ben Ayade and Hon. Legor Idagbo – have attempted to peddle a false narrative that the Senate seat for Cross River North Senatorial District is the exclusive preserve of Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku Federal Constituency.
For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a zoning issue but a figment of their imagination, bereft of historical antecedents, logic, or popular consensus. These are men who were once handed political opportunities on a platter but chose to betray the trust reposed in them by engaging in primitive accumulation, institutional decay, and utter neglect of the people. Now, having been rejected by the electorate and they seek to crawl back through the back door, cloaking their desperation in primordial sentiments.
Let us state clearly: Senator Ben Ayade and Hon. Legor Idagbo are politically unelectable. Their records are damning and undeniable.
THE FAILED POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS
Hon. Legor Idagbo has enjoyed a lengthy stretch of political patronage serving as Chairman of Bekwarra LGA for five years, Commissioner for Works for several years, and Member of the House of Representatives for eight years. In the 2023 general elections, despite all this, he lost in all ten wards of Bekwarra Local Government Area. His people, who know him best, rejected him without equivocation.
Senator Ben Ayade, on the other hand, was an incumbent Governor in 2023, yet he lost in 42 out of 51 wards to Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe in the Senate election. This was a man who had earlier served as Senator for four years and was later “spoon-fed” the governorship by Governor Imoke. After eight years of abysmal performance, riddled with infrastructural decay, unpaid salaries, and a legacy of indebtedness, the people rose as one and cast their votes against him.
These are not leaders; they are liabilities dressed in entitlement. There have nothing to offer, and moreover, you cannot put something upon nothing and expect it to stand (” Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit”).
THE “OBO” FALLACY: A CONVENIENT MYTH
The claim that the Senate seat belongs to Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku is a self-serving fabrication. Zoning, where it exists, is based on mutual agreement, equity, and history, not on the whims of two political misfits trying to rewrite the rules because they have failed at the game. Any attempt to foist a zonal arrangement without an agreement, and subject to equity and history is, with respect, a blatant violation of the rights of Senator Jarigbe to contest for the senatorial seat as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, as well as the Electoral Act, 2026, as amended.
What distinct qualities do Ayade and Legor possess to warrant such presumption? Are they basing it on performance? On integrity? On popular mandate? The people have already spoken, and their verdict was clear: Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe remains the preferred choice of Cross River North.
DESPERATE TACTICS OF DISTRACTION
It is amusing that those who are now seeking to bribe Paramount Rulers to issue a communiqué asking the Governor to “move” the Senate seat to their constituency are the same ones accusing Senator Jarigbe of being a “paymaster.” This is the classic case of a thief crying “thief!”
Senator Jarigbe has just joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has hit the ground running, working with the party structure, engaging stakeholders, and focusing on grassroots mobilization. Meanwhile, Ayade and Legor are in Abuja, hopping from house to house, seeking political scholarships and validation from those who do not vote in Cross River North. If they are so confident of their popularity, why are they not in the field facing the people? We hereby place on record that any such inducement, if established, constitutes an affront on our electoral and criminal laws, and the appropriate authorities will be duly notified.
Furthermore, the allegation that Senator Jarigbe is a “paymaster” is not only defamatory in character but is entirely bereft of particulars, to say the least. We hereby put the OBO Movement and its sponsors on notice that that they bear full legal responsibility for any defamatory publications made against the person and reputation of Senator Jarigbe, and that all available legal remedies remain open and will be vigorously pursued.
A CHALLENGE TO THE COWARDS
Our message to Ayade and Legor is simple: stop this infantile campaign of calumny and deceit. Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe is not distracted by your hallucinations or your rented press statements. He remains focused on serving his people and strengthening the party.
If you consider yourselves men, come to the field and let the people decide. Stop hiding behind faceless groups and paid agents. Stop trying to manipulate traditional institutions to do your bidding. The people of Cross River North are discerning, and they have not forgotten how you squandered your opportunities. Obviously, these men can not give what they do not have. (Nemo Dat Quod Non Habet).
Senator Jarigbe has an inalienable right to contest for any office, and your watery arguments about exclusivity will not stand before the will of the people. Society has moved past the era of entitled political failures. The shadows of your abysmal performance are chasing you, and no amount of propaganda can erase your history.
CONCLUSION
We urge the public to disregard the baseless rantings of the OBO Movement and its sponsors. Senator Jarigbe remains focused, undeterred, and fully prepared to meet anyone at the polls. The people are solidly behind him, and the days of political manipulation and mediocrity are over in Cross River North.
Brave up as men or step aside.
Signed:
Team Jari Media