MISSION
Yakurr
in Diaspora seeks to promote unity among all Yakurr
people
who reside in North America, and foster progress for
all
people indigenous to Yakurr homeland living at home
and
abroad
through charity, educational, cultural and
humanitarian
activities.
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Okoi Obono-Obla's petition concerning the omission of Dr Okoi
Arikpo's name from the list of individuals honored during Nigeria's
50th anniversary remains an eminently worthy action taken by a
Yakurr person seeking redress of systematic injustice calculated
against the Yakurr man in particular, and the Yakurr nation in
general. That Nigeria cannot eulogize the exploits and achievements
of Dr Arikpo is truly a sad commentary.
We need leaders like Obono-Obla who share the burden of Yakurr
people. We need leaders with the will and courage to unequivocally
challenge injustice against Yakurr people, even in the face of
adversity.
Join the campaign!
Obasesam Okoi
Editor
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HAVE YOU
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OVER
FIFTY YAKURR PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD HAVE
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INTELLECTUAL CONVERSATION.
ALL THESE VOICES WILL BE HEARD.
ADD
YOUR VOICE NOW!
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The Challenge for Yakurr in Diaspora
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I
respectfully invite the Yakurr in diaspora to support my effort in
this regard by addressing a strong worded petition to President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan urging to him to promptly redress the
injustice done to the memory of Dr . Okoi Arikpo nay Yakurr nation.
Okoi Arikpo was an ironic figure both to Yakurr and Nigeria. His
exploits in the anthropological studies brought Yakurr to world
consciousness when he jointly carried out a research on the double
system of kinship of the Yakurr people with a British Oxford
University trained anthropologist, Dr. Daryell Forde' in early
1930s, which till today remains a classic and enigma in the sphere
of scholarship. Okoi Arikpo 's activism compelled the Federal
Government to create the old Rivers and South Eastern States. The
lecture series of Okoi Arikpo on the Ethnological origin of the
various ethnic nationalities that make Nigeria titled ' Who is a
Nigerian' in 1967 was breathtaking and ground breaking. Okoi Arikpo
was one of the persons whose efforts helped this country to survive
the perils of succession challenge . Okoi Arikpo was a true
federalist. Yakurr in Diaspora should lend its formidable voice to
this crusade because this is a conscious effort to obliterate the
Yakurr nation.
Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, Attorney and Human Rights
Activist
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My
respect for you keeps piling up and you give me so much hope in a
community where most young men of your age are preoccupied with
cheap living and mental indolence.Thanks and God will see us
through.
Patrick Iwara, Senatorial Aspirant, Cross River Central
Senatorial District.
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Many
thanks to Chief Okoi-Obono Obla for drawing the attention of the
Presidency to the omission of Chief Dr. Okoi Arikpo as a recipient
of the gold metal award via his petition. I have read in the papers
the names of other recipients of this award and felt also that
Chief Arikpo deserved to be on the list. There are recipients in
the same list whose achievements cannot equate those of Dr. Okoi
Arikpo but yet they made the list. I believe that this petition
which is in good faith would serve to address this omission so that
in subsequent events like this, would-be recipients like Chief Dr.
Okoi Arikpo would not be left out. The government of Cross River
State must also be well informed about the achievments of Dr.
Arikpo. I am sure that, should Cross River Govt acknowledge his
achievements in good faith, Chief Arikpo would have made the
list.
Paulinus Ofem, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Dear
Okoi,
Thanks for this exhaustive write up. But this is not the first time
the Federal Government has downplayed on the contributions of Dr.
Okoi Arikpo SAN. You will recall that when in the dying days of
President
Obasanjo new Streets were created at Utako District of Abuja
and named after many Nigerians including then serving
Ministers, Dr. Arikpo's name was conspicuously missing. I
petitioned the then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Till
date nothing has been done about it. See the reproduced copy of
that petition.
Now, I want to propose that as Yakurr people we should come
together with whatever name or so to make a strong worded petition
to the Federal Government on the basis of your own. What you have
done is ok but can we make it more of a group, a collective and
even buy space in national dailies to press our request home and
drum the great contributions of Dr. Arikpo to Nigeria. My position to go beyond the
individual is so that our people may show concern and sponsor the
adverts. They do not need to seat back to say it is Okoi's affair.
Or because I am serving in Imoke's government, I should not be seen
to be supporting the views of Okoi since he used to criticize
Imoke's policies. Obasesam talked about our reps taking it up.
Another far cry; Bassey Ewa cannot support any idea from Okoi no
matter how brilliant. Bomboy cannot also support it. And we must be
careful before our reps who want to remain in office till kingdom
come steal the issue and make it an election matter to shine. They
are not dependable and Obasesam ought to know this by now.
Neill Offem, Editor-in-Chief, The X-Ray News,
Nigeria
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 Chief
Okoi,
I have
not been more proud, I have not read a classic like this in a
while. This petition, will be for ever a material of reference.
Like Our friend Ophem said, its time this write ups enter the pages
of Newspapers. I will like us, via YDO to raise funds to publish
this petition in one or two national dailies - Thisday and Guardian
are recommended.
Sebastine Eko, Communications
Consultant
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Great
debate regarding a great Nigerian. We have been neglected enough
(marginalized at both the state and federal levels). We should
channel this energy towards a goal. Ugep and Yakurr deserve a
higher institution of learning. Why not an Okoi Arikpo University?
This is the time to make demands on candidates for elected office.
Without regards to party affiliation and level, we should demand
that each candidate commit to the idea of an Okoi Arikpo University
in exchange for our support (even though our votes may not be
counted). It can be a starting point that his own people revere
him.
Okoi
Eduson, Doctorate Candidate and Financial Consultant
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Dear
Yakurr People,
Thanks
to Okoi Obono Obla, we have been reminded of the urgent need to get
together as a people, so we can collectively protect our interests.
That is the essence of the Yakurr Development Organization
(YDO). Neill Offem has suggested we add bite to Okoi's petition by
taking ownership of it under an organization. Obasesam has made
suggestions along the same line. I know YDOs establishment is still
cooking in the pot, but after speaking with Okoi Obono Obla, I
agreed with him that YDO perhaps in collaboration with the Yakurr
in Diaspora could and should take over from him regarding this
petition.
What
do we think? If we agree to these suggestions, then the way forward
is to:
- Reword
the petition in a language and content that will reflect an
organizational response (we need a small committee of 3
persons to do this. Any volunteers or nominations?)
- Explore
ways to get the petition directly to Mr. President (Mfawa
Abam- a Yakurr son- is Director of Protocol to Nigeria's first
lady. He may come in handy)
- Publish
the reworded petition in atleast two national dailies (full page)-
we would need to mobilize resources to do this. Full page
advertorials in The Guardian, Daily Trust and Punch Newspapers cost
N478, 920.00, N475, 200 and N491, 400 respectively exclusive of
VAT. Let us know what you think and like Neill said, the earlier,
the better.
Thomas
Ofem, Development Communicator.
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