February 19, 2025

TNN Newspaper

a commitment to responsible journalism

Jarigbe As Ayade’s Nightmare In C’River North

5 min read

 

 

 

 

He has very innocent looks. You would ordinarily think that he cannot hurt a fly a fly. Apparently, he spends more time calculating and strategizing than he does fighting. He is not known to have ever been physically involved in the art of Marshal fight, but Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe sure knows how to give people a bloody nose in the game of politics. It does not really matter if the person is a sitting governor. And when he wants to do this, he hardly smiles.

 

 

 

That was what he did about a year ago, when he went into the boxing ring against two of his kinsmen at the same time-Senator Ben Ayade, incumbent governor of the state and Dr. Steve Odey, at that time a place holder in the senate, as it eventually turned out to be, where he represented the Cross River North Senatorial district.

 

 

Odey did not hide the fact that he got into the contest and eventually won his temporal electoral battle to get into the senate courtesy of the governor. In fact, he told a national television audience that it was the governor that made him to run the election against Jarigbe.

 

 

On his part, Ayade did not hide his support for Odey. He stood with and beside him.

During the by-election for the Cross River North seat, Ayade gave his all to ensure that Odey went to the senate. The speculation at the time was that Ayade needed someone he could trust, who would not be greedy to the point of not willing to surrender the seat whenever he was ready to have it, at the expiration of his tenure as governor. Odey was the trusted one. So, he went all out to give him all the support. And Odey won. But Jarigbe, like a hunter who is well skilled in marksmanship, plotted his fall skilfully and brought Odey down.

 

 

 

From the lower court to the court of appeal and finally to the apex court, the duo fought hard. And Ayade was there for Odey. But they lost. Jarigbe won. After the victory, his fans changed his name from Jarigbe to the Lion of Cross River North. Whenever Jarigbe roared, both Odey and Ayade would fidget. And whenever he sneezed, they would catch cold.

 

 

One year after, a repeat of that fight is about to happen. This time, Ayade will be in front, while Odey may just be on the side-line to support his friend and boss. Jarigbe, now nicknamed Jari Wonders, will be going into a battle that promises to be very fierce, against Ayade who wants to return to the senate in 2023, a position he occupied and left to contest the governorship seat in 2015.

 

 

 

 

On his part, Jarigbe wants a renewed mandate so he can become a ranking senator, from 2023. Before now, Jarigbe had won the heart of the people of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency through the various projects and programmes he attracted to the area. So, when it was time for him to go back for their votes in 2019, it was not that difficult to win their hear. He won the election without stomach ache. And when he had the opportunity to climb the National Assembly ladder, following the death of Senator Rose Oko, he did not waste time. He went for it, fought hard for it and got it.

 

 

In Cross River North, a lot of the people seem to be worshipping Jarigbe because of what they call Jarigbe’s many phenomenal and unparalleled wonders. For example, they are quick to point to about 86 mega projects and programmes facilitated by him since he got into the National Assembly. The projects, spread across all the local governments that he represents, range from roads, school buildings, water and electricity projects et cetera. And then they see him as their ATM machine, the type that never ceases to dispense cash to all those who are in need. Jarigbe, according to some of his followers, is a present help in times of trouble. A lot of them have been trained in various vocations and empowered to start their own business. A lot, according to the natives, have been mentored to stand on their feet and become self- reliant.

 

 

Some of the constituents who spoke with TNN said they loved and cherished him because he does not play politics with their welfare, while also stating that of all the people that have represented them in the past, Jarigbe stands out as a genuine leader who has their interest at heart.

 

Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, young but energetic, is a grassroots politician from Ibil in the Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State. He is a member of the 9th Senate.

 

 

A graduate of Chemistry from the University of Calabar, Jarigbe first got into limelight after he won election into the House of Representatives where he served for about six years, before moving to the senate chambers. He is happily married with four children. Next year, he will square up with Ayade for the fight of his political life, to retain his seat in the senate. And he seems to be very confident that he will win again.

 

 

 

So, why this level of confidence? That was the question TNN posed to him. His response: “The people are with me because I have not deceived them with empty promises like others. My word is my bond. Take a look at all the things I have done since I got into the National Assembly, I have served my constituents well and they can feel my sincerity. They know the others who are not as sincere. So, they know who to always hang out with.”

 

 

But how did he feel when he was able to defeat Odey and Ayade in a fiercely contested political battle? “I felt fulfilled. My emergence reinforced my belief in the power of God.” That was his response. Then the nNext question: ‘What would you say has been your driving force as a politician and public servant?’

 

 

 

His response was simple: “My determination to emancipate our people from poor leadership and the monumental deceit of selfish politicians.”
Jarigbe was also asked if he was not afraid of Ayade, ahead of the 2023 election. He merely smiled and then said: “How can I be afraid of a man? I only fear God. Moreover, this governor has nothing to show for about 12 years of being in government. Our people have rejected hm. He is still being deceived by some people who are worshipping the food- on- the- table Greek gift.” According to him, what many people do not know about him is the fact that he draws his strength and inspiration from God. He told TNN that Cross River North will see a far better version of him when he returns to the senate, since he would have much more time to serve.

 

Jarigbe truly has guts. Sure. If he defeats Ayade for the second time, then it would have been confirmed that truly, Jarigbe is the lion of northern Cross River and Ayade’s nightmare.

 

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