By Our Reporter
The Chairman of a socio-cultural organisation, Yala Progressive Union, Calabar branch, Dr Denis Ogar, has explained why his people unanimously agreed to make the Chairman of Axari Hotels & Towers, Etubom Arc Bassey Eyo Ndem, the ‘Grand Patron’ of the association.
Speaking during the celebration of Yala New Yam festival in Calabar, Dr Ogar said, “Etubom Bassey Ndem is non-tribalized and a down-to-earth personality of great repute. He is a goal-getter, a person who can reach anywhere, and friendly too.
“And, as an Etubom in the Palace of the Obong of Calabar, he’s a custodian of culture. Yala Progressive Union is a socio-cultural organization, non-partisan, apolitical. So, we find him very suitable to be with us, irrespective of the difference in language.
“And we can learn a lot of things between the two languages. His language and that of Yala. That is why there was a unanimous agreement that we should make him a patron. This is a history-making event, because the YPU Calabar has never had a patron. And now God has given us one.
“A patron is actually a chief advisor to the organization. When we seek for such advice, there may be some things which he himself will look and want to advise us on. Being a custodian of culture himself, there are other things which he may think of helping out on his own, even without our asking.”
In his remarks shortly after his investiture as grand patron, Etubom Ndem thanked Yala Progressive Union for the honour and promised to do his best to promoting those things that could be of mutual benefit to the Yala and Efik people.
“Thank you most sincerely for doing me this great honour. As an Efik man, to be invited to serve as Grand Patron of the Yala Progressive Union, an association of intellectuals and leaders of thought of the great Yala people, is an honour I deeply appreciate.
“I see it not merely as an individual honour, but as another link in an unbroken chain of neighbourly relations between two great peoples, whose interactions have been documented over many centuries. As Patron, I promise to continue to do my best to promote those things that will be of mutual benefit to both our communities,” he stated.
The Chairman of Axari Hotels and Towers, however appealed to the Yala people to continue to support Governor Bassey Otu’s bid for second tenure in 2027
“Many faces here today were there in 2023, when I led a team of elders and young people to Yala to collect the first cheques written by the North in reciprocation for our unwavering support of the North in 2019, when other parts were prevaricating.
“Now, 2027 is around the corner. And I know that the Yala people are a people of honour. I therefore trust that you will remember and uphold the solemn commitment that was made to support Senator Bassey Edet Otu, who is today the Governor of Cross River State.
“That is what neighbours do. That is what people of honour do. And that, ultimately, is what Progressive Union should mean,” he submitted.
