By: Fabian Okwajie
A WELCOME AWAKENING IN CROSS RIVER CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
The recent stirrings and vocal expressions
Young citizens in the Central District are becoming increasingly curious and impatient. They see visible signs of development and active representation in other districts and are beginning to ask, “Why not us?” This growing concern reflects a healthy democratic spirit. People are beginning to understand that representation is not a title, but a responsibility, one that must translate into visible, tangible benefits for the people.
One of the underlying reasons the Central Senatorial District has remained politically quiet is because the electorate, especially in past years, often paid little or no attention to the activities of those elected to represent them. However, this is beginning to change. Today, many youths are using social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with the status quo, voicing their displeasure at the lack of responsiveness and engagement by their elected officials. This is not just noise, it is a collective call for better governance.
From my perspective, every election cycle presents an opportunity for new aspirants to emerge and challenge the incumbents. This is both normal and healthy in any thriving democracy. However, tensions often arise when supporters of various candidates allow emotions to override decorum, sometimes resulting in personal attacks or unnecessary animosity between political actors. We must remember: competition in democracy is not war, it is a contest of ideas, vision, and capacity.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, one name already making significant waves in Central is that of Hon. Oden Ewa, the Commissioner of Special Duties. His interest in contesting for the Senate seat is, in my opinion, a welcome development. It introduces democratic competition, stimulates public debate, and most importantly, puts the current occupant of the office, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, on notice that the people are watching, and that power must be earned, not assumed.
Hon. Oden Ewa is gradually becoming a household name in the district not just for his ambition, but because he represents a growing movement of individuals who believe in questioning systems, seeking transparency, and holding leaders accountable. Regardless of the outcome of the 2027 elections, he has already made his mark, because it takes boldness and courage to step up and challenge the norm.
Imagine for a moment that no one like Hon. Ewa had stepped forward. The current senator could easily assume that the people are content, that silence equals satisfaction, and that no one dares to question him. But democracy thrives when people rise to demand better, and Hon. Oden Ewa’s emergence is a powerful example of that.
It is important to note that not everyone who challenges the status quo should be seen as a troublemaker or a coward. Questioning leadership is not cowardice, it is civic responsibility. We should not label those who think differently or ask uncomfortable questions as enemies. Rather, we should see them as active participants in shaping a better future.
Personally, I do not support insults or verbal attacks on leaders. However, I fully support and encourage citizens especially the youth to demand accountability and transparency. After all, leaders are public servants, and their mandates were given to them by the people, not inherited as a birthright.
The politics of the Central Senatorial District has, for too long, remained too quiet, too passive, and that has not served us well. I am encouraged to see young people waking up, asking questions, and challenging the narrative that to speak out is to commit a sin. Ironically, the same leaders who are offended when asked to give account of their stewardship are the ones who will, in a few months, return to those same people to ask for their votes.
In the northern part of Cross River State, many aspirants have already begun to indicate interest in various positions. Political activity is alive and well. But in the Central District, hesitation still lingers. Many potential candidates are afraid of backlash, character assassination, or political intimidation. That is why I commend Hon. Oden Ewa not just for aspiring, but for daring to step into the arena and say, “I am capable of representing my people.”
At the end of the day, the power lies with the people. When they speak either through their applause or their silence, they speak on behalf of democracy itself. Let no one underestimate the voices of the people, because they alone carry the mandate to choose who leads them.
True leadership is not about manipulating the system or silencing criticism. It is about leading well, listening attentively, and responding with integrity. If the people complain and their leaders dismiss those complaints as mere noise, they do so at their own peril. Because the day of reckoning “Election Day” will come, and when it does, they must accept the verdict of the people with humility.
Fabian Okwajie Writes from Boki LGA
