By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU & EBELE ORAKPO
That evening at the Kolanut Conference and Event Centre, Barrack’s Road , Calabar, was blessed with heavy downpour. But it didn’t dampen the spirit. The spirit of conviviality, of recognition and appreciation, which the people’s paradise city of Calabar wanted to shower on its governor. That was exactly what the evening represented as quality citizens and admirers of Liyel Imoke, Governor of Cross River State, was being honoured.

The occasion was the public presentation of a book titled, Born to Serve, a biographical inroad into the short but eventful political life of Imoke. The book, written by two eminent journalists, Enuma Chigbo and Barret Ejiro, is a befitting birthday gift to the Governor, who turned 50 last year.

The previous day, it had rained heavily and the soothing wind had whetted the appetite of the huge admirers of Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, who dared the rain to witness the planned public presentation of the book.

*Gov. Liyel Imoke autographing a book for Donald Duke

Before the commencement of the programme, the well decorated event centre, venue for the programme, was lit up with soft caressing poetry incantation accompanied by an equally soft musical tune:

Kings and Stars are born and today, we celebrate a Star born to serve.

This poetic rendering was immediately followed with a brief remark by the  chairman of the event, Senator Ndoma-Egba, who  said that politicians live paradoxical life. In his view, the politician is seen to represent most times, what and who he is not.

He, therefore, commended the effort of the writers for writing the book, adding that biographical intervention is very important for politicians as , “ it helps them to balance  the reality before them.”

Continuing, he said, “the politician lives a life of a paradox and  goes through many temptations.”

Ndoma- Egba’s remark was followed by a very dramatic rehearsal of the process of writing the book. Tagged, The making of Born to Serve, this segment of the presentation featured a hot seat engagement of popular  former  NTA diva, Blossom Ubani and Smart Usan, Cross River State House Correspondent, who as the interviewers that sourced responses used for the writing of the  book, shared their experiences about the whole engagement.

The five minutes chat was a kind of recap of the essential novel technique which the writers employed in writing the book. The two interviewers told the fun-filled  audience  how their principal, Imoke was tried by all the people spoken to from the Peoples paradise city of Calabar through the  Emir of Borgu’s  palace near the Kainji Dam, down to the Canaan land of Abeokuta.”

In his own sharp and condensed review of the book, Senator Anietie Okon described the book’s subject, Imoke as “a promise keeper,” adding that, “Imoke’s early  marriage singled the first element of Liyel as a promise keeper.” About the book, he said, “it is a book written from the middle.”

“The book celebrates the man not because of who he is, not because of his service to his people. No. but the book must be seen as an important contribution to political biography in Nigeria,” he said

Presented under the able Chairmanship of Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, the event had in attendance former Governor of Cross River State and his wife, Donald and Onari Duke, Senator Anietie Okon, State Chairman of PDP, Cross River State, Ntufam John Okon , Senator Segun Bamigbetan, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw and Emir of Borgu Kingdom who was represented by the Galadima of Borgu Kingdom, amongst others.

In his response, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke re-emphasised the need for mentorship inculcation among the youths.

While thanking those who attended the book-signing ceremony, he said that all the money realised from the sale will go into the Bridge Leadership Foundation, a foundation founded by the governor for the purpose of mentoring the youths of Cross River State.

“I was very excited that the foundation was beginning to take shape and help impact the youths, providing them with opportunities and an appreciation of what leadership is all about and a lot of mentoring.”

He also thanked those who have signed up as mentors to the foundation and have been assigned mentees, and appealed for more people to join.

“I will appreciate it if more of us sign up to mentor these young people because I have the privilege of interacting with young people and young people of today are not exactly the same as we were when we were young so a lot of mentoring needs to be done.

They are sharper, more intelligent, sometimes they are more exposed but there are some issues that relate to values which I think we still have an edge over them. It is important that we mentor these young men and women so that we can provide them with an opportunity to do better than we are doing.
It is important to me that the foundation achieves the objectives and that is why the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to support the work of the foundation.” Imoke said.

Also speaking at the event, the Emir of Borgu Kingdom, Senator Haliru Dantoro represented by the Galadima of Borgu Kingdom noted that Gov. Imoke has the capacity to make and keep loyal friendships from far and near.