By Jonathan Ugbal
Renowned activist and civil rights lawyer, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla yesterday Friday, October 30 clocked 49 with professional, political and business associates as well as friends joining many others to felicitate and wish him a happy birthday.
A former National Assembly aspirant in the northern senatorial district under the People’s Democratic Party in the last general elections, Ray Ugba Morphy composed a poetic piece in honor of the All Progressives Congress chieftain.
Describing Obla as “an agent of probity, a beacon of sanity, a harbinger of objectivity”, Ugba wished him brighter days ahead “may your days be long and your night peaceful, may you see your children’s children and may your day dawn in joy for as a man does so shall he reap”.
He also added that “you sow truth so shall you reap light and promotion by light”.
Also a rights activist and founder CrossRiverWatch, Agba Jalingo described Obla as “The conscience of the state that over the years, regardless of the unfair treatment has continuously agitated for social justice”.
In a similar vein, Ifere Paul, a Cross Riverian based in China on his Facebook account described Okoi as a “rare Nigerian with patience and persistence” adding that “when they say Nigerians have no patience, I refer to you.
“And when they say Nigerians easily surrender, you give me a reason to disagree… your love for your State is unquenchable, your passion for a just society knows no bound, you are completely against injustice, you are change”.
For Kalita Aruku, a youth leader of the APC in Cross River State, “I wish him well, he is a great mind that stands for what is right”.
Obla who is a lawyer by profession is known for his continuous critique of sitting governments using available legal means and facts available as well as deploying his constitutional right to sue and petition erring public officers. He is also the traditional ruler of his community in Ugep, Yakurr LGA.
Most recent is his petition against the immediate past Cross River governor, Liyel Imoke for multiple charges ranging from embezzlement, fraud, misappropriation among others.