OPINION: Obol Nnanna Arikpo: A Bridge Between Vision and Loyalty
By Mike Onah
In the unfolding politics of Cross River State, few voices carry the calm authority of Obol Nnanna Arikpo, Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Bassey Otu for the Central Senatorial District. His recent call to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — urging them to close ranks and work together for victory in the 2027 general elections — was more than a routine political statement. It was a reflection of the man himself: someone who has always believed that unity, not division, is the surest path to lasting achievement.
To those who know him only through news headlines, Obol Nnanna Arikpo is a political adviser doing the work of party mobilization. But to those of us who have walked alongside him, he is something far more personal — a mentor, an elder brother, and a steady, dependable friend.
I first came to know him as my senior at the prestigious Mary Knoll College, Ogoja, an institution known for shaping young men and women of discipline and character. Even then, the qualities that would later define his public life were already visible: a natural sense of responsibility, a warmth that put people at ease, and a quiet insistence on doing things the right way.
Over the years, that early promise has only grown. Obol Nnanna Arikpo has remained a constant presence in the lives of many young men across Cross River State — listening, guiding, and opening doors where he can. He carries himself not as someone above others, but as someone genuinely invested in the growth of those around him. It is this quality — being a good soul in the truest sense — that has earned him deep respect far beyond political circles.
For those fortunate enough to call him friend, he has been an adviser in difficult moments and a brother in the fullest meaning of the word — present, honest, and reliable.
Governor Bassey Otu's decision to appoint him Special Adviser on Political Matters was, in many ways, a recognition of years of quiet preparation. Leadership of this kind is rarely accidental; it is built over time through integrity, patience, and service to others. Those who have watched his journey see in him a man who was, in every sense, prepared for this responsibility — someone whose values align with the demands of the office he now holds.
As Cross River State moves toward the 2027 general elections, the call for APC members to unite behind a shared purpose is one that suits the moment. Coming from Obol Nnanna Arikpo, it carries the weight of someone who has spent a lifetime building bridges rather than walls.
His Excellency, Prince Bassey Otu, made a fitting choice in entrusting this role to him — a decision that reflects not just political calculation, but a genuine recognition of character, capability, and commitment to service.
Mike Onah writes from the tropics of Abakpa Ogoja
