CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor George Goking last Thursday March 13, challenged political analyst Richard Heydarian to visit Cagayan de Oro after the latter compared Mindanao’s human development index to that of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Goking, who chairs the committees on Trade and Commerce as well as Ways and Means, strongly disagreed with Heydarian’s assessment, calling it a misrepresentation of Mindanao’s progress.

"For his lack of knowledge — sa Bisaya pa, nakaminus sa Mindanao — I really do not agree with him," Goking said.

HURT. Cagayan de Oro City Councilor George Goking on March 13 challenged media personality-turned-political analyst Richard Heydarian to visit Cagayan de Oro to better understand Mindanao’s human development index. Goking’s challenge came after Heydarian compared Mindanao’s development to that of Sub-Saharan Africa. He also offered to cover Heydarian’s travel and accommodation costs if he accepted the invitation. Photo by Shiela Mae Butlig

To prove his point, he invited Heydarian to visit Cagayan de Oro and see the region’s development firsthand, even offering to cover his travel and accommodation expenses if he accepted the challenge.

"I would like to challenge him in a friendly manner, because sometimes, small knowledge is very dangerous," Goking added.

Heydarian, in a recent Facebook video titled “Development gap and injustice,” discussed Mindanao’s human development index and called for more support and appreciation for the region.