by crossriverwatch admin
Prof. Ben Ayade, the Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District in the National Assembly and one of the favourite for the ruling party’s 2015 governorship ticket, on Sunday (yesterday) handed three new Honda CRV jeeps to People Democratic Party PDP women leaders from three local governments in the Cross River North Senatorial District.
The colourful event which began at about 12:30pm at Ayade’s prestigious Mega Hilton Hotel, Obudu had several dignitaries present including the state commissioner for local government affairs, Chief Peter Ojie, former Obudu Chapter Chairman of PDP, Mr. Spokesman Agogo, Director of News, CRBC, Dr. Shega Abang, the Secretary of the Obudu local government council, the Deputy Leader of the Obudu Legislative Council amongst others.
The Senator was absent as he was said to be attending a function in the United States of America.
Crossriverwatch also gathered that he has used the opportunity to visit the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who is on leave in Maryland, United States of America.
While presenting the vehicles to the recipients, former PDP Deputy State Chairman and now Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Peter Ojie, remarked that the vehicles were in appreciation of the support of the women for the political aspiration of Senator Ben Ayade before, during and after his election as Senator.
He said the Senator was giving the vehicles to the women as a token of his appreciation for their support for him and commitment to the party.
The recipients Messrs Marta Abang (Ogoja), Roseline Lifu (Yala) and Elizabeth Adie were overjoyed by the action of the senator and promised to remain more committed to the engineer turned politician and the party.
One of the leaders of the ruling party from the zone however told crossriverwatch that: “all of these are calculated moves by the Senator towards his 2015 governorship ambition. He has to continue to openly deny he is contesting the governorship come 2015 for political reasons. But work is ongoing to ensure we are not taken unaware. More of these kinds of gestures should be expected from the senator as we approach election year because the governor has now cleared the coast for the north and that is happening at a time a very competent person is also available from the zone”, He said.
But sources close to the Senator deny that the vehicles give-away was connected to his 2015 ambition.
The Senator’s Media aide, Mr. Eric Akpo told crossriverwatch that “remember that the senator has not declared to run for any position in 2015. He is still concentrating on his task as a senator. He has given himself a target and he says if that target is met, he may contest for the governorship in 2015 but for now, he wants to remain focused and see how he delivers on his mandate as a senator.
“So it will be unfair to connect a gesture which is a fulfilment of a promise he long made to the women leaders to a 2015 ambition that has not even been declared. He promised the women leaders long before the last election that he will provide mobility for them as is the case with their colleagues in other zones and that is the promise he fulfilled. It is not connected to 2015”.
A former Chapter Chairman of the PDP in Obudu and a caucus member of the party Mr. Spokesman Agogo, who was at the presentation of the vehicles, told crossriverwatch that there is nothing wrong even if the senator decided to use the occasion to mobilize for 2015.
Mr. Agogo confirmed to crossriverwatch that Senator Ayade will be contesting the governorship of the state come 2015. He said “Ayade is the only person that has courage right now to begin empowerment for the people and to muster courage to show that he wants a take at 2015. Others are cowards. He is the most qualified amongst them all and he will be contesting in 2015. Take that from me and quote me, he will be contesting the governorship in 2015”.