by crossriverwatch admin
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday rounded off campaigns for the September 21 local government elections with rallies in the five council areas of Obanlikwu, Yala, Ogoja, Bekwara, and Obudu to solicit for votes.
The campaign which was led by Senator Ben Ayade representing the northern senatorial district was more or less a replication of the Calabar Carnival as it was characterised by dancing and musical interludes.
Speaking in Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area, Senator Ayade said the PDP under the governor of the state, Senator Liyel Inoke has delivered the dividends of democracy through good roads, hospital infrastructure and human resource development and therefore the councilorship and chairmenship candidates presented by the party should be given over whelming victory by the people.
He said his programs for his constituents since he became Senator have been tailored towards giving the people packages that would position them financially and drive away poverty.
“As someone who has seen extreme poverty and now live in wealth my priority is to assist my people to overcome the pangs and scourge of poverty such that beyond the widows of financial aid, the farmers empowerment scheme and the free health care partnership, my most significant priority is to ensure many youths gain education through scholarship”.
Ntufam John Okon, the chairman of PDP in the state said the party had to adopt the method it used in the election of its councilorship and chairmanship candidates to ensure peace and harmony in the party without leaving integrity and merit off the cards.
“We did not discriminate against anybody in the selection of our candidates but we had to use certain yardsticks to ensure peace and harmony in the party.”
The party chairman called on party members to come out enmasse on Saturday to vote for the party’s candidates while assuring that everyone would be taken along.
“But let me asssure you that anyone who votes against our party for any reason should better stay where he thinks his interest would be more protected because we would not accept him back”.
He presented the chairmanship candidate, Mr. Mike Usibe and the fourteen councilorship candidates comprising eleven men and three women.
Mr. Mike Usibe the party’s chairmanship candidate said he was humbled by the high turnout of people to attend the rally and assured that he would be a servant of the people in the true sense of the word and keep his door open to all.
“I have submitted myself to serve and that is what I will do no matter party affiliation or political interest because our focus is on the development of our area and improve the welfare of our people”.
He called on the people to allow peace and harmony to prevail in the local government area so that everyone would feel free to contribute towards the growth of the local government area which is the only home all the Yala people have.
Mr. Eddy Yache, the chapter chairman said since the inception of the present executive of the party in the local government area, fragmentation and factionalization which used to be prevalent in the local government area has become history.
“One thing we have achieved in this place is that peace that has eluded us for a long time has now returned and all the factions are now history”.
He assured Senator Ayade and the PDP state chairman that party members have been effectively mobilized to come out and vote on the 21st of September to ensure landslide victory.
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