by crossriverwatch admin
To build up consensus across the state towards backing Senator Liyel Imoke, the Cross River State governor to achieve a smooth succession plan in 2015, leading PDP figures in the Central Senatorial District of the state on Sunday resolved to back the governor on his choice of a successor.
The meeting which held at the instance of the Members of the House of Representatives representing the three federal constituencies in the Central district, Hon Eko Bassey Ewa, Chris Eta, led by Honorable Owan Eno, representing Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency resolved that Senator Imoke as the leader of the PDP in the state deserves honor and respect and therefore should be allowed to choose his successor for the post of Governor of the state in 2015 without any rancor from any quarters.
“He was the one who brought the PDP flag from Abuja in 1998 and has since then been the light in the tunnel and as a governor he deserves the right to pick a successor to succeed him”. Hon Owan Eno asserted.
Hon. Owan alleged that clandestine meetings are being held by some faceless people to subvert the plan by Senator Imoke just because they want to plant their own stooge as governor but he promised that those plans will not succeed.
“Governor Imoke means well for the state and has massive support of the party members and where he stands is where everyone of us here will stand so let no one delude himself that he will subvert the plan of the governor for a successor of his choice”.
He said for the purpose of equity and political fair play, the position of governor has been zoned to the Northern Senatorial District by the PDP so everyone in the party must queue behind the governor as he makes consultation on whom he wants to succeed him.
“He has made a pronouncement and we support that stand and are ready to wait for him at the appropriate time to make his choice and we queue behind that choice”.
Hon. Owan said several publications in the newspapers have alleged that the meeting “of today (Sunday) was called by the new PDP which they say has berthed in the State which is a way of discrediting us but everyone knows we in Cross River State are solidly behind Senator Imoke who is our leader and Bamanga Tukur who is the chairman of our great party”.
Hon. Bassey Eko Ewa said Senator Imoke has been championing the cause of uniting the PDP at the national level and so should not be distracted at home by people who out of their personal ambition want to destabilize his political plan.
“Most initiatives by President Goodluck Jonathan to bring unity to the party is being driven by our governor so he needs the total support of everyone in the party and not to be clouded by personal ambition of some people.”
Hon. Ewa challenged anyone who wants to dare the will and direction of the party in 2015 to go ahead and do so because he would meet with total failure.
“Most of us here are his products and have been beneficiaries of his good will since 1998 and by the way who thinks that he can stand against the direction of the party in the state if His Excellency says this is what I want and the person thinks otherwise?” He queried.
Col. Pam Ogar Rtd, the former military governor of Kwara state who is also a chieftain of the party in the Central District said there is no disputing the fact that the next governor of the state will come from the North and “We, the leaders of the North and Central have held over five meetings to fine tune plans for a smooth succession in 2015 and mind you we have the support and backing of people outside the state who feel it is time for an Ogoja governor in the state in 2015”.
He said some time in the past efforts were made to have a governor from Ogoja but that did not come to pass but this time, the entire people of the state have given their support to the Northern district.
In attendance were elected officials of the PDP both at State and national, political office holders, chairmen of councils, vice chairmen, newly elected chairmen and their vice, chapter chairmen and leaders of the party in the six local government areas of the central senatorial district.
The many speakers all took turns to voice their backing for the governor to be allowed to pick a successor.
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