by crossriverwatch admin
The Jedy Solidarity Movement, JSM has commended Governor Liyel Imoke for not succumbing to pressure to anoint his successor come 2015.
Governor Imoke had during a visit by the State’s Elders’ Consultative Forum to the Government House Calabar recently said he was particularly disturbed by pressure from some people urging him to anoint his successor. He said he had never been part of a process that foisted candidates on the people, even as he described such arrangement as undemocratic.
According to him the people should own the process that throws up people for elective positions.
He said, “I have seen publications where people say let the governor announce his candidate. For me, that is not democracy and it is not the right kind of politics. I believe strongly that even that process of producing the governor should be one that all of us own or can lay claim to. We should allow candidates who will say that they have met with the senatorial zones, elders, the caucuses and groups and we have discussed, and then the people will assess them based on their credentials, capacity and vision.”
In a statement signed by the coordinator of JSM, Mr. Utsu Atsu and made available to CrossRiverWatch, the group
applauded the governor’s statement and said that: “By that declaration, the governor has once again strengthened his credentials as a democrat who has a large heart to accommodate the thinking of the majority.
“Being fully aware of the democratic credentials of governor Imoke and his penchant for due process and consensus building, we had actually been wondering if the governor was going to cave in to pressure from some quarters to short change democracy. But as usual, Senator Imoke has demonstrated characteristic courage by coming out to say that the ground is level for all aspirants to go out there and test their popularity.
“We want to applaud the governor and assure him that the path he has taken is the only path that can strengthen democracy in our state. We salute his courage and also want to encourage all aspirants to work hard and test their popularity with the electorate rather wait on the flanks for undue advantage.”
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