by crossriverwatch admin
Last week I wrote that there is a subtle leadership crisis rocking the Cross River Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, concerning which part of the State should produce its Governorship Candidate for the 2015 elections.
Until this moment nobody has refuted my story or permutations. The PDP has maintained a studied silence. Governor Imoke has not said anything. Gershom Bassey whom I allege is a key figure in the crisis has not said anything either.
It is certainly true that I hit the nail with precision! In logic, when someone alleges something against you, you are obligated to say something to refute what that person has said otherwise if you keep quiet it will be taken that you have accepted or acquiesced to what is alleged against you.
The truth of the matter is that Gershom Bassey has broken ranks with the leadership of the PDP in the State concerning the area that should produce the candidate of the Party for next election. Gershom Bassey has told Governor Imoke point blank that he will seek the nomination of the PDP as the candidate for governorship of the Party.
Gershom Bassey is insisting because in 1999, himself, former Governor Donald Duke and Governor Imoke mutually agreed that each of them would be Governor of the State for eight years. Donald Duke was Governor from 1999-2007; Governor Imoke from 2007-2015 and Gershom Bassey from 2015-2023. The ‘three wise men’ of Cross River State agreed that they will lead the State for 24 years!
So Gershom Bassey is not morally wrong to seek to run for governor-ship of the State. Nobody should condemn him. He is manifesting the intention of the Trioka that seeks to control the vortex of political power in the State for 24 years!
My heart goes with the hapless people of the Northern Senatorial District of the State who are apparently at the receiving end of a deadly political chess game of these ruthless and manipulative political chess players who will stop at nothing to achieve their political goals and ambition.
It is apparent Governor Imoke has a soft spot for Gershom Bassey, he is his friend and the duo have come a long time. Governor Imoke knows that what Gershom Bassey is doing is in accordance with what was mutually agreed 15 years back.
Governor Imoke keeps on assuring the North that he is with them, when actually he is not. Governor Imoke has found himself in a quagmire. He is torn between friendship and doing justice and equity to the people of the North.
Governor Imoke has encouraged four people from the North to seek nomination in the Party as candidates for Governorship. Pundits dismissed this as playing to the gallery. Governor Imoke has barely 18 months to run out his second term in office.
So he is more or less a lame duck. I foresee a rebellion in his Party if he tries to push hard for a Northern Candidate. The hawks led by Gershom Bassey are preparing for a show down with the Governor in the event he insists on doing the right thing.
One of them is his Aide from Obudu. However, Governor Imoke knows very well that none of these people will match Gershom Bassey who has been tactically handed over the entire party machinery in the Southern Senatorial District of the State comprising Seven Local Government Areas.
While Gershom Bassey has his structure intact, his opponents from the North are divided and in horrible state of disarray. Gershom Bassey boasts of a huge war chest that will be deployed to woo delegates to his side. His company recently won a billion naira contract to build Ikom Water Project for Cross River Water Board Limited.
Undoubtedly in the Primary Election to nominate the candidate for the Party, Gershom Bassey will surely take aspirants from the North to the cleaners. The members of the Party from the North will be torn between four aspirants. They will surely divide their votes.
However Gershom Bassey will have votes from the South intact, in his kitty, to have an edge. The battle ground will be the Central Senatorial District of the State made up of Six Local Government Areas, which will be the deciding factor.
The Central Senatorial District will surely be more sympathetic to the case of the North but its support is not a sure bet. Money will play a big role in deciding whether the Central will stick with the North or go with Gershom Bassey.
Gershom Bassey is reputed to have a huge war chest that he will readily and overwhelmingly deploy to ward off the political onslaught of gladiators from the North in the battle to decide where the Central goes.
Politicians believe in the politics of cash and carry. They do not believe in any principles or noble ideals. All they believe in is money and cutting of deals to feather their interest. We should be left in no doubt that money would be used to curry political favours and support. Appointments will be used.
I know a member of the House of Representatives that is angling to be Deputy Governorship candidate to Gershom Bassey from the Central. So I foresee Gershom Bassey having an edge in the PDP Primary Election except the North puts it house in order.
I do not see that happening. There is so many vested interest covertly at work to ensure that the North remains perpetually divided. I know some people are trying to exploit the subtle political rivalry between Ogoja/Yala and Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku.
The alternative is for the North to move en masse to the All Progressives Congress. But the North is unfortunately not playing smart politics. There are almost 11 aspirants from the North clamouring for a single ticket in the PDP.
One will have thought that they will use the binoculars to look very well in order to make appropriate and wise political decisions to see that their future is not with the PDP but with APC.
Let him that has ears hear that ‘wisdom is profitable for the wise’!
Okoi Obono-Obla
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