When not surprisingly the Buhari led coalition of the change mantra APC swept out the PDP federal Government and most of the states in the country, it became obvious that some states like Cross River state that succeeded in keeping an all PDP victory through a very stiffly contested and controversial delegate elections and the eventual “miscarriage” primaries will create a very big divide in the ranks of the PDP “family”.
Before the general elections, any politically wise individual should have seen the Liyel/Obioma Imoke’s “autocratic” fist manifesting in the gross disregard and disrespect for political sanity in the manner in which they single-handedly selected Chairmen of all the councils, councillors, supervisors and even PAs to the above.
With all the political wizardry of Venatius Ikem who championed the Goddy Jedy Agba’s campaign, I wonder how he didn’t see that a system that succeeded in installing every office holder in the state would have worked in their favour.
Not to forget, remember nearly all PDP party executives were also handpicked and installed by the same Liyel machinery.
For reference purpose, a lot of people had thought that after the “humiliation” out of the race for the likes of Ndoma Egba, Bassey Otu, Jedy Agba and many others, that a new platform would have been used to give Cross River state a feeling of opposition but that was not to be.
For funny reasons, Jedy Agba opted to be the “money bag” in the Ayade campaign culminating as expected, in Ayade beating the very “weak” Odey Ochicha of APC who, while mobilizing his people in Bekwara LGA for the continuous voter registration, said he was going to win the election regardless of the fact that his LGA has the least number of registered voters in Cross River state because, “Jesus Christ came from the least tribe of Israel” yet became the greatest.
He choose to run his entire campaign on the “Ps” on Facebook. The APC was a disaster in Cross River state. Sometimes I wonder what Usani Usani was thinking. I knew he never wanted to win any elections.
His opposition style has always been to remain in the opposition. Not just him! All of the opposition people in Cross River state derived their satisfaction from the pride of how long they have been in the opposition.
Chief Obono-Obla for instance did not support any APC candidate in the state. Never did he mention his party’s governorship candidate in terms of support. That is how dead the party was.
So that irrespective of the wave of change, this was the poorest outing of the opposition in Cross River state since 1999. Then came the explosion of the Labour Party, at a point people thought the Labour party would have been the alternative for the very ready Jedy Agba supporters to test their popularity, that was not to be; they were disastrously disappointed.
Jedy will not contest election with his Obudu brother….so brotherly! Whatever the main reason was or as my friend Inok Solomon had “prophesied”, “Jedy Agba is the John the Baptist of Cross River North making the path for a northern governor- Ayade”.
However, with all the “humiliation” and irrespective of the fact that the likes of Venatius Ikem had openly detested Jonathan and campaigned for a Buhari presidency, it was surprising the “ungodly” romance that ensued between Venatius Ikem and Ayade.
Maybe the promise of ‘we will run the state together’ kept them in “bed.” Obviously, Ayade put some thorns under the sheets. Vena is a survivor. This man is a “cat” when you think he is “finished” another life emanates.
I knew a time will come for this exodus. I knew Cross River state will soon experience a broom revolution. Yes, the boom is here. I had anticipated this exodus. The visit of a delegation from Cross River led by Ndoma Egba to the President last year was a clear indication.
Buhari did not hide it. He said he was wooing Cross Riverians. I hope however those who are “floating” in this fantasy are aware of the governor’s body language. His very large tendency to follow the exodus. I hope they know the structures of the APC will be handed over to him “when” he joins you.
Hope you Know Liyel is coming? It happened with Bafarawa of Sokoto and Shekarau of Kano. Party structures were taken from them. Ayade will become the leader of the party APC.
Will the wailing continue in the APC? But I thought Mr. Venatius Ikem, who knew this so well would have stayed back and allow the “clowns” to jump ship while you stay back and build the PDP.
This has been his theory. What happened? The appointments did not favour him camp? There is a test however. A test to prove the seriousness of the Israelites leaving Egypt for the Promised Land.
A test for the APC. In your exodus, there is a Local government elections this year 2016. Let’s test the system. Let’s test the change mantra in Cross River State.
There shouldn’t be an excuse. No boycotting. I wish everyone on the ship of change a safe journey.
Seasons greetings to everyone.