By Ikwen Atuaka
The All Progressives Congress last weekend awarded party chieftains in the Cross River State for their contributions toward the development of the party and the nation.
This was part of activities in what party sources say was a fence mending event which will be ‘iced’ with defections in Obudu.
But, despite initial run-ins with authorities over the usage of some public spaces, the APC members later converged at their secretariat which had suffered a minor attack by unknown persons who tore down a billboard and some other signage.
Among the awardees were; The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba who was absent, National Vice Chairman, South-South of the APC, Hilliard Eta, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani who was also absent and former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant, Jedy Agba.
Others included the Chairman, Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Odey Ochicha who was also the guber candidate for the APC in the 2015 general elections, former national publicity secretary of the PDP, Barrister Venatius Ikem, two term House of Representatives member, Paul Adah and party chieftain, John Upan Odey amongst others.
However, there was no defection as a chieftain told CrossRiverWatch that there was anxiety among members and that time was already lost in getting a new venue after been denied usage the Uti J.A Agba memorial stadium, Senator Liyel Imoke civic center and the Nigeria Union of Teachers secretariat hall.