By Emman Unah
Mr. Chris Agara, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in Cross River State has said that he would make a pronouncement on his political ambition at the appropriate time.
Mr. Agara stated this while speaking with journalists in Calabar following prolonged speculations that he intends to contest for the Senate in the Central Senatorial District, a position currently occupied by Senator John Owan Enoh.
Chris Agara’s perceived political ambition and his closeness to Governor Ayade has been fingered by many as the reason for the fall out between the governor and Senator Owan Enoh, forcing the later to decamp from the PDP to the APC ealier this year.
While on his recent tour of his projects in the central and northern parts of the state, the governor and his entire convoy made stops in Chris Agara’s house to eat, while on their way to the north and while coming back to Calabar.
He does not hold any position in government but he is a close friend of the governor that one of his top aides has described proverbially as “eczema on the governor’s skin”. They are that close.
But Agara told journalists that it is premature to say if he would throw his hat into the ring or not.
He identified greed as the reason some politicians in Nigeria refuse to relinquish power after they have served their mandates by going ahead to contest for other positions without allowing others the chance to serve their people.
“It is common to see a person serve as governor for two terms and after that, he goes ahead to contest for the Senate even when the electorate no longer want him, he manipulates the electoral process and gets himself back to power and that is clear sign of greed”.
He said devolution of powers is not only in decentralizing power from the central government to the federating units but also among the politicians who should give up power after they have served their terms because doing otherwise is imposing themselves on the people.
According to him, the political process in Nigeria has evolved to become more functional with majority of the people becoming politically conscious and knowing those who are serving public interest and those who are serving their personal interest.
He warned that in 2019, those who are clinging unto power for self interest would be voted out by the people.
Agara commended the governor for his effort in providing jobs through political appointments which he said has exerted ripple effects on the economy of the state.
“I am not just impressed but extremely impressed with the efforts of Governor Ayade in infrastructural development and job creation under the prevailing circumstances because he inherited a lot of debts and the paucity of funds available to the state compared to his predecessors, he has done very well”. He said.
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