Cross River Approves Stadium For Buhari’s Campaign As Violence Hits Odukpani

By Deborah Obot

The Cross River State government says it has approved the use of the U. J Esuene sports stadium for the campaign organization of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Buhari is scheduled to take his reelection campaign to Calabar, the Cross River State capital on Wednesday, January 30, 2018. And, the Chairman of the Cross River Sports Commission, Mr. Orok Duke who announced this during a press conference recently alongside members of the campaign organization of Mr. Buhari disclosed the decision.

Buhari was denied the use of the facility in 2015 with the State claiming the pitch and tracks were under reconstruction. He was later forced to use the sporting field of a secondary school at Atu street in Calabar South local government area.

The campaign council expressed its gratitude for the use of the facility.

Meanwhile, in Odukpani local government area, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attacking its members and destroying their properties.

Residents say the home of a PDP stalwart, Eka Etim Ekpa was set ablaze last week Monday while a vehicle belonging to another stalwart, Mr. Bassey Asuquo was vandalized on the same day.

The violence is the most recent of a string of violence with both political parties accusing the other of masterminding the acts while the billboard destruction wars has since simmered down.

The PDP members are accusing loyalists of the Deputy Guber candidate of the APC, Mr. Ekpo Okon for perpetrating the act claiming that since his defection to the APC from the PDP, the local government has not known peace.

As at press time, efforts to get comments from Mr. Ekpo Okon proved abortive as calls to his known phone line rang but were not taken.

Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade had recently accused the Guber candidate, Senator John Owan-Enoh of masterminding political violence, an allegation he denied with his campaign council director, Mr. Maurice Effiwat saying that Mr. Ayade was only stating actions he was known for.