I have heard some people say, Governor Ayade made me. For those that have been around, we all know that it is a lie from the pit of hell. I got in to politics, when there was no name like that in the politics of Cross River State. I heard of him in 2006, when I took a shot at the House of Representatives Seat and he came to run for the Senate. We both did not succeed.
In 2011, I was to run for the House of Representatives again but Governor Imoke asked me to support late Senator Rose Oko and I did. I was given an assignment to Coordinate the Presidential Elections for President Goodluck Jonathan, which I took up and delivered, while Gov Ayade was given a ticket to go to the Senate. We all worked for him. While in the Senate, I never visited or asked for any favors.
He came to vie for the Seat of Governor in 2015 and I was in the forefront of his campaigns, even when the establishment had not taken a decision on the likely Successor. Nobody saw that, as moving against the establishment at the time. Why did I support him? I was in the forefront of the agitation for Governorship moving to the North and he was the highest political office holder from the zone. Today, I am the highest political office holder from the constituency and I cant vie for the Senate seat because the Governor does not like my face. You guys should revert to a military regime and I will see reasons with your dictatorial approach.
I came to the National Assembly, with the support of Governor Liyel Imoke in 2015. He did not conscript me to vie but when I came out and he saw the momentum and support, he gave his own support. I am not among those who were spoon fed. I have always stayed with my people and held my own.
In 2019, when I was to vie for a second term, Governor Ayade was ready to throw me out but for the intervention of God.
The question for tale bearers is, where is this your story of Governor Ayade making me, from? Is it a figment of your food-on-the-table imagination? Let us be factual please! Power comes from God. No one gives.
Jarigbe Agom is the member representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Jarigbe Agom and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.