By Patrick Obia
The Peoples Democratic party (PDP) has opined that it’ll leave no storm unturned to reclaim Cross River State from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It went on to assert that the guilty ones are always looking for where to hide but eventually gets smoked out.
The PDP South-South Zonal Chairman, Mr. Dan Obi, made the assertion in a one day stakeholders meeting in Calabar, the first capital of Nigeria.
Obi noted that, “Cross River has been a PDP State and as such, the South-South Governors and leaders will embark on very aggressive campaign to reclaim the State,” adding that “what happened in Akwa Ibom State will happen in Cross River.
“It is very clear that South-South is PDP, it is very clear that Cross River is PDP with or without Ayade. I have seen the courage of our elected people and it should be a lesson to other States; look at young Counselors, they are saying they are going nowhere; look at members of the State House of Assembly and of course the National Assembly, they are with us here, next time when you are choosing candidates choose well.
“You will agree with me, that it is wicked, uncharitable and unacceptable for anybody from the Niger Delta to move from PDP to APC. There is nothing APC will bring to the table to the South-South Zone. Going through the history of this State, it is very clear that PDP is here to stay; that mandate that has moved will come back.
“I can tell you, from what I have observed from this meeting, when I leave here I’m going to embark on a very aggressive campaign calling on the Governors and leaders of South-South to put their weight fully behind the leaders and members of the party in this State, so that we can reclaim this State. When someone is boasting about power, that person should be told that power belongs to God.
“Yes, a lot have been said about the State Secretariat, this is something I would not like to discuss in public. I will discuss with leaders of our party and will put in place strategy to reclaim our Secretariat. You see, when you’re in a situation where people who are afraid of their shadows; those who have something to hide are looking for where to hide. Just as it happened at Akwa Ibom, the same way it is going to happen in this State. I want to proclaim that we will reclaim Cross River, if the person decides to contest for Senate in another party, he will lose,” he said.
Governor Ben Ayade’s predecessor, Sen. Liyel Imoke, in a brief speech urged members not to be frightened by threats assuring that, the PDP will go to any length to ensure the right thing is done.
Imoke however, admitted PDP in the State had its own issues for the past few years but dished out hope.
“Please, I don’t want to hear that we are afraid because you’re protected; we will go to any length to make sure the right thing is done in Cross River State.
“For the party, it had its own issues in the last six years, we now need to correct that and this is a great opportunity for us to get back together. The beauty of all is that, we are united; it is not only that we are united, we are committed. We are our brother’s keeper; we have been together in this game. We have always been a grassroot party, we have always believe on the leadership that comes from the bottom to the top. Chairman Sir, we want to assure you; take the message back to your people that Cross River is PDP.”
On his part, Sen. Sandy Onoh, representing the Central Senatorial District said, those saying they are moving to the centre for the betterment of the State are deceiving themselves, adding people should not be pressurized because of appointment.
“It is just a couple of weeks ago that the Governor decided to commit a political suicide by leaving the party that gave him political bus and moving into a party that has destroyed Nigeria for real, so when he tells us he’s moving to the centre, those of us who are at the centre are asking him which centre; is it the one that has fallen apart?
“He went with an army of food eaters; food on the table politicians; if he reads the Bible he will understand that, man shall not live by food alone. The other day they were at Spar, sparing with themselves, I saw a reconciliation of irreconcilables; I saw political crocodiles of different sizes and shapes and of different propensities and tendencies; people who will never agree; it was an ugly show to those who knows Cross River and its politics. They were pretenders in the extreme, pretending to smile; that is what the military will call crocodile smile because very soon they will move by themselves.
“What the Governor is trying to do is to raise the psychology of fear to its maximum; he says PDP in Cross River is dead, if it were dead what are you doing with our Secretariat? It is men in this party who handed power to him, he should at least show this party some respect. We will ensure in this State, it’s one man one vote, one woman one vote.”
The Acting Caretaker Committee Chairman, Barr. Efiok Cobham, in a welcoming address said it is a “reckless statement for anyone to say Cross River State is now an to APC.”
High ranking members who attended the meeting include Hon. Essien Ayi, Sir. Arthur Jarvis, Hon. Peter Ekefre, Hon. Daniel Asuquo, Barr. Venatius Ikem, Sen. Bassey Ewa Henshew, Hon. Orok Otu Duke, Hon. Efa Esua, members of National and State House of Assembly, Counselors amongst other stakeholders.
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