By Maxwell Effiong
“Journalists should throw light whenever there is confusion in the State. We have a lot of journalists who have been here with us since 1999; zoning has never been practiced in our State and I challenge you to stand up and speak to that fact.”
The above statement is credited to Sen. Sandy Onor, member representing Cross River Central Senatorial District at the 9th Senate, calling on the media to at all times speak the truth to counter lies.
Sen. Sandy made the assertion while addressing the pen pushers in Calabar about the controversies trailing zoning and power shift back to South.
He described journalists as “light,” saying “it would be completely difficult if not impossible to embark on a political journey without carrying the press along because the press represents light,” adding that, keeping quiet gives an impression that journalists are compromising with those who tell lies.
Vying for the office of Governor in 2023, Onor while unveiling his manifesto, promised he will partner with journalists, hold periodic interactions before, during and after elections; throughout the duration of his tenure if supported.
The aspirant declared, “as a Governor, I promise to do those things that will make Cross Riverians happy again” with special focus on the youth and women.
He reiterated, Cross Riverians can not afford to sacrifice confidence on the altar of zoning, positing zoning has never been practiced in the State since the advent of democracy in 1999.
In his words, “those who are promoting or spreading the message of zoning are either cowards and do not have what it takes to contest the party ticket under a free and fair process who are only interested in misleading our people in pursuit of their very own personal and selfish interest.”