In 2011, you ran for the Cross River North Senatorial seat and got it on a platter of gold against more popular candidates.
Both from your PDP primaries against more popular Paul Adah (now late), and Musa Adede, who was incumbent, as well as the opposition APP and ACN then, there were accusations of rampant rigging in your favor, yet no one took you to the tribunal.
In 2015, the governorship ticket of your party then, PDP was taken in broad daylight from Jedy Agba and handed to you in an arranged primaries at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar. You didn’t even print a single billboard but you became governor. Both Jedy Agba and Odey Ochicha of the APC said they won’t go to the tribunal since the governorship had gone to northern Cross River. In fact, Odey Ochicha was even denied several appointments by his party at the center because he refused to take you to the tribunal.
In 2019, you ran for a second term as Governor and after the election, Senator Owan Enoh, your challenger in APC went to the tribunal and later withdrew the petition and committed to supporting your government to enable you to concentrate.
In 2023, your greed wouldn’t allow you to retire in peace. You sought to return to the Senate a second time as retirement. Having failed as Governor for eight years, your people rejected you abysmally in an election that has been adjudged by the people as the most peaceful, transparent, and violence free, in Cross River North since 1999, and you are up and about talking about going to the tribunal with Senator Jarigbe?
Do you really think the salt is tasty only on one side of the mouth? What do you really think you did specially do deserve all the benefits of the doubt that people have been giving you? Do you really think if everyone that has a grouse with you decide to sue you after you lose your immunity in 34 days, you will have even a minute of sleep in a day or even the resources to pay your lawyers?
Even if that election is conducted ten times, Senator Jarigbe will still win you. He will also beat you in court like he did to you and your stooge, caretaker Senator. My only worry is that the tribunal will distract his attention and make him waste the money he would have used to continue penetrating our villages with projects, on paying lawyers.
If at any point you used to be heavyweight, it was before. You are now lightweight and you need to see that on time, make a retreat before you face more embarrassing moments.
You didn’t come from heaven with a seat in government. Everyone leaves when it is time and your time is now. I am talking to my Governor, Senator Ben Ayade. A word is enough for the wise. I don’t know if you are still wise sir.
Yours sincerely.
Citizen Agba Jalingo is the Publisher of CrossRiverWatch and a rights activist, a Cross Riverian, and writes from Lagos.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Agba Jalingo, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
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