By Patrick Obia
Code 888, a non-partisan pressure group championing equity, justice, and fairness as well as equitable power rotation across the three senatorial districts in Cross River State, is set to honor the outgoing Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade, and 20 others.
The group disclosed this in a press briefing held in its Secretariat, Big Qua Shopping Mall opposite UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar, where members unanimously agreed to honor some selected key stakeholders who supported the Back-to-South campaign that enthroned Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, the Governor-elect.
The Director-General of the group, Engr. Maurice Nkong said they rigorously and carefully selected the stakeholders who stooped to ensure the Back-to-South agenda was achieved.
“As a group, we want to honor some critical stakeholders whose sacrifice we have noticed as a group. Practically speaking you cannot honor everyone who has worked towards the fulfillment of this agenda but we just think that we should put it down in history that they are people who can say a thing and stand by it all through the course.
“We all know how the election and politicking went. There are people who said south in the night and later on they were saying central. For those who stood their ground, and gave their resources, and energy to ensure that the Back-to-South agenda is actualized, we want to as a group recognize them as the heroes of the Back-to-South; we want it to go memory lane; they stood and fought to the end, they led battle from the front, not behind.”
No Sentiments In Selection
Fielding questions from Journalists about the processes that led to the selection of the stakeholders, the DG said it was done devoid of political sentiment as the group is not clung to a political party but the ideology of power rotation across the three senatorial districts in the State.
“This is not a party affair, we are a political pressure group, we are nominating people, one per LGA. This honor cuts across party lines,” he cleared.
He continued: “The selection is based on the reality on the ground devoid of sentiments. We know stakeholders who sacrificed their energy and put in everything possible to ensure it comes to pass. We have nominations from every LGA according to how we felt their support from the LGA; it is by merit, not sentiment.
“We have 21 persons to be honored including the Governor as the superhero. We want to see men of goodwill stand on the course of the truth,” he said, disclosing the event is billed on Wednesday 31 May 2023 by 5pm at Transcorp Hotel.