By Elijah Ugani, The Lumine News
Christmas celebration for Cross River Northern Senatorial District took an unprecedented dimension as the duo of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Honorable Peter Akpanke teamed up to interface with their constituents of the Obudu/Bekwarra/Ogoja federal constituency to thank them for the support during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking during the interface, which was held in the different local government areas on Saturday, December 23rd, 2023, Sen. Jarigbe Agom described the support shown them during the last election as an act of God, wondered how they would have won an incumbent Governor, sitting House of Reps member, Chief of staff, eight commissioners, countless number of appointees, five local government chairmen, and about fifty councilors.
Jarigbe thanked especially the people of Obudu who truly demonstrated and proved that a good friend is better than a bad brother.
In his words: “I want to thank you all for the support. When I saw the support we got from Obudu despite contesting the election with your son who was a sitting governor, I told myself that Governor Ben Ayade must have performed abysmally poorly.
“We won the election in Obudu. I know what happened in Obudu Urban Ward 1, the same thing happened at Alege/Ubang Ward. They changed our results and I say allow them. Even if they had requested an additional five thousand votes, we would have gladly given them. That was exactly what happened at Yala, we dashed them an extra five thousand votes.
“In the last dispensation, I was working with two opposing members in the House of Representatives. Thank you for standing strong to reject appointments, mouth mouth-watering offers, even in the face of threats, and physical assault which has never happened in our political history.
“With this your brother Hon. Peter Akpanke, who you willingly voted to support me, I assure you that you’re yet to see the dividends of your trust in us. The days ahead promise to be great. Thank you all as I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.”
Hon. Peter Akpanke during the tour of Bekwarra, Obudu, and Obanliku local government areas, assured constituents of his readiness to serve them to the best of his ability.
Akpanke thanked God that Sen. Jarigbe Agom is undoubtedly a pacesetter and has been elected to mentor him and pledged to raise the needed alarm that will bring government attention to the plight of his constituents.
Speaking at his country home, the People’s Democratic Party PDP State Chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem Esq. thanked the trio of Sen. Jarigbe and Akpanke for finding time to celebrate Christmas with their constituents despite their busy schedules.
Mr. Ikem used the opportunity to congratulate and welcome Sen. Agom to the league of a very few Nigerians who successfully dismantled sitting governors, averred that he had previously warned former governor Ayade to leave the stage with honor, but he refused and today the rest is history.
The Chairman commended Hon. Peter Akpanke, for connecting with the constituents and charged him to maintain the tempo as constituents are in dear need of a representation that reassures them of a promising future even as the economy is biting hard.
Ikem noted that APC in Cross River Northern Senatorial District is in opposition and urged party faithful to go and celebrate Christmas as victors, and should extend a hand of benevolence to other parties.
The sum of 30 million naira and 900 bags of rice was shared with the 30 wards that make up the Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency as each political ward received 1 Million naira and 30 bags of rice.
