By Our Correspondent
Governorship candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade has said that the ongoing campaign by the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and the party to usher him into office as the next governor of the state is not a transition program but continuity of ongoing developmental programs of the incumbent administration.
Senator Ayade made this remark at the PDP governorship campaign train berthed in Biase Local Government in the Central Senatorial district of the state.
While addressing a massive crowd of party supporters at the Biase Council secretariat, Ayade said: ““Imoke has put in place the necessary institutions and infrastructure required to kick start the transformation process and all we need to do now is take advantage of these efforts and harness the various resources to create wealth and build the needed capacity.”
The State governor, Senator Liyel Imoke while addressing the supporters charged the people of Biase Local Government Area to make the development of the area their priority.
Governor Imoke said the train was in the area to thank them for the huge support his administration had enjoyed from them for the last eight years and also to solicit their votes for his party. He enjoined them to ensure that they deliver all the party’s candidates with their votes.
Urging Biase people to shun the politics of stomach infrastructure which he said lacks the potential to bring about tangible development in the area, the governor sued: “You must take the collective interest of Biase very paramount, as any mistake you make today with your votes will prove very costly for the entire Biase people.”
Governor Imoke who had earlier addressed Biase Council of Chiefs at the council secretariat in company of the PDP governorship candidate and his running mate, Professors Ben Ayade and Ivara Esu, including the state chapter chairman, Ntufam John Okon and other party chieftains, said: “We did not come here to campaign but to do two things- to thank you for the kind of support I have enjoyed from you throughout my tenure. Without peace in Biase, I do not think I would have succeeded.
“Secondly, we are here to seek your blessing for our candidates and your sons who are going to represent us at the various elective offices at the state and national levels. We need your support, we need 100 per cent of your votes for Mr. President, Goodluck Jonathan, our next governor, Senator Ben Ayade and his running mate, your own son from Biase, Prof. Ivara Esu in the February 14 and 28 presidential and governorship elections respectively.”
Warning the people about the danger in not queuing behind the PDP candidates, Imoke reminded them that it was the first time Biase was having its own son as deputy governor, hence it was imperative for them to ensure total victory for the party in all the elections coming up in February.
According to him, “Understand that good roads, well equipped schools, health centres and everything we have done to better the lots of our people did not come from those representing you in Abuja. They are all from the governor in Calabar. So, if you make the mistake of casting your votes for those who have benefited from PDP but now in other parties, just know that they will not work with the governor you are going to elect. They will make things difficult for him. Vote for PDP at all levels to continue to attract these dividends to your communities.”
Responding on behalf of Council of Chiefs, Paramount of Biase His Royal Majesty, Onun Apostle Nicholas Odum, said: “We in Biase have never disappointed Imoke before and we will not disappoint you and the guests you have brought to us this time around. For us in Biase, we have known no other Party than the PDP. On behalf of my people, I assure you that we will deliver 100 per cent votes for president Jonathan, our governor to be, senator Ben Ayade and his running mate and other PDP candidates.”
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