2023: Cowards, Lazy Bones Are Promoting Zoning In C-River – Sen Onor

• We must not sacrifice competence for zoning

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial Districts in the National Assembly, Professor Sandy Ojang Onor has dismissed calls for zoning as the brainwork of lazy minds and political lackeys in the state political space.

According to the Senator elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), those promoting the zoning arrangement are clearly cowards with no capacity and political capital to contest and win their parties’ tickets in a free and fair process.

Addressing a media briefing at the Ernest Etim Bassey NUJ Press Centre in Calabar, the Cross River state capital on the burning issue of zoning, the lawmaker challenged the protagonists to come up with records that can prove him wrong, insisting that Cross River has never adopted zoning as a political policy.

He asserted that since the advent of the current democratic experience, Donald Duke, who emerged governor in 1999, and Liyel Imoke who succeeded him in 2007, were never products of zoning as being claimed in some quarters.

Onor, who was Cross River State Commissioner For Agriculture between 2010 and 2011, said the state cannot afford to sacrifice competence on the altar of zoning, adding; ”Zoning has never, and I repeat, has never been practiced in our state since the advent of the current democratic experience in 1999.

“Therefore, we cannot afford to sacrifice competence on the altar of zoning, as we prepare to choose a candidate for the governorship or any other election come 2023.

“Those promoting and spreading the message of zoning are cowards, who do not have what it takes to contest the party’s ticket under a free and fair process or are ethnic jingoists only interested in misleading our people in pursuit of their very personal and selfish interests.

“Nobody or group of persons should divide our state and its people in the name of zoning. We are a people who share commonalities with deep historical roots and it would be thoroughly unfair for anybody to fan the embers of geo-ethnicity, just to satisfy their selfish ambition.”

The Senator, who also expressed satisfaction with the widespread reception accorded him in the course of his statewide consultation, further admonished zoning agitators to be mindful of their actions and utterances that could portend danger for the state in future

He said leaders of PDP in the State are united in their resolution that the contest is open for all comers and those who believe they have what it takes to contest, no matter what part of the state the person comes from.

The one-time Commissioner for Environment from 2012 to 2013 maintained that the leaders’ have affirmed their position on the issue as clearly reflected in the communiqué issued to support their resolution.

Touting himself as a firm believer in the Local Government system, which he intends to revive when elected governor in 2023, Senator Onor lamented that the Local Government is treated with the utmost disdain as if the resources and funds allocated to them are not theirs.

Speaking from hindsight as a former Executive Chairman of Etung Local Government Council between 1999 and 2002 as well as State Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Cross River Chapter 1999 to 2002, the PDP legislator said; “The local government system will be resurrected and its full autonomy restored. Our people depend on this tier of government for survival.”

“I have been a local government chairman and had also served as chairman of the local government service commission. Under my watch, the dry bone called the local government system in our state will live again”, the former Deputy National President of ALGON between 1999 to 2002 assured.

On insinuations that he is being propped up and emboldened by forces outside the state, Senator Onor said; “I am not the only person who has support from outside. Duke had support from outside, same with Imoke and Ayade, why is my case different. On my own, I have done well for myself and surely a moving force to reckon with at any level.”

Specifically speaking on his association with the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, the Senator said; “For my relationship with Wike, I’m proud to be associated with him, because he has been among the few persons who have remained loyal in flying the PDP flag and carrying the party along in spite of the difficult times.

“Those against my ambition feel aggrieved because they cannot twist and turn me like the pun in their political game. Those who are speaking about my relationship with Wike are intellectually lazy.”