BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Amidst public fury over allegations of mortgaging the financial future of Cross River State, Governor Ben Ayade’s ambition of returning to the Diamond Hill government House has continued to receive a boost with less than 24 hours to the March 9 gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections.
This is even as contenders to the State number one seat are daily battling with torrents of what their campaign Organisations described as ‘fake news’ in the social meida and online platforms by mischief makers.
In the mix of Ayade’s last minute endorsements are elders of the South Senatorial District, who attributed their decision to existing rotational and zoning pact in the South-South state.
According to the Elders, their stand is strongly anchored on the bilateral agreement among leaders of all three Senatorial Zones that after Ayade’s second tenure, political power would automatically return to Cross River South senatorial district come 2023.
They are acting on the platform of 7-Alive Support Group, a body that reflects the thoughts of Elders in the seven local government areas that constitute the State’s South Senatorial district.
Speaking at a media briefing in Calabar, the Cross River capital, Group Chairman, Chief (Dr) Asuquo Ekpenyong said their position is based on the natural justice and belief that political power should rotate among the three senatorial districts in the State.
Chief Ekpenyong, a renowned Economist and Chief Executive Officer of Davandly Group of companies, said their position is justified by the need for equity and enjoined Cross Riverians to keep faith with the existing understanding to ensure fairness prevails.
The Elders said given that Donald Duke, an indigene of the South Senatorial District, was in power for eight years, followed by Senator Liyel Imoke from Central for another eight years, fair play demands that Professor Ayade from the North Senatorial District should therefore be supported to complete his second term.
Chief Ekpenyong, whose son is the current Commissioner for Finance in Cross River, urged Cross Riverians not to be cajoled by the antics of opposition parties, but troop out en mass to demonstrate their support for the incumbent Governor for the sake of “equity, justice, fair play and good neighborliness.”
In another development, the Appeal Court judges led by Justice Owoade have disqualified themselves from further hearing of the appeal involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flag-bearer Senator Owan Enoh and suspended Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor Usani Usani.
The Appeal Court judges, sitting in Calabar, excused themselves following the N250 million bribery scandal rocking the case.
The camp of Pastor Usani Usani, which is claiming authenticity as of APC gubernatorial candidate in Cross River, has petitioned against the integrity of the Appeal Court Judges.
Addressing newsmen after the Court’s pronouncement, APC’s Lawyer, Barrister Bernard Afu said given earlier court’s rulings on the case, Senator Owan Enoh remains the legitimate APC candidate for the March 9, 2019 governorship elections.
He stated that the stay of execution order issued by the Appeal Court order on an earlier Court judgment is the status quo Ante that must be preserved by all parties involved in the case.
