Representatives of the a group known as the Progressive South Alliance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cross River State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Professor Sandy Onor.
The representatives of the group, Mr. Solomon Asuquo and Professor Offiong Ani Offiong, who is one of the conveners of a town hall where the understanding was reached, harped on the need for unity and inclusivity of political candidates.
In an address, the Coordinator of the group, Mr. Asuquo said that the town hall, which had the theme “For A Purposeful, Inclusive and United Southern Cross River” was convened to address issue raised by agitators of “Back to South” politics.
“Back to South” is a political slogan, which was coined by some politicians from the southern senatorial district of Cross River State and centres on ‘zoning’ or power rotation particularly governorship power, to southern Cross River.
Inclusiveness
Asuquo reasoned that the PDP, which has its gubernatorial candidate from the central district of the state, must as a family tackle the “Back to South” agitation and chart a course of inclusivity if the party must coast home to victory in 2023.
According to Asuquo, “the meeting is called to reexamine our overall existentialism and evaluate the yardstick usually deployed in sharing political power and positions among the geo-political zones.”
He further said, “This is in respect of drawing a greater commitment from key political players towards a robust inclusiveness in governance in a bid to engender peaceful coexistence among our geopolitical and ethnic make ups.”
Also speaking, the co-convener, Professor Offiong Ani Offiong urged members of the group to concentrate on the capabilities of the candidate, his integrity and commitment to deliver true democratic dividends such as employment creation, revitalization of multi-billion naira investments and provision of basic infrastructure across the state.
Assurances
Responding to comments and questions at the town hall, the PDP governorship candidate, Professor Onor noted that to deny him as a progeny of the southern district was an injustice since his maternal homeland is Akamkpa local government area.
While recalling with nostalgia is upbringing and beginning of his political carrier in the south, the senator, who represents the central senatorial district at the National Assembly, stated, “your agitations should be who is more grounded with the realities on ground and can salvage the state from its current realities. Do not allow yourselves to be short-changed. We must not allow ourselves to be used as vehicles during the elections.
“There was never anything like zoning of governorship seat in Cross River. The north were allowed to have it in 2015 because it was inevitable since south (Donald Duke) and central (Liyel Imoke) have held power in 1999 and 2007 respectively,” he recalled.
Speaking further, Onor said, “it was only ceded to the north for equity’s sake and not zoned as has been insinuated by the proponents of ‘back to south’. We should not allow ourselves to be brainwashed by these people.”
He gave the assurance of his commitment to initiate policies and projects with the contributions of the people, explaining “Cross River State needs a governor, who is in touch with reality. The people should not allow themselves to be used as tools of political trade.
“We all want a state where things work and I assure you that things will be done differently. We are going to work according to the needs of the people,” the governorship candidate pledged.
Highpoint of the town hall was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Progressive South Alliance and Professor Sandy Ono, the PDP gubernatorial candidate, who was accompanied for the meeting by his deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Emana Duke-Amawhe.
N.O
