The All Progressives Congress, APC, has received into its fold a political juggernaut and former Commissioner for Lands under the Donald Duke-led administration, Mr. Bassey Eyo Ndem.
Bassey Ndem, who is the political leader of Akpabuyo local government area was received alongside two other gladiators, a former lawmaker in the Cross River House of Assembly, Orok Duke and Edem Ekong also a former Commissioner for Land, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In a brief remark at the reception rally held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State south-south Nigeria, Ndem said that his movement from the PDP to the APC was to support the developmental strides of Governor Ben Ayade.
While renouncing his membership of the PDP, he said, “at several fora, the governor stood on principles, one of which is called rotation. Rotation is simply turn by turn and I trust that from everything I have seen so far, the governor will continue to uphold the ethics, which has made the southern senatorial district stand by him even in his moment of greatest trial. We have always stood strong for him.
“Secondly, this is not the time for opposition; it cannot lead us anywhere. Governance is for all and it is absolutely necessary that those of us, who understand what is going on support the governor in other to make sure that his government finishes strong.
“When the governor complete his projects, we should understand that projects must be continued and supported to stand. Not to bring them down simply because you are in opposition.
“I want to make a pledge today; I will use all my strength, all my intellect, all my cash, all my power to support this government and make sure that we finish strong.”
Power rotation
In a welcome address, Governor Ayade insisted on the sustenance of the governorship rotational principle in the state, which has been in place since the return of democracy in 1999.
The southern senatorial district of the state is staking a claim to Cross River 2023 governorship, as the remaining two districts- Central and North have had their turns.
Describing the PDP, which he quit in May 2021 as a haemorrhaging party, the governor said he has the moral obligation to ensure that move to the ruling APC.
“It is against this background that I will keep to my words. 2023 is a harbinger of peace, equity and justice, so that every one of us will have a sense of equity and sense of balance to maintain and sustain our politics. This will enable everybody to know his turn at every given time,” Ayade said.
According to him, “when I turned my back and look at Cross River – from Obanliku to Bakassi – I wonder where the opposition is coming from? PDP in Cross River is finished; it is now an empty shell. APC is in total control.
“Anybody, who wants us to remain in opposition does not wish us well. We have socketed to the centre and APC has come to stay in Cross River. Our state is better off with the APC,” said Ayade.
Continuing, Ayade said: “The array of political juggernauts joining us in APC today were the men, who made PDP thick. Today, they have joined us in APC, so where is the PDP in Cross River?”
Among APC chieftains and government functionaries at the rally were the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Joseph Bassey and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
Suzan O.
