A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has urged politicians to uphold the zoning arrangement as the 2023 gubernatorial election nears in Cross River State, Nigeria.
The stakeholder, who is also the Commissioner for Rural Transformation, Mr. Edem Effiom made the call in Calabar, the state capital during an interaction with some journalists.
Essence of orderliness
Effiom noted that his call on politicians not to jettison the zoning arrangement was for equity, fairness, peace and political stability in the state.
To politicians irrespective of political party, he said, “do not truncate what has been in existence with your ambition. Zoning gives us peace; it spares us a lot of trouble; it has taken shape and brings us essence of orderliness.”
The Commissioner hinted that it was the turn of the southern senatorial district, made up of seven local government areas out of 18, to produce the next governor.
According to Effiom, the central senatorial district had produced former governor’s Clement Ebri and Liyel Imoke, while the south has Donald Duke and the north, the incumbent governor, Professor Ben Ayade.
“So, it is only natural that the next governor should come from the south without any rancor,” he said.
Rural projects
On the projects handled by the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Effiom explained that the Ben Ayade led administration had invested in several development projects such as schools, roads, provision of potable drinking water and sanitation most of which completed.
He disclosed that a 30 kilometre road network linking communities in Obanliku and Obudu local government areas has been completed and the provision of potable water in areas previously dependent on long distance sources of water.
“When you go to Obudu and Obanliku areas, you will discover that this administration has done a lot. Obudu has a dual carriage road complete with street lights and others. All together, we have 30 kilometres of network.
“We have also completed the construction of some roads in Bekwara, Yala and other areas. We are working hard to see that other outstanding link roads are completed. We are all working to see that the governor, Professor Ben Ayade finishes strong,” he said.
Beatrice Akinsheye Award
The commissioner used the occasion to institute an award tagged the Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade Best Community Development Journalist Award for members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, to commit to Developmental Journalism.
Effiom, who enjoys hitch-hiking and adventure to Nigerian communities especially in perceived hard to reach areas, said “I am kicking off the Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade best Community Development Journalists award with a star prize of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira) annually. She was the mother of our governor, Professor Ben Ayade.
“To me, this is my own little way of immortalizing the memory of a good woman, whom God used to birth our digital governor. Also, the award is aimed at motivating journalists in the Correspondents’ Chapel to step up their watch dog roles for the good of our society,” he said.
Suzan O.
