The peoples Democratic party, pdp governorship candidate in Cross River state, south south Nigeria, Sandy Onor has vowed to empower youths if elected in 2023.
Senator Onor made the pledge at a meeting that was initiated and convened by Mr. Asu Abang, the leader of a youth organisation known as ‘Wanboneh Support Group’.
According to him, the selection of a youth as deputy governorship candidate was in recognition of the revolutionary ideas and dynamic energy young people have to change the course of history ahead of the 2023 elections in Cross River State.
Alluding to the fact that previous leaders of Cross River State came to office while in their youthful age, Onor said, “It is time youths stopped being manipulated by those, who do not have their interest at heart and should neither listen to people, who manipulate their energy to achieve a purpose and later dump them.
“Let me make one promise today, I promise to empower you the youths in practical terms when I am elected the governor of our dear state in 2023. It will not be the food-on-the-table agenda,” he said.
Shared Commonalities
On the sensitive issue of zoning also known in Cross River as the “Back to South” arrangement, the governorship candidate recalled that as a youth, he supported and worked assiduously to enthrone a governor from the south.
“The issue of zoning is undermining our struggle. The party primary was competitive but, it is time to put aside the acrimonies of yesterday. Ethnicity does not help anybody. So, we should shun ethnic politics and move the state forward.
“Cross River is a beautiful state and as a people, we share a lot of commonalities – from the Efik south to the Bette north. Our people have really interacted and in the process really made good and positive use of these commonalities; and we should emphasize that instead of trying to advance politics of geo-ethnic division.
“It will not help anybody, we need peace and unity especially now, we need competence and capacity. I was the chairman of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) as a young person, I supported candidates from the southern district in this state; we supported Efik young men to be governor. So, when I step out to be governor and I hear people throwing ethnicity at me, it is very irritating.
“We need to emancipate our state from what is going on and that is what is critical. Every well-meaning Cross River person should do exactly that. That is the point,” he explained.
Brotherly support
Earlier, the initiator and convener of Wanboneh Support Group, Mr. Asu Abang stated that the essence of the meeting was to provide a platform for youths across the state to kick-start a healing process as a family and afterwards collectively galvanize support for the party’s candidate come 2023.
Abang stated, “the word ‘Wanboneh’ in Ejagham means ‘brotherhood’ so, we wanted a platform where we as youths can seat together as a family to discuss sensitive issues, which arose during the party’s primary election. As youths and stakeholders in the polity, we have significant roles to play ahead of the 2023 election.
“We realize that there are some of us, who are upset that the ‘Back to south’ agenda was not achieved at the governorship primary. However, now that we have chosen our candidates, it is important for all youths in the PDP to speak in unison and move into the field and mobilize the electorate for the party because when we win, all of us will be the better for it.
“This is not the time for theblame gamee as we must come out with zeal and determination to reclaim Cross Rive State from the All Progressives Congress, APC. I am also glad that at the end of the day the purpose for this town hall was achieved,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the deputy governorship candidate and former broadcast journalist, Mrs. Emana Ambrose-Amawhe, elder statesmen and women as well as party members.
Confidence Okwuchi
