Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade
Abia constituents give conditions for endorsing representatives for second-term
Governorship aspirants from Cross River central senatorial district have been barred from contesting the 2019 governorship election against incumbent Governor Ben Ayade. This was part of the resolution of the people of district when they endorsed Ayade during a rally at the weekend organised by Abi, Obubra, Yarkurr, Etung, Boki and Ikom local councils, which make up the senatorial district, as Ayade restated his resolve to change the lives of the people for the better.
The ban came after a motion was moved by representative of Obubra/Etung Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mike Etaba and seconded by representative of Ikom 1 state constituency, Fred Osim.They resolved that no son or daughter from the senatorial district should vie for the office of governor apart from Ayade.
The Ikom stadium was filled to capacity as various groups and associations carried banners bearing: Ayade 100 Per Cent Undiluted, Ayade, Eye Of Cross River State 2019, Central Says Yes To Ayade, Central Cross River Is Sure For Ayade 2019 and Code 888, among others.
Chairman of the occasion and former military administrator of Bayelsa State, Col. Pam Ogar, (rtd.) said, “This exercise is initiated by a willing people to motivate you to come out by 2019.
A former commissioner in the state, Ntufam Sandy Onor and Pius Tawo described Ayade as one who not only understands development, but also a strategic partner that would take Cross River State to prosperity, adding that, “the projects initiated by Ayade will recalibrate the state completely.”Responding to the endorsements, Ayade assured that 3000 youths from the district would be captured under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
Meanwhile, constituents of Abia central senatorial district have given conditions for endorsing their elected representatives who desire another term in office in next year’s election. A leader in the area, Okpoku Okezie listed the conditions to include effective representation in initiating people-oriented bills in their respective chambers and initiating projects that reflect their needs in the budget.
They also said the number of the projects executed, proposed projects included in the budget, how many constituents they helped to secure employment, and frequent visits to their constituents, among others were preconditions for endorsements for another chance.
This came on the sidelines of Abia North Senatorial constituents criticising the rivalry in taking credit for projects being executed or marked for execution in the Arochukwu/Ohiafia federal constituency by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and their representative in the House of Representatives, Uko Nkole. Ohuabunwa and Nkole, who are members of the PDP, are said to be interested in retaining their current positions in 2019.
The Abia Central constituents made the conditions public when Senator Theodore Orji visited Amibo Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Council last week to inspect the on-going Amibo Ubakala ring road project and gully erosion sites in area.
