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ince the dawn of
uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Cross Rivers has arguably been a
strong hold of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP). The first democratically
elected governor of the state in the current dispensation, Mr. Donald Duke
ensured that all the political heavyweights in the state at the time and a few
officials who were elected through other platforms defected to PDP. Some who had
divergent views to Duke’s philosophy were either made to resign or go on
political oblivion.
During this time,
the defunct All People’s Party (APP) which was the major opposition
party in the country had a formidable force in the state to the point of
producing the Speaker, Rt. Hon Gabriel Adah who unfortunately became the first
casualty of Duke’s hatred for opposition. Adah who was elected under the
platform of the APP to represent Obudu State Constituency was very resistant in
dumping his party for the then ruling party which was waxing stronger to take
over the entire political structure of the state.
For those who know
him, Duke will go any length to get what he wants. This was the case with Adah
who was impeached as Speaker few months into his reign. The impeachment practically
laid the foundation to the sixteen years reign of the PDP in the state as a
few members of the State House of Assembly who came under the platform all
dumped the party and joined PDP for fear of being tagged an enemy to the then most
powerful governor in the country. Senator Owan Enoh who was elected under the
APP to represent Etung State Constituency but has now gone to have a more
successful political career with the PDP is a good example. It was even
rumoured that the impeached Speaker, later joined the PDP.
This development
however built a solid foundation for Duke’s successor and the immediate past
governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who graciously lead the state to become the
leader and front burner of the PDP agenda in the South-South geo-political
zone of the country. Perhaps, Imoke didn’t have much to do than to consolidate
on the structures left by his successor to make sure the state delivers hundred
percent to the party in every election; a task he maintained throughout his
eight years tenure.
Besides, Imoke at
some point was not regarded as just the leader of the PDP but the de-facto
leader of all the political parties that existed in the state. This is because
all the major political decisions made by him were made to bind on other
alternative parties in the state. For instance, the zoning formula of PDP was
always going to bind on other parties like the case of the governorship election
in the last elections.
Because of the
dominance and might of the PDP in the state during his regime, the party
primaries were largely regarded as the real elections as anybody who coast home
to victory was as sure as anything to win the general election which in most
cases was a confirmation to the decision of the party.
But despite this,
Imoke was widely criticized of undermining the decision of senior party
stalwarts especially if it was contrary to what he personally wanted. In
different occasions, he was accused of being too rigid and dictatorial in the
way party flag bearers were elected during primaries. This became obvious
in the last elections as so many PDP faithfuls left the party for Labour Party to
test their popularity but as usual Imoke ensured all PDP candidates returned
elected in the State.
Now Imoke and Duke
are no more in the saddle but a new kid in the block in Senator
(Prof.) Ben Ayade. Contrary to what the former governors had, the new
dispensation of Ayade has witnessed a gale of defections that has prompted
political watchers in the state to question the long term future of the PDP in
the state. Within his seven months governorship, more political juggernauts in
the state have crossed from the PDP to the All Progressive Congress (APC) than
the sixteen years of Duke and Imoke join together. Maybe this is because the
state has never being known as playing opposition to the government at the centre.
While many people
have blamed the former governor for the PDP melee, insinuating that the party
is having a hangover of the process that produced the party’s flag bearers in
the last elections, some have said that the leadership style of the incumbent
governor was behind the nightmare. Ayade has been accused of running the state
as a personal business thereby disregarding advice and opinions of senior party
members.
Amongst other
defections, what has really thrown the state into total acrimony is the recent
defection of the governor’s kinsmen and major financiers in the last election
to the APC. A former two time member representing Obudu/Bekwerra/Obanliku Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon Paul Adah, led a team of who is who in
Obudu, the local government of the governor to defect and subsequently register
with the APC.
What was more
shocking during their official defection on Tuesday, December 29th, 2015 at
Begiande ward 1 in Obudu Local Government Area of the state was the mammoth
crowd that came out to celebrate the decision of the former lawmaker and other
political bigwigs who have crossed to the APC. This development has since
caused discontent in the camp of the governor as it was rumoured that all his
efforts to truncate the event hit the rocks.
One of the
detectors whom I contacted said that leaving the PDP was a big burden which he
has taken off his neck even as he explained that his decision was hinged on the
insensitivity of the state government to address urgent issues of public
interest.
This outburst is
however not strange because as role model to so many young people, it was best
for him to embrace the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari
which has favoured the state in terms of appointment than any other government.
Also, it is imperative for some of these defectors to let their supporters know
that they are not part of the inconsistent administrative policies of governor
Ayade.
However, some of
these people who are from the same local government with the governor should be
commended for their bold steps and decision to go to the APC. They
should also brace themselves for attacks and abuses but as true Cross
Riverians, we have seen clearly that we are not in the best of times because of
the directionlessness and cluelessness of the governor. Before we crucify
them, we must appreciate the fact that as leaders and politicians, there is
nothing as bad as not satisfying what the people you represent, the people who
believe in you would want. So it is better for people to know that they are not
part of this government in the state than to appear very big as people who can
add to the development of the state yet cannot do anything.
Before I get condemned by the social media punks of the governor, let me state that I'm not completely happy
with the development especially as it's coming from his immediate constituency
(his LGA). However, it has become crystal clear even to the blind and audible even to the
deaf that the government of Ayade clearly lacks direction and the governor has
so far displayed ignorance in government through what a political activist
called “aluta style" governance.
As a professor
with a very successful business history, it's unfortunate to imagine that
a systematic marginalization of party members associated with his perceived
enemy has been adopted as the best approach to transforming the political
instability in the state to a near perfection stage. The people leaving now clearly
have the choice between going extinct politically or joining forces with the
opposition political party to serve the state from the sinking ship of Ayade's
leadership.
My interaction
with his kinsmen especially his major financiers during the elections shows that
his inability to listen to advice has brought unprecedented embarrassment to
the people. I'm also aware that many people are scrambling to join those who
have left PDP for Ayade to build a new platform for the future wellbeing of
Cross Riverians.
There's also
strong rumour that the most popular senator from the state in the 8th National Assembly who meritoriously is the chairman, senate committee on finance is
undergoing a sustain consultation to dump PDP for APC. If this happen, it will
be the biggest blow to Ayade because a good politician would not temper with a
man who defeated the then sitting Senate Leader. Let me leave that sensitive
reports for now till I gather more facts.
Before I end this
piece, let me also remind us that within just seven months of Ayade's
governorship, the former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, former governor,
Mr. Clement Ebri, former house of reps member, Earnest Irek, the immediate past
chairman of the State Board of Internal Revenue, a governorship aspirant in the
last elections who until his defection was the Caucus chief of PDP, Obudu
chapter, Dr. Peter Oti, Chief Bullem as well as the most popular governorship
aspirant and the son of the paramount ruler of Obudu, Prince Gody Jeddy Agba
and a host of other prominent politicians in the state have all joined the APC.
Now that we are
counting months to the local government elections in the state and considering
the calibre of people who have left the once most popular party in the
state, Cross Riverians are waiting patiently to see if the governor have
the political structure and wherewithal to survive the broom revolution in the
state.
Inyali peter
wrote from Calabar
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