C’River Political Appointees Get Order To Quit

All political appointees in the cabinet of Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State have been directed to resign their appointments this month if they have political ambition.

Governor Imoke who gave the directive while addressing PDP caucus members in Calabar, explained that the need for the appointees to get out was guided by the law to enable them get safe landing in the political ambition.

Imoke told the caucuses that they have a crucial duty to play in the success of the party in the forthcoming elections and assured them of maximum cooperation in the efforts to move PDP to next level of political victory.

Members of the caucus pledged their preparedness to ensure the success of the party in the forthcoming elections while pleading that decisions taken by them should be upheld by the party.

They also commended Governor Imoke for enlarging the caucus and empowering them with the responsibility of selecting and presenting credible candidates and assured that they would neither present cultists nor people with questionable character.  

Ntufam Ekpo Okon, State Chairman of PDP in an introductory address, explained that membership of the party caucus which is broad based, was selected on merit with the view of maintaining unity of the party and enjoined members to be steadfast and avoid the habit of jumping ship only to return when they fail in other parties as it will not be tolerated again.  

Okon warned against indiscipline in the party, especially at the chapter level, where some have parallel executive, warning that the party leadership will not tolerate such issues.  

He said party caucus is not new in Cross River as it is not just an organisation to select candidates, but also provide grounds for good leadership, harmonise the activities of the party, realise its purposes, guide in picking candidates that meet the desires of the people as 2011 is not 2007, and called on them to look for acceptable candidates because they do not represent their wards but the ideals of the party.

  The chairman disclosed that members must possess sterling qualities that can unite the party and the people as their decisions should move the party forward with collective interest and not be seen as representatives of groups or factions while women should be encouraged to participate in politics as well as vie for elective posts.  

Membership of the party caucus includes serving and past members of the legislature, at national, state and local government levels, state and chapter executives, members of the State Executive Council, National Officers of the party, party stalwarts, political office holders and members of boards and parastatals.