Politics
APC Bought A Wrong Player In Ayade – PDP
The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Efiok Cobham, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a strange party in the state and bought a wrong player in Prof. Ben Ayade.
Efiok Cobham made this known at the party secretariat while inaugurating a seven- man committee to fill some vacant positions at the ward level of the party.
The committee has Obol Godwin Eta as Chairman, while Hon. Donatus Etim serves as secretary.
Other members of the committee include, Dr Rose Atsu-Arop, Mrs Ekondua Amaoke, Hon. Emmanuel Etene, Pastor Anthony Effiong and Hon. Ignatius Agabi.
Cobham, who is a former deputy governor of Cross River State, maintained that the defection of the governor was a blessing to the state as the PDP still had the goodwill of the people and will create room for the governor to explain his inadequacies.
“The APC is a strange party in Cross River State and so they are trying to introduce themselves to the people.
“They went to the transfer window and bought a wrong player in Ayade.
“The PDP has won several governorship elections in the state and so we do not need to introduce ourselves to the people.
“The goodwill for the PDP is still as strong as it used to be and the people defecting with the governor are his appointees.
“Socketing is a kind of blessing in the state because it offers room for fresh air and creates an opportunity for the executive to explain its inadequacies”, he said.
He expressed hope that the Godwin Eta committee will help reposition the party.
He also disclosed that the PDP Youth Vanguard which will be inaugurated in the 196 wards of the state will create room for the teeming youths of the state to take up leadership positions.
On his part, Chairman of the Committee, Obol Godwin Eta, commended the party selecting people who are highly experienced.
“We thank you for finding us worthy to serve the state in this capacity and for selecting people who are highly experienced.
“The peace and furtherance of our electoral values will depend on the tactful management of the assignment given us.
“We are going to be very thorough and are going to submit our report with our credibility and integrity intact,” he said.
The seven -man committee has three weeks to submit its report and its terms of reference include, examining all wards and chapter executives of the party as presently constituted.
Others are finding out vacancies that have arisen as a result of resignation/decamping and finding out in consultation with stakeholders suitable replacements
By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
As the news of the defection of 17 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to make the rounds, a cross section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide have expressed varying views regarding the development.
At Etche, a senior lecturer with the Rivers State University, who did not want his name in print, said even though defection was the right of politicians, peace and stability remained more fundamental than any action that could further challenge the fragile political situation in the state at the moment.
He also warned that the situation should not be used to witch-hunt any one, adding that the state had suffered enough and needed to be at peace.
In his reaction, Engr Polycarp Geoffrey said even though citizens and residents of the state had cause to be concerned about the decision of the lawmakers, there was nothing to worry about if it was done in good faith.
“I don’t think there is any big deal about it – defection is defection. But people are worried because of past events in the state. So, for me, I don’t see anything about it”, he said.
Engr Geoffrey also urged the Governor Siminalayi Fubara to also openly declare political affiliation in a bid to douse the political tension in the state and to provide clarity regarding his future political direction.
Another respondent, Mr Ebere Alex, alleged ulterior motive behind the law makers’ defection but urged both the law makers and the governor to work for the peace and development of the state.
However, speaking on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Hon Nname Ewor, told The Tide that said his party would reach out to the remaining lawmakers who have not defected.
He also denied an alleged internal squabble within the PDP, adding that there was no crisis in the party.
It would be recalled that 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, during plenary last Friday, announced their migration from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crisis.
Other members who also defected were the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dumle Maol, representing Gokana Constituency; House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, representing Akulga Constituency 1 and Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency; Hon. Solomon Wami, Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon Granville Tekena Wellington representing Asari Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency; Hon. Peter Abbey representing Degema Constituency; Hon. Arnold Dennis representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency; Hon. Chimezie Nwankwor representing Etche Constituency 2 and Hon. Franklin Nwabochi representing Onelga Constituency 1.
The rest were, Hon. Azeru Opara, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3; Hon. Smart Adoki representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2; Hon. Igwe Afforji ,Eleme Constituency and Hon. Lolo Opuende representing Akuku Toru Constituency 2.
By: John Bibor
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