Ayade finally identifies His Root

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Barr. Eteng Utum said Ayade has come to his real party where he belongs. He appealed to the State to identify with the Governor and urged the APC to give him free hand to reorganize the party. Barr. Eteng is a member of the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas in Mina, Niger State. He spoke with FRANCIS OGAR in Calabar excerpts

Lens: Recently, Governor Ben Ayade defected from the Ruling Party (PDP) in the State to the opposition party (APC). Scores of House members and some Commissioners moved with him. What is the import of this?

Well, I think the import of this is that Prof. Ben Ayade, the executive governor of Cross River State has officially defended his classification. By that I mean right from the time he went into politics his antecedent, behavior, characteristics, his interaction all demonstrated the characteristic of a progressive, a progressive in a wrong conservative party. In fact he was in a wrong conservative party both as a senator and as a governor. Today Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade is coming home to where he rightly belongs. Well, I am not really surprise that he traced his root and come to where he belongs. Ayade shows to some extend that gradually the PDP is dieying not only in Cross River State because of his movement out of PDP is monumental. The import is that he has retraced his root properly.

Lens: Ayade told his people when he defected to APC that he would complete all his projects before his 8 year lapses, do you want his people to believe him.

Well, he who wears the shoes knows where it pitches him. He started the projects and he was not compelled to complete those projects. Willingly and voluntarily he sets up those projects. If he says he wants to leave those projects he owns the unions. We have to give him the benefit of doubt because he is the man in-charge and he would keep on to that promise. He is a promise keeper and action governor who has completed industrializing the state, completed all his projects. His projects are physically on ground. They are not speculated. I have a strong conviction that he would do what he has said.

Lens: But PDP in the state has dismissed the claim.

Well, you are reluctantly dragging me into the polities of may be comparing PDP and APC. Without any fear of contradiction PDP should be ashamed because I challenge you or anybody in Cross River State to show me one physically enduring project PDP had in 16 years put in the system. The unfinished International Conference Centre Project that was meant to waste the Tinapa that died on arrival.

Lens: The South-South Governors gave President Buhari an ultimatum of 90 days to restructure the country or they ask the militants in the region to go back to the creeks. What is your take?

To restructure this country for the South South to be part of Biafra? Which cannot be? To make any segment of the society to belong to anyone there must be a referendum or find out what their feeling was. I am happy Ayade did not attend that meeting. How many times would the country be restructured. What manner of restructuring are we talking about? The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria makes provision for that. There is the Federal Representatives, Federal Judiciary and the Federal Executive. They should stop grandstanding and degrading this country.

Lens: Insecurity in the country is worrisome. What is your take?

The level of insecurity in the country is annoying and does not speak well for a country as large as Nigeria. To a large extend insecurity is an aspect of sabotage. Insecurity started during the time of President Obasanjo even as a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Onitsha was murdered with his wife. It is not in a particular state or person. The insecurity lapses lasted even to the time of President Yar’adua administration. The level it has gone is the anxiety and sabotage of the country in preparing for 2023 general election. Our thinking is that 2023 is to destabilize this country. You cannot really blame it on one particular person, party, region or group.

Lens: Are you satisfied with the level of poverty in the land?

No I am not satisfied but then it is not a new phenomenon poverty has always been because man was created by God to be equal. Some are made to be rich and some poorer. It is an aspect of inequality in the face of men. So that poverty in the land as far as I am concern is a national phenomenon both from creation we have poor people but people are trying to limit it to the tenure of President Buhari. They are unfair.

Lens: President Buhari recently approved funds for the immediate take- off of the Federal University of Technology, Ogoja and the Federal Polytechnic, Yakurr. What is your perception of them.

I am exceedingly happy that the President gave the approval of the Federal Polytechnic and the Federal University of Technology. The President remembered his youthful days as the young military officer in Ogoja. So if the people have been given a University we should jointly say thank you. He had long memory of Ogoja. He had said when he once lived at Ogoja with Late Chief I.I. Morphy and the father of Anthony Ani.

We have the Federal Polytechnic at Ugep. I think again, the people of Yakurr worked exceedingly hard for him. The total number of votes cast in Yakurr Local Government Area were more for APC than any other political party. The people are rewarded for their good works.

The Federal Government has given many appointments to many Yakurr people as well as many Cross Riverians more than any other administration. I think this is the best administration I can say in terms of administration to Cross Riverian. We have Chief Judge, Head of Service, Personal Assistant to the President on Prosecution among others.

By the grace of God, the President is poised to put his hands in our super high way and the deep sea port among his signature project.

Cross Riverians are encouraged to show appreciation in terms of identifying with the Governors. The Governor has navigated the State to the centre so that in the central government they will be encouraged.

 

Lens: What parting word do you have for the State

Ayade has to be applauded because of the rear fit he has demonstrated with the development in the preparation of APC in 2023.

Well, for 2023 conclusion is settled. APC will defeat PDP because PDP is a party of emperor. The people came to conquer. Ayade exhibited leadership by leaving the emperor and navigating the State for them, Ayade was able to see early enough to take his people to the centre.

My first appeal is first to the people of Cross River State. Ayade should be given a free hand to reorganize APC. We fought with guns up to the Supreme Court, let it not appear as if those who were there before. He has not come to lord over him. Let us receive those who are coming now with open hand, there should be a free, fair environment where democracy is allowed to thrive. We need to encourage Ayade and ensure that peace is allowed to reign.