Ayade has right to give direction on zoning in Cross River says Southern stakeholders
By Our Admin
Stakeholders of southern senatorial district in Cross River State have said that Governor Ben Ayade as the leader of All Progressives Congress in the State has the right and authority to give direction to the party in the state.
The Southern stakeholders including Chief Asuquo Ekpeyong, Princess Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Etubom Bassey Eyo Ndem, Chief Sam Bassey, senator Prince Bassey Otu, Hon. Joseph Bassey the State deputy Speaker and a host of others on Saturday met at the Transport Hotels in Calabar to state their position following agitations from some persons over the pronouncement governor Ayade made, declaring that his successor will come from the Southern senatorial district.
In a press conference text titled, “Cross River State Governorship 2023: Our Unwavering Commitment to the Back to South Agenda”, read by Princess Florence Ita-Giwa they said, “The governor remains the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and indeed the South South Region and has the right and authority to give direction to the party in the state. We thank the governor for this direction which he has provided and we stand with him firmly on this.”
The text continued, thus: “We thus, express our solidarity with the governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade for his total and unwavering commitment to the return of power to the Southern Senatorial District come 2023.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the leaders and people of the southern senatorial district are aware that no senatorial district can on its own make a governor, that is why we are committed to ensuring that we work harmoniously with the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts in achieving our desire for power to return to the southern senatorial district come 2023.
“We further wish to state that all the three (3) senatorial districts know that our demand for power to return to the southern senatorial district is equitable, justiciable, fair and is the proper thing to happen at this time.
Furthermore, we will like to use this opportunity to call on all well-meaning Cross Riverians to rise in support of power rotation and return of power to the southern senatorial district come May 29th, 2023.
“We are convinced that every well meaning Cross Riverian in our state is aware that our state has witnessed continuous peace and stability as a result of power rotation from one senatorial district to another since 1999 till date.
“No doubt, even our founding fathers had envisaged the need for us all to live in the state where peace and harmony reigns. Even the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended guarantees federal character principle for equity, peace and harmony.
“We wish to reassure Cross Riverians and residents of Cross River State that the southern senatorial district made up of Seven (7) Local Government Areas has men and women with impeccable character, institutional memory and requisite experience to govern Cross River State and provide purposeful leadership that will take our state to enviable height.
“We wish to issue a clarion call to all Cross Riverians and people of goodwill and friends of Cross River State to join hands with the Southern Senatorial District to achieve the return of power to the district as one good turn they say deserves another.”
They also thanked governor Ayade for “the purposeful governance which he has undoubtedly provided and is still providing and the many achievements which he has recorded especially in his attempt to decouple Cross River State from over dependence on federally allocated revenue. Recently the state has witnessed negative allocation from FAAC, inspite of this, the Governor is still able to pay salaries and carryout other developmental initiatives.
Undoubtedly, the many industries which the governor is building is a deliberate attempt to put our state on a path of prosperity. We also commend His Excellency for providing purposeful leadership which has helped to stabilize our state, our politics and our polity.”