By Edemobong Ekpe
Senator Gershom Bassey says he lends his full support and joins the vast majority of people in Cross River State to support the rotation of Governorship to the Southern Senatorial District come 2023.
Bassey who is of the Peoples’ Democratic Party is currently representing Cross River State Central Senatorial District and he is believed to have ambition to join the governorship race.
Speaking at a forum of stakeholders and leadership meeting of Cross River Southern Senatorial District held in Calabar yesterday he defended his decision to back the argument for power shift in the State.
He said, “My brothers and sisters, the Nigerian Constitution, the
Peoples Democratic Party Constitution and the All
Progressive Congress Constitution all provide for equity and fairness in the nomination of candidates for election and appointment. Therefore, the continued rotation of the governorship seat to Cross River South Senatorial District by all political parties in Cross River State is the way forward in 2023.”
“Section 14(3) of the 1 999 Constitution clearly states the need for zoning and power rotation to ensure national cohesion in our nation, Nigeria.
Article 7 (3) (c) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Constitution provides for rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices.
Article 20(iv) (e) of the All Progressive Congress (APC)
Constitution also provides for the principle of federal character and rotation in nomination for election or appointment.”
He maintained that it gladdens his heart to see stakeholders in the Southern Senatorial District, united in the pursuit of equity, fairness and justice for all the people of Cross River State.
According to him, “Our forebears knew that it is only fairness that brings stability to a people that is why they laid down an equitable and just road map in the Calabar-Ogoja Accord.”
“They knew that it is only through equity and fairness that the people of Cross River can enjoy strength in their diversity and remain as one. It is still on these grounds of equity, fairness and good conscience that we stand today”, he added.
The Nation recalls that the said Ogoja Accord which was reached at in the eighties, is referred to as obsolete by some school of thoughts because the structure of the three senatorial district in the state was not as it is today.
However many have also argued that since the return of democracy in 1999, the governorship position has shifted from South to Central and to North, hence, it is only natural, the rotation moves to the southern senatorial district.