APC Rounds Up Statewide Campaign in Ikom
Emmanuel Alfred
The All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, has concluded her statewide campaigns and consultative tour.
The campaign which began in the Northern Senatorial district featured consultations with Paramount Rulers and members of the Traditional council, stakeholders, Youths, Women and non indigenous residents, took the Campaign Team and Gubernatorial Hopeful across all the 18 Local Government Areas in the State and yesterday came to an end in Ikom LGA local Government Area
Supporters and admirers took over the Local Government Secretariat, putting on a spectacle of different masquerades and traditional dances.
It was a gathering of sons and daughters of Ikom and indeed Central Senatorial District to show support to the Candidates of the APC.
The crowd also included Leaders, Stakeholders, Government functionaries, Support Groups among others from across the State who came in solidarity of the State Gubernatorial Aspirant, Sen Bassey Edet Otu and others.
Speaking unbehalf of the Northern Senatorial district, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo reaffirmed the district’s believe in equity, justice and fairness, insisting that northern Cross River will continue to stand with the back-to-South agenda.
An APC Chieftain and former Senate leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma Egba who spoke unbehalf of Central Senatorial district said the central is United in their resolve to return power back to the South,
“Central Senatorial district totally and unequivocally supports back-to-South and Sen. Prince Bassey Otu is our next governor”. He said
Another APC chieftain and former NDDC representative in the state, High Chief, Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong, in his remarks said “the messages we have received from across the State shows that unity and progress has come to our dear State.
“This issue of ethnicity is only brought up in times of campaign, after the campaigns we remain a united people living peacefully and sharing bonds across the State.
“We thank you for accepting to return power back to South. We did not just bring up anybody, we brought a man with experience and capacity, a man that will come and add value to what is on ground. I’m happy you have accepted him”.
Also speaking, a former frontline guber aspirant, Barr. Chris Agara said “my presence here speaks volume, I want to assure you of my full and total support and that of the good people of central, I am committed to the success of our candidates”
Addressing the tumultuous Crowd, Sen.Otu promised to scale up the Cocoa revolution in Ikom by taking advantage of the Cocoa processing factory to effectively reposition the economy in the area.
“I’m very humbled to be here in Ikom. My coming here is to ask you to join us and the rest of the State in doing what is right, It is time for the South, nothing must be allowed to divide us.
“I stand here to let you know that the greatest impediment which has limited the prosperity of Ikom is the lack of proper structures, Gov. Ayade has set-up a solid foundation for the liberation of our dear State. We will take advantage of cocoa processing plant and start production, you will no longer sell and export Cocoa pods, we will turn them into chocolates and other products that Cocoa provides.
“The incoming administration plans on scaling up Cocoa by establishing farms of 50 heactares of cocoa yearly. We will make Ikom the commercial hub of the State.
“We are planning and negotiating a federal university for Ikom. We will providw grants for our young men and women to invest in businesses and the Agricultural revolution currently going on.
“in the not so distance future, government appointments will no longer be fancied because we will ensure we open up other business opportunities for our young men and women to do business and make money”
He said when voted into office, he will sustain the human capital development and industrialization legacies of Gov. Ben Ayade, ensuring the optimum running and operations of the industries and building more industries in a view of decoupling the State from over dependence on the Federal allocation
Speaking, the Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Sen Prof Ben Ayade told the people to rally round support for the APC Governorship Candidate and other Candidates within the Party said it will not be fair and right for anyone in the central to demand power shift to them when they were the ones who handed over to him.
“For equity, justice and fairness, let us join hands with our brothers from the south and ensure that power returns to them”
The event also witnessed the defection of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP, central senatorial aspirant, Chief Ebuta Ojong and the PDP house of representatives aspirant for Boki/Ikot Federal Constituency. Mr. Pius Abang aka Jojo Armani.
