Efio-Ita Nyok|30 June 2016|7:39am
In reaction to an article credited to one Viktor Egba titled: "Ayade and why the Northern Senatorial District must Apologize to Cross Riverians", the media aide, namely Inyali Peter, to the former gubernatorial candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Odey Ochicha has made attempt to clear the air on the emergence of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade as the sole candidate from the northern senatorial district of Cross River State.
Amongst other things, Peter posited that Ayade wasn't the sole candidate from the north, that Ayade was not even a better choice from Obudu, the local government area of origin of Governor Ayade, that Ayade was imposed by, in his words 'a conservative few…' and finally Peter submitted that Cross Riverians should bear collective responsibility for voting for Ben Ayade. Excerpt:
I read an article from Viktor Egba with this title, "Ayade and why the Northern Senatorial District must Apologize to Cross Riverians" and feel I should respond.
Firstly, I want to commend the author of the article for coming up with such a mind bobbling article. I almost agreed with everything he said until he called on the northern senatorial district to apologize to Cross Riverians.
I want to put the record straight that Ayade was not the sole candidate from the northern senatorial district and didn't win the election unchallenged.
He may have seized advantage of the dominance of the PDP then to emerge the governor but the mistake of having him occupying the citadel seat of caliphate in the today, should be a share blame for every Cross Riverian who participated in the election that brought him.
NOTE:
Ayade was never the choice of the northern senatorial district. He was imposed on the north and Cross Riverians by the conservative few led by Liyel Imoke who had thought that he would be a surrogate to them.
Before he clinched the PDP ticket in the controversial primaries, there was virtually no political leader from the north who openly pitched tenth with Ayade.
Recalled that apart from his bill to cutdown the welfare package of senators which died on arrival, Ayade spent the rest of his time in the Senate junketing from one country to another just like he is doing now. After that bill, he enjoyed certain level of goodwill amongst the people but sooner than expected, he unearthed his true colour.
The only thing I can remember Ayade did for the north was his very embarrassing foodbank project where area boys go to eat Indomie every morning.
Someone may mention his scholarship scheme. But that too, in his usual way was enjoyed by only his family members even when he deceived the public that it was open.
So to say, the north brought him even though he is from the north is misleading because there was nothing to have warmed him into the minds of the northerners.
In research, after studying a particular topic, you need to put the study through the test of external validity before you can generalize.
We need to first apologize to ourselves because the north presented a better option in eloquent and elegant Mr. Odey Ochicha. But we sacrificed credibility for mediocrity and peanuts. Throughout Ayade's campaign, he was more interested in exciting his audience with meaningless grammar than what he wanted to do. But in the other hand, Ochicha presented his programs articulately.
So we must blame ourselves all not just the northern senatorial district. Imoke led us to this but we had the opportunity of fighting the imposition but we betrayed our conscience and we are now in for it.
I will tell you that even in Obudu where the governor hails from, they were many better brains who were prepared for leadership not this kindagerchy.
But, not to worry, 2019 is not too far, that's if he will remain as governor till that time, the northern senatorial district will produce a governor that will give Cross River the leadership she deserve.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)
