Efio-Ita Nyok|23 April 2018
On Thursday last week (19th April), a political group by name Cross River State PDP Support Coalition led by Mr Ken Bassey stormed the Wadata House national secretariat of Nigeria's leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to register their complain before National Working Committee of the party as led by Prince Uche Secondus.
Amongst other things, they were understood to be suing for a level playing ground in Cross River politics particularly in respect of the emergence of a more popular gubernatorial candidate for the PDP in the state. The claimed that the incumbent governor has failed and shouldn't be recycled come 2019. The asserted that one Mr Emmanuel Ibeshi was a better option. See full text of the petition written here was received by the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri :
*CROSS RIVER STATE PDP SUPPORT COALITION.
We are a coalition of support groups that have always been actively involved in mass mobilization of support for the success of our dear and great Party the PDP at various levels and elections right from 1999 till date and by the grace of God PDP has always emerged victorious.
Our visit to the National Headquarters of our great Party is an opportunity for us to meet with the Prince Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee NWC and to register our total support and express our confidence in this leadership which we unequivocally trust will lead our great Party to a resounding success at the polls come 2019.
We wish to appreciate and thank the National Working Committee for its foresight and for successfully rebranding the party while promising never to allow a repeat of previous mistakes that led to the Party's misfortune in 2015.
We as ardent supporters of the PDP in Cross River State have recognized that the 2019 elections in Cross River state will be different from previous ones. This is because an aggressive and stiff challenge is being posed by the APC and owing to the fact the the APC is the party in power at the center, they are bent at using that power to capture the soul of Cross River State which has been an exclusive domain of the PDP since 1999. This therefore means that to ensure we emerge victorious over them, we must put our best foot forward.
We hereby wish to appeal to the NWC to please pay special attention to the events that lead to the primaries and eventual emergence of flag bearers that will represent the Party at all levels in the State. Please help us ensure that there will be no impunity or imposition of candidates. We need a level playing field to ensure that only the most popular candidates emerge.
Please permit us to state the unfortunate fact that most Cross Riverians are of the opinion that the performance of the current government in the State leaves much to be desired and this is a serious cause for concern to us. We cannot go to the electorate presenting the exact same option as this could lead to failure for the Party in the State.
This Coalition has however identified a Man of impeccable character and outstanding credentials whom we Believe will surely lead the Party to a resounding victory in CRS, his name is Hon Emmanuel Ibeshi. A former Member of the House of Representatives, first elected National Publicity Secretary (1999 – 2001), and above all a very committed Party man. Not forgetting the fact that he stood on the side of truth during the recent crisis that was imposed on the Party. He served as the Secretary of the Syndicate Eleven.
We as a coalition have made known to him that we are demanding that he declares to contest for the position of Cross River State Governor for 2019 but we are hereby appealing to you to help us pass our message once again to him.
Thank you.
God bless you!
God bless the PDP!
God bless Cross River State! and
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
