27 March 2019
Being text of a press statement by the Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong’s Campaign Organization following Pastor Usani’s disparaging comments against the leadership of the All Progressives Congress.
The attention of the Prof Eyo Etim Nyong’s Campaign Organization has been drawn to a media report credited to the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani in which he made reference to our principal, High Chief [Prof] Nyong as being the originator and source of his running mate for the just concluded governorship elections in Cross River State.
The Minister also alleged that Prof Nyong’s supporters turned in their support completely for him during the campaigns.
We want to state in clear terms and for the records that Pastor Usani in the said report only misrepresented and misconstrued the fact regarding the position of our principal and his supporters.
For emphasis, Prof Nyong has dissociated himself from this misrepresentation by the Honourable Minister. Our principal Prof. Nyong, was not involved in Pastor Usani’s planning, strategy or campaign outings.
The fact of the matter is that Pastor Usani actually approached our principal on the issue of a running mate. His position was that the High Chief should align to the reasoning that the Efiks should have a sense of belonging in the APC government of his leadership, Consequently, Pastor Usani brought to our principal a list containing names of six persons and requested our principal to choose one from amongst them to be his running mate.
The kernel of the issue is that at no point was Prof Nyong required by Pastor Usani to source for a running mate for him as the man never knew who the minister’s supporters were; but as earlier stated, he was only to pick one from the lot that the Minister had already sourced for.
Our deduction from the Honourable Minister’s gaffe is that Pastor Usani wants the world to believe that our principal gave him the endorsement necessary to drive home his ambition. But that is far from the true situation. Prof Nyong had no hand in the making of the Minister’s ambition nor sourcing for his running mate as claimed during the said dispensation of the elections.
Interestingly too, there was no time Prof Nyong’s support base was depleted to add to that of the Minister as he claims. In fact, if Prof Nyong had decided to prop up the Minister’s ambition, as a highly revered politician and statesman our principal would have made it public after due consultation with his teaming supporters to discuss such development.
We wish to state clearly that Pastor Usani cannot and must not join our principal in his preconceived crisis with other party leaders perhaps for the purpose of gathering momentum and the fillip necessary to sustain his ambition or whatsoever.
Prof. Nyong is a man of integrity and impeccable standing and therefore remains undaunted in the course of promoting the unity and success of the APC in Cross River State and beyond. He will continue to make history as a detribalized, visionary/committed leader and true democrat.
We urge Pastor Usani to desist from further dragging the name of our principal, High Chief (Prof) Eyo Etim Nyong into any issue that portends crisis in the party.
Thank you and God bless.
For: Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong Campaign Organization:
(1) Chief Alex Irek – Director General
(2) Chief (Hon) Egwu Arong
(3) Barr. Joe Oloko
(4) Barr. Egere Osim
(5) Mr Eyo Egbai
(6) Engr Ray Nnandi
(7) Sir Patrick Out
(8) Dr. Ntete Bassey Duke
(9) Mrs. Bassey Ene
(10) Barr. Ms Emana Imona
