An opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial aspirant has insisted that he is ready to vie for public office, contrary to cynicism from designated quarters querying his readiness.
Mr Eyo Okpo-Ene has reacted against perceived cynics faulting his readiness to run for the high office of governor of Cross River state.
He expressed his readiness over the weekend at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar the Cross River state capital metropolis immediately he returned from PDP’s Wadata Plaza in Abuja where he went to purchase his Declaration of Intent and Nomination Forms.
The former Special Adviser on Religious Affairs to Gov Liyel Imoke said that if he was not ready he would not have indicated interest. He informed that he has done numerous consultations and feel very ready for the race.
2023: Eyo Okpo-Ene reacts to cynicism against his readiness for Cross River guber race pic.twitter.com/r2M78u6J9z
— NEGROID HAVEN (@NegroidHaven) April 11, 2022
His words, ‘I have the capacity. Everything. People have asked do you have the money. And I bought the form. People have said do you have the capacity to run. I do. I’m a businessman. I have been in business for 35 years.
‘If I do not have the capacity, the resources to contest this race, I won’t be here. And I want you to take that to the bank. We are going to take this campaign and run it to the end. I’m not running because it’s been zoned to the south. I avoid that conversation for now because we you look at the field, Cross Riverians will decide who should be the governor, and I know I will be on the top burner when that time comes.’
While acknowledging the fact that he is a late entrant into the contest, he emphasised that he will emerge triumphant. His words, ‘I’m going to get the ticket. I’m a late entrant, some people think. I have been consulting. I’ve done more work. You know the analogy when you see a dog or a swan swimming; you don’t know the actual work is being done under. I have done that work that is why I’m coming out now, full of confidence to take Cross River and then put ourselves back where we ought to be.’
Talking about what he wishes to do if elected, Okpo-Ene said he hopes to blend positive elements from the governors Donald Duke’s and Liyel Imoke’s previous administrations of the state. Addressing journalists he disclosed what residents and indigenes of the state should expect: ‘Cross Riverians should expect taking Cross River State back to the original plan. The era of Donald Duke showcased Cross River. Imoke did very well. But after that there has been a reversal. What we are planning to do is to take the important areas of what Donald did and those Liyel did and then run with and create a new energy for government.
‘We are stagnant now today and Cross River State has become a laughing stock. We need to rekindle Cross River and put it on the front burner once again. Cross Riverians should expect a new initiative that will carry the entire state along.’
