By Sabastine Anyia. Esq

Never in the history of Cross River State have we had this Exodus from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party in the state to the opposition party. Since 1999, Cross River State has been dominated by the P.D.P; it has been the ruling party from the least office to the highest office. You could not aspire to any office and hope to succeed if you were not a member of this acclaimed ” great party – the umbrella “.

We have had our illustrious sons like Donald Duke, Sen. Liyel Imoke and Sen. Prof. Sir. Ben Ayade all emerging as number one citizen of Cross River State at various times under the People’s Democratic Party. Needless to point out that each of them ruled our dear State in accordance with the maximum provisions of the Constitution which is two tenures each. You can gladly say Cross Riverians were in love with the umbrella. Yes, perhaps because of the constant rain fall in the state or could it be because of the forbearers who piloted the affairs of the state under the PDP government?

No sooner than later, the party – PDP, became too arrogant, oppressive and unbearable for the good people of Cross River State. It became a party for the exclusive few who hijacked the whole system. Your admission into the party hierarchy was based on how many billions you can offer. The educated class was chased away from the party. Seasoned technocrats and administrative genius were all denied access to the party. This gave rise to disaffection and as such, some great sons of the land began hatching plans on how to wrestle power from these oligarchies that saw PDP as their exclusive property.

One of our sons highly respected in politics; a major player in Cross River State political arena, took the challenge and confronted these oligarchies. He was fondly addressed by friends and well wishers as ” Oyantana 1 of Mbembe “; he was simply exceptional in Cross River State politics. Although he was the Deputy Governor of the State, he was not satisfied with the way his people were treated by the PDP government. This political hypnotizer left the PDP and joined the ANPP with the view of liberating Cross Riverians from the clutches of the oligarchies whose arrogance and misrule knew no bound. To him, he came to recover the years the locusts have eaten and to restore the economy of our great state.

Chief John Okpa’s (may his soul rest in peace) campaign was something else; his motorcade during his campaigns will start from 11/11 round about Calabar to Odukpani junction, from Okuni to Ikom four corners. His campaign speeches permeated the bone marrow. However, his efforts were not enough to wrestle power from the PDP. After Chief John Okpa, we had another of our illustrious sons, a seasoned technocrat and a respected leader of the Senate, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN who also tried his best but to no avail.

Next in line was our beloved son, a grass root politician, a friend to the common people, Senator Owan Enoh who placed his foot on the Political paddle and did everything possible to enable the APC to conveniently accelerate pass the PDP but it did not work out. Yet we did not give up. Thereafter, our own Pastor Usani Usani, the immediate past Minister for Niger Delta, a true apostle of egalitarian society, fought this injustice by these few persons who are in exclusive control of PDP to the point that his life was even at risk. Other great sons of our state like Mr. Jeddy Agba (the current Minister for power & steal) Chief Mark Ukpo, Chief Edem Duke, Prince Bassy Otu, Dr. Pius Tawo, His Excellency Clement Ebri etc. All their efforts could not yield the expected result Cross Riverians were yearning for.

After the battle by these our illustrious sons, came the anointed one, a special person whose titles are too numerous: in the Christendom, he rose to the highest title, the Knight of St. John International of the Catholic Church. In the academia, he rose to a Professor. In the Legislative business, he was a Senator. In politics, he rose to the Chief Executive of the state – the Governor of our dear state. Research showed that nothing he has ever ventured in life that he fail to succeed. He is no other person than our own digital Governor, Sen. Prof. Sir. Ben Ayade. This man took Cross River political ladder to a new destination when he moved from PDP to APC. The state political landscape experienced a turn around. Never has it been like this in the history of Cross River State.

Yes, I am aware that many Governors in recent times have decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC) but the wave created in Cross River State when our digital Governor decamped with this exodus is unprecedented. What our great son Chief John Okpa “Oyantana 1 of Mbembe” (RIP) and others could not do over the years was done by Sen. Prof. Sir. Ben Ayade under two months. It is true that every man has his own gift but our digital governor’s own is exceptional. The state political landscape can never be the same again.

Thank you Governor Ben Ayade and I pray that the good Lord will continue to be your light and your strength, you will fear no one; the Lord will protect you from all dangers. We wish you well. With Sen. Ben Ayade on the throne and his teeming followers, PDP is dethroned in Cross River State.

Bar. Sabastine Anyia

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