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Stakeholders from Cross River southern senatorial district has called on residents from Cross River north and central to support the south to produce the next governor of Cross River come 2023.
In a press conference addressed on Saturday in Calabar by a former lawmaker, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, on behalf of the stakeholders, she said that 2023 was the trun of the south to produce the next governor of the state.
Ita-Giwa said that the southern senatorial district which is made up of seven local government areas, has men and women of impeccable character, institutional memory and requisite experience to govern the state and provide purposeful leadership for the good of all.
She said that stakeholders from the south were happy and satisfied with the position of the state Governor, Ben Ayade, for standing with the south to produce the next governor.
“We thus, express our solidarity with Gov. Ayade for his total unwavering commitment to the return of power to the southern senatorial district come 2023.
“The governor remains the leader of All Progressive Congress in the state and indeed the South South region and he has the right and authority to give direction to the party in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the leaders and people of the southern senatorial district are aware that no senatorial district can on it’s own make a governor.
“That is why we are committed to ensuring that we work harmoniously with the central and northern senatorial district in achieving our desire for power to return to the southern senatorial district come 2023.
“We further wish to state that all the three senatorial district know that our demand for power to return to the southern senatorial district is equitable, justiciable, fair and is the proper thing to happen at this time,” she said.
She however, called on all well-meaning residents in Cross River to rise in support of power rotation and return of power to the southern senatorial district come May 29, 2023.
The former lawmaker stated that every well meaning resident in Cross River was aware that the state has witnessed continuous peace and stability as a result of power rotation from one senatorial district to another since 1999 till date.
“No doubt, even our founding fathers had envisaged the need for us all to live in the state where peace and harmony reigns.
“Even the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended guarantees federal character principle for equity, peace and harmony.
“We want to thank our governor for the purposeful governance which he has undoubtedly provided and is still providing and the many achievements which he has recorded especially in his attempt to decouple Cross River from over dependence on federal allocation.
“Inspite of this, the governor is still able to pay salaries and carry out other development initiatives,” she added.
She noted that the many industries built by the governor was a deliberate attempt to put Cross River on a path of prosperity.
Stakeholders present at the press conference included; Mr Joseph Bassey, Deputy Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, a former lawmaker, Sen. Bassey Otu and a business mogul, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong.
Others are the Commissioner for Social Housing, Mr Geroge O’ben-Etchi, Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Eric Anderson, former Chairman of People’s Democratic Party in Cross River, Mr John Okon, Etubom Bassey Ndem, Council Chairmen from the South, political appointees among others.
