Kenneth Udeh
The leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, ‘Ohanaeze Ndigbo’ in Cross River State has thrown her weight behind the aspiration of People’s Democratic Party Guber Candidate, Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor in a bid to reclaim Cross River State.
The group pronounced the endorsement on Sunday at a Town Hall Meeting organised for Governorship Candidates of political parties in Calabar, Cross River State.
Declaring the meeting open, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Cross River State Chapter, High Chief Festus Odoemenam said, “I knew Senator Sandy Onor back then in my village in Imo state. He is a very good man. When he tells you something, believe him. He will do it. We have been making frantic efforts to receive him someday in our gathering in Igbo land.
“As the head of the Igbos living in Cross River State and President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, I invited leaders of the Igbo community consisting Chairmen & Vice Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo across the 18 LGAs of Cross River State to this meeting, so that whatever decision we take here today would be taken back to all the Igbos living in Cross River State, and they will all abide by it” he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of PDP Guber Candidate, Senator Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor, the Deputy Director General, State Campaign Organization & DG Caterpillar Movement, Chief Joe Obi Bisong commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the Town Hall Meeting and stressed that the meeting creates opportunity for electorates to interface with those who will govern them.
In his words “This is an opportunity we have looked forward to because oftentimes we make the mistake of voting for people we don’t know and when it gets bad we start regretting. When you give power to strange leaders, they use it against the people rather than for their benefit. For Ohanaeze Ndigbo to think of a Town Hall Meeting to interface with the candidates is a laudable initiative.
“The entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbos is unique and their business skill topnotch. Therefore, when you go to a community and you don’t find an Ibo man there, please run away. It’s not a good place to stay. An Ibo man takes wherever he finds himself as his own. He helps to develop his host community, contribute to the socioeconomic development of the people and creates employment/jobs opportunities.
“The Ibo man must protect his investment. Therefore, wherever he is, he should be interested in the electoral process so that his business and investment would be protected. The challenges of insecurity coupled with multiple taxation and brazen pilfering of resources has led to a decline in business activities in our once investor friendly state.”
In a Vote of Thanks, the Patron, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Cross River State Chapter, Barr *Fidelis O. Onyebueke* thanked Sen Sandy Onor for honoring their invitation. “Thank you for honouring our invitation. This Town Hall Meeting wasn’t meant for the PDP alone. We sent letters of invitation to all the political parties and their Governorship Candidates. But, many are called, but few are chosen.
“For honoring us, and being the only candidate that showed up when we invited you, we have no option than to endorse you for the governorship position.
“We must follow the one who know the road. We are very grateful. Your speech and clarifications here are loaded with common sense. They don’t need further interpretation. Relate the message to His Excellency, the incoming Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor that you came, you saw, you conquered. Thank you very much” he added.
The Town Hall Meeting was organised to interface with Governorship Candidates of the various political parties in the state, only the Guber Candidate of the PDP honoured the invitation. A testament to the fact that he is the only one equipped with the required wealth of experience, capacity and frame of mind to reclaim and restore Cross River State.
The Highlight of the event was the breaking of kola nuts and singing a birthday song in honour of Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor who turned a year older the previous day.