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From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Cross River youths have protested against an orchestrated plot to remove Governor Ben Ayade through the court.
The youths described the plot as “a conspiracy against the state.”
The protest is coming ahead of December 9 Supreme Court ruling on the perjury suit filed against Ayade by a PDP governorship aspirant in the governorship election, Mr. Joe Agi.
Agi had approached the apex court to nullify the March 28, 2015 governorship election that produced Ayade over alleged age falsification.
The youths, comprising leaders and members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and National Association of Cross River Students said any attempt to steal the people’s mandate by Ayade through the back door will be strongly resisted.
Speaking, during a solidarity visit to the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang, to hand in their protest letter over the weekend in Calabar, the State Secretary of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Ndifon Victor said it became imperative for the youths of the state to speak out after the recent twist in the case which saw counsel to PDP adopting the application of Agi that Ayade should be removed from office.
“We are here to show our support for the development of the state and support for the administration of governor Ben Ayade. This visit became necessary especially after the conspiracy against the governor at the Supreme Court recently.
“We want to warn strictly that we will resist any attempt by anybody to steal the mandate of the youths and people of Cross River state through the backdoor. We are proud and happy with the developmental strides of Ayade’s administration and will not tolerate any form of distraction from any angle.
“The youths will resist any attempt to take us backward. We stand with Ayade because we have seen that the governor is interested in the youth. This is the first time we have a governor that understands that government can do nothing without the youth”.
Similarly, the National President of National Association of Cross River Students, Obaji Caleb, said Cross River students across the globe will not accept any governor outside Ayade, adding “as students, we believe in Ayade because with him our future as youths is guaranteed.
“He is a man that believes firmly in the youths and has done a lot to improve the standard of education in the state.”
Reacting, Youths Commissioner, Asu Okang, commended the youths for the show of solidarity and assured them that the government has confidence in the judiciary and Supreme Court justices to respect the mandate of the people.
Expressing optimism at the outcome of court, Okang said: “I thank you very sincerely for this show of solidarity.
“This has showed that the government enjoys the support of the people. Ayade has done a lot for the youths because he parades the youngest commissioners, special advsiers and boards members, so I am not surprised by this show of solidarity.”
He added that the state “will not allow detractors who want to take advantage of our civility to distract the governor…”
