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By Judex Okoro, Calabar
In this interview, Prof. Sandy Onor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Cross River State and the Senator representing central senatorial district, stated that Cross River is enveloped in darkness as far as good governance is concerned.
Onor, the former state chairman of the defunct National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN), advised the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to reconcile with Governor Nyesom Wike’s group as that is the surest way to victory in 2023 poll.
He described those kickingagainst INEC BIVAS aselectoral criminals that should hide their faces in shame, calling on Nigerians to vote out the ruling APC because they have failed to deliver on their promises.
PDP seems to be facing internal crisis a few months away from the general elections, are you still convinced of victory for your party at the polls at the national and the state levels?
It is an overstatement to say that PDP is fully ready and prepared for the general elections. Everyone can see that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is doing our work for us. And because of their bad governance, our citizens are resolved to go on a different direction.
If you see what has been happening with the PDP before now, the kind of governance we have been offering; the dividends we have to show and place it in juxtaposition with the stagnancy we have experienced under APC, then you will see that the choice is very clear and the people are very willing to demonstrate that with their votes.
Down here in Cross River, the story is not different. The civil servants are not happy, local government staff are despondent, the ordinary citizens are in a very dark and bad place. Our state is enveloped in darkness as far as good governance is concerned and in history, we say darkness is not a subject of history. So we are very determined and on our own we are taking nothing for granted. We are working very hard and very convinced that we will win the elections. From what we see, instead of the APC working hard, they are thinking of rigging; it will not come to that because we will not allow them rig because victory is inevitable by the grace of God and the will of our people.
It is being rumoured in some quarters that, because of your closeness to Governor Nyesom Wike, your presidential candidate has no stand in the state, how far is that true?
I don’t know what that means because the presidential candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has the democratic liberty to extend his campaigns to every nooks and crannies of the country and Cross River state is no exception. So, if he does his job well and reconciles with his party, reconciles with Governor Wike and with all of us, it will be an easy ride for him and that is what I hope for the party. So, it is too premature for anyone to begin to run conclusions on that matter. The Wike camp, where we belong, and the Atiku camp are both saying they are ready for reconciliation and we hope that reconciliation will happen. Every right thinking PDP person is looking forward to that reconciliation, that is the position now and I don’t want to be pessimistic about it.
Insecurity is one of the greatest challenges facing the country. What do you suggest that can be done in this circumstance?
Let me state here that the issue of insecurity has become a national problem and almost swallowing the nation. We have never had it so bad as this in this country in terms of insecurity. The ruling party has totally failed us in that front. It’s completely regrettable that even in Cross River State today, we not only have insecurity, it has snowballed into kidnapping on our highways that were hitherto very safe. People are being kidnapped and ransom demanded. I think that is not where we ought to be at all. I have seen a few attempts by the government to address the situation but I think something more concrete has to be done.
Our security personnel should be put in a situation where structurally they are very equipped to deal with this issue. I hope they will just be given what they need to do so.
Some people are canvassing that BIVAS should be dropped what is your reaction to this?
Those canvassing for BIVAS to be dropped are electoral criminals that should hide their faces in shame. BIVAS has come to stay and we are very happy with INEC. INEC has insisted on BIVAS. So, no going back on electronic voting and results transmission. From my knowledge of the position on INEC at the Senate, all kinds of pressures were put on INEC to drop the BIVAS, which they have rejected. We are going to be BIVAS compliant and that is where our confidence is hinged on.
There has been agitation that governorship should come to southern senatorial district. What message do you have for Cross Riverians and voters with regard to this as your party transverses around the various communities canvassing for votes?
I love back-to-back to south movement because it has its own energy. The issue of zoning was too emotional thereby undermining the mission of our struggle. The call for return of political power to southern senatorial zone is a selfish agenda by few selfish politicians to promote their interest. Cross River State is broken, mangled, distorted, destroyed and devalued. If people are telling you in this state that you will have a greater future with APC than PDP, then you are living in Mars, not on earth.
I don’t believe in ethnicity but merit. If you want to challenge me, do so on the basis of competence. Don’t speak to me on the basis of ethnicity, speak to me on quality and competence because through my dint of experience and hard work, I am one of the best candidates.
During my time as the former state chairman of the defunct National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN), all the aspirants for governor from my party namely Eyo Etim Nyong, and Donald Duke were Efiks and I defended them through thick and thin. So, I urge Cross Riverians to put beyond the acrimonies of yesterday. I am not going to lead Cross Riverians astray. I would tell you the truth and be practical with ourselves by returning to our land and harvest the nature’s gift. In the history of the state, nobody has dominated one another, neither any group has. So, why are people trying to divide us because we have commonalities.
The youth are demanding for active participation if your elected in 2023. What programme do you have for them being that they constitute a good percentage of voters?
I challenge the youths to come up with revolutionary ideas and change course of things in Cross River. There is a need for them to come together to rescue our state because there is no free launch anywhere.
I am going to empower the youths in practical terms and not by food-on-the-table appointment. We must make use of our hands. No doubt, life is full of vicissitudes but with purpose and determination, you can conquer. I have worked with youths and believe in youthful energy because as a youth, I was a party chairman at 30. And I look at my age and I said things must change. Don’t listen to everything people tell you to manipulate your energy. We shall compete favourably with whosoever other parties bring.
But most importantly, I advise the youths to shun ethnic politics to move the state forward because we are in a mess. The youth have a say in the state and that is why I made a 41 year old woman my deputy governor. When I win, I would, ethnicity blind. I believe in quality as long as you can add value to the government. Now is the auspicious time for the youth to rise to the occasion; to look for models, mentors and people who can inspire them and pray to be better than them. Cross Riverians cannot afford a government that promotes lies as state policy.
As the 2023 elections approach, the youth should research before they begin to speak and engage in garbage-in-garbage-out style of politicking. Don’t allow anybody donate power to you because when they donate that ticket to you, then there must be compromises, if not politically, morally, if not morally, spiritually.
The youth in particular should look out for a governor that cuts across all ethnic groups, that have a track record of accommodation of all ethnicities and also interested in the commonalities that bind us rather than things that divide us. And I’m going to be a governor for everyone. I will ensure that young people are carried along from the south, Central and North. Nobody should compromise your future. I also advise the youths against engaging in anti-party because it does not help anyone and it is a smack of hypocrisy and ‘witchcraftcy’.
