The political air in Cross River South is filled with all manner of uncertainty and confusion, with politicians sitting on the fence, even petrified and unwilling to make commitment(s), consequent upon the unpredictability of the 2023 gubernatorial race, soon to come upon us.
However, the battle is heating up between two, nay three formidable factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River; the Wike faction projecting Sandy Ojang Onor, a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for governor (Wike has denied this assertion), the Liyel Imoke faction projecting Gershom Bassey for the gubernatorial race and the independent Daniel ‘Dansuki’ Asuquo faction. I think that all factions are doomed to fail if outstanding issues are left unresolved.
What are those issues? First of all, it would be a slap for Cross Riverians to know that one of PDP’s outstanding gubernatorial hopefuls is mainly superintended by a governor who has avid interest in humiliating incumbent Cross River governor, Ben Ayade by imposing his friend and ally on Cross Riverians as governor, come the 2023 gubernatorial race. Cross Riverians are unwilling to identify with a sell-out. I digress…
Historically, the manner of emergence of a candidate contributes to the success of that candidate but the tussle in the Cross River opposition party as at present does not show the existence of leadership in the party. For example if the question of zoning to C’River South comes up, formidable aspirants like Arthur Jarvis, Daniel Asuquo, Gershom Bassey have indicated interest from the south, how then with the divide, will they be able to muzzle power with the Sandy Onoh led warhorse.
The latter’s formidable team comprises men of timber and caliber such as Jarigbe Agom, Goddy Ettah, the party chairman and some party bigwigs that are secretly behind him. While it is true that Sandy cannot be ignored consequent upon his reputation as a man of no mean repute, seen to possess the ability to bulldoze himself out of unfavorable political situations and overturn most unfortunate circumstances in his favor, the latter assertion is given credence by his political antecedents and glory since he came into limelight in the NCPN days, his outing as the state chairman of then NCPN, how he single-handedly projected and installed Gab Orji as chairman of Etung local government, not forgetting that he emerged in 1998/1999 as the Chairman of Etung in a fiery contest.
In his recent emergence as the senatorial candidate of the PDP against all odds; the governor of the state, Ben Ayade was forced to accept him against his will as PDP candidate for Central Senatorial district, in which he emerged victoriously. It wasn’t a cheap victory because of the heavy weights of the All Progressives Congress in the Central Senatorial District. I will repeat: he cannot be ignored. However, my piece of advice for Sandy Onoh would be to leave when the ovation is loudest or risk stepping into the gubernatorial race and being totally demystified, short of being messed up at the polls. The tide may be against him. Quite otstanding among the many factors breathing down Sandy Onor’s neck in the eye of masses is his unenviable position as Wike’s stooge, before the question of zoning, etc.
I digress…again. Going by the party’s favoritism towards Sandy Onor, its presumed weakness and indecision, one would wonder how the leading opposition party in Cross River State will be able to defy the doggedness of some of the All Progressives Congress’ most outstanding potential aspirants ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial race, taking into cognizance the popularity of APC’s Bassey Otu, dubbed “the sweet prince”. The governor might want to leverage on his popularity in securing victory for the All Progressives Congress in 2023 by anointing him. We must also take into cognizance the inventiveness of one of APC’s most outstanding figure and potential aspirant, Bassey Eyo Ndem, dubbed the “Iron man of the South”. The tide favours him as he is presently loved across all cultural distributions of the state. The latter is an intellectual and arguably the smartest of x-rayed potential aspirants.
It would be recalled that during the EndSARS protests, aggrieved youths, tagged hoodlums attacked properties of prominent politicians in the state, but touched not their investments, [except of course Valuemart, a supermarket owned by the wife of the immediate past governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke] because they had none in the state. The business inclined ones amongst them have investments outside Cross River, mansions in Ikoyi, hotels in Lekki, in America and so on … but the Architect, Bassey Ndem, proved to be different. If Cross River burns, he burns with it. Credited with an awesome business reach, seen through the lens of Axari Hotels and other subtle business exploits, Bassey Eyo Ndem is frankly the largest individual employer of labour in the state, taking many Cross
Riverians out of the Nigerian hole of despair. Aside being loved by people for obvious reasons, he is preferred by the Efiks who believe whoever will emerge as governor from the South, must be one, well grounded in the customs and culture of Efikland. Who understands the plight of the Efiks but “Etubom“ himself?
There are also heavy weights like Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr and co. Well, a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Now is the time for the People’s Democratic Party in the state to think of what it really wants. C’River PDP must use the events of the 2019 gubernatorial elections as a case study. What I perceive, but regret to announce is the self destruction of the Peoples Democratic Party. I will repeat: enhanced by its growing divide, PDP will self-destruct and this only means potential victory for the Cross River gubernatorial flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 guber elections.
Gnarly Eyo, a public speaker, writer and activist, wrote in from Abuja.
*THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE ENTIRELY THE AUTHOR’S
