In what is a clear attempt to water down the building political tension in Cross River North, CRN, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, who represents CRN in Nigeria’s senate, has taken to his verified Facebook page to address constituents and especially his supporters, charging them to “pursue a healthy contest, one that reflects our upbringing as sons and daughters of Cross River.”
He wrote further that: “As we embark on this re-election journey,…I must speak plainly to you about the path we must take. I am aware that emotions run high. Our opponents, including my brother, former Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, are formidable. I charge you: do not use uncouth words against any aspirant. No insult, no personal attack, no abusive language. We are better than that. Our campaign will be defined by ideas, not insults.”
The senator demanded that supporters, “…respect the Seat of Governor, whether serving or former, regardless of who occupies it. Whether you believe the former Governor performed or underperformed, that office commands our collective dignity. No man is infallible. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Let us critique records, not abuse persons.”
“Let us pursue a healthy contest and one that reflects our proper upbringing as sons and daughters of Cross River. Remember: life’s struggles, its cravings, its ambitions, they all amount to vanity at the end. What endures is character, community, and how we treated one another along the way.”
Jarigbe had a word for fellow aspirants in the coming elections: “I only implore all of us, aspirants, to listen to the voices of our people and not live in denial of the obvious. Are the people we seek to serve, willing to vote for us or not? Vox populi, vox Dei.”
“Finally, we remain one united APC family. Even as we further our divergent interests within this primary, we must never forget that after the votes are counted, we will still need each other. No ambition is worth destroying the conviviality we have shared amongst one another. Campaign with passion, but campaign with honour. Thank you, and God bless Cross River North and the entire Cross River State.”
Recall that in the last two weeks, supporters of former CRS governor, Ben Ayade and Jarigbe, have drawn daggers, hauling insults at each other as well as at their principals, especially during the APC’s convention in Abuja.
