Competent sources inside the All Progressives Congress, APC, Cross River State, who do not want their names in print, have informed www.calitown.com that the support base for Elvert Ayambem, within and outside the party, for the position of Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, overwhelmed state governor, Bassey Edet Otu, who had to go with the choice of the people, over Hilary Bisong, who was all but initially poised to be elected Speaker of the Assembly.
In fact, Bisong, returning to the House for a third-term, was commonly referred to as ‘Speaker’ by the state governor in phone and verbal conversations. The governor even confided in close political associates that he does not know Elvert Ayambem and had not had close political association with him in the days leading up to his adoption as Speaker. “The governor has spoken to Elvert less than three times before his emergence, compared to Hilary, who had the governor’s ears up until the choice of Elvert by the party was made”, we were told. Bisong was even already commissioned by the governor to work on five legislative drafts that will be presented on the governor’s behalf to the 10th Assembly, to show the extent of his relationship with the governor.
What happened?
In his eight years in the CRSHA, ‘street’ perception of Bisong scored him low marks in accessibility, throwing him up instead as elitist and far removed from the embrace of the teeming train of young political supporters, those in his age bracket who would have helped advocate and advance his trek into the position.
Most people are thought to also be unfavourably disposed to him for having a not too humble carriage. Again, as the son of the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Florence Obi, his mother’s subtle but effective campaign to earn Bisong the Speaker position, was seen by many as history not to be made now. It simply was too much to sit back and watch mother and son occupy the prime positions of VC and Speaker, in one swoop… without the propensity in the two to reach out easily to others. “Let the woman use her contractors in Unical to actualise this project. Those of us unable to benefit from the same contracts will rally around Elvert”, one source maintained to us.
Elvert Ayambem on the other hand rode into the position with an easily identifiable ‘street’ maxim that caught on like fire. “Son of a Nobody”, he described himself, effectively stirring up emotions and pitching himself against a competitor, seen as a candidate of the establishment. Places where Bisong was too up on the stool to go to, Ayambem went and connected powerfully to the people in humility and with the promise that he will not change. He was wildly embraced and his name was whispered around…even loudly.
As it stands.
Elvert Ayambem has unanimously been pronounced as the Speaker of the 10th Legislature of Cross River State. “He carries on his shoulders a weight of positive expectations, to the people and to the Executive. He must work to ensure that the Assembly has a cordial working relationship with the governor, in the interest of the state. Then too, he must be humane and offer to the suffering masses the kind of shoulder that carries explanations to the people; the kind that can whet appetites and calm nerves, it is the way to go”, another source submitted.