Whither
Cross River State PDP Post Ayade?
While Ray Ugba Morphy has decided to do an exercise in giving
Ayade conditions for engagement in APC following last night's widely reported
meeting of some APC leaders with Hon. Amaechi on a consultation mission on
behalf of Gov. Ayade who has begged Amaechi to assist him make contact with the
Party leadership in the state and help prepare the way for his entry, I would
today rather want to beam my light on PDP or what shall be left of her after
the departure of the only thing still holding some people there. That
"thing" is not Ben Ayade. It is called hunger to be part of govt.
Remove the Gov from Ayade and everyone is gone. Conversely, Gov Ayade moving to
APC will mean for some moving with the Government not moving with Ayade. I hope
the distinction is clear.
It
is however remarkable to note that Gov Ayade even on the eve of coming to APC
is not willing to warm up to the party leadership in the state but would resort
to outside help in a clear show of continuing disdain whose lessons I am sure
has not escaped those leaders who attended and those who did not.
For
those who will not move, I will want to see in the days ahead a new realization
in the politics of our state what we mean when we talk "principles" .
Former Gov. Imoke has already as I understand fired the confusing shot as to
whether some who left PDP because of Gov Ayade will go back to PDP or will co
habit with him as he moves to join them in APC. Truth be told, if Ayade comes
not many people will feel justified to run away from him because that's what it
would amount to.
Building a resistance to finalize the dream of stopping his
second term ambition should look easier on a platform where he neither has a
ward or Local government Exco under his belt. Yes, as his supporters would say,
as Governor he can buy everyone. We agree. At least we all have a better
fighting chance than where he has everyone handpicked to do his bidding. The
ground cannot be more level than this! In any case if he is so confident what
is driving him away from PDP?
Most
importantly, how many of the elected officials of PDP from the NASS and SHA
will remain to fly the PDP flag? Or would they join Ayade and fly his new party
flag? The flag they so recently abhorred, denigrated and whose members they
treated with so much disdain?
Let's
assume that Imoke manages to keep the impression of bravado and the PDP suffers
the reverse of what Ayade was doing to APC what would be the state of the
polity? Let us also assume that Ayade in his vaunted trait of intolerance to
opposition opinion a trait Imoke himself bragged about even during the
campaigns, decides to open the can on Imoke how well will he sustain his new
opposition credentials? I can't wait.
I
still hear that House of Assembly members would dare Ayade and stick it out
with Imoke. Will that be all or some? And how many? For those who may do so
what are the guarantees of survival which seems to be the real currency in
Cross River politics? And what becomes the fate of the early bird who's seat
they declared vacant in a laughable drama that is both absurd and infantile in
the face of clear constitutional provisions to the contrary in the proviso to
S.109!?
Is it not laughable that in all the state Houses of Assembly and the
NASS where people have crossed over lately only the Speaker of the CRS HA seems
not to understand the constitution well enough to declare a member's seat
vacant? I think I had more respect for the speaker John Gaul Lebo than that.
Putting himself on the line on whoever's prompting for political expediency is
hardly how to act in the circumstances. If he doubts me he should wait to see
how long he survives as Speaker henceforth. He has put his seat on the line of
fire.
On
the whole when Ayade comes taunting PDP hereafter I cannot wait to see the
reactions to his performance from PDP as it shall remain. What strength of a
party will be left in the aftermath of the departure which will sweep most of
the noise away from PDP into APC. What shock measures are there in the short
term that will ensure that the stomach infrastructure priority of Ayade in the
guise of appointments, tagged " food on the table" policy, which has
sustained PDP membership be sustained?
Will
that army with their nuisance leave or remain without further pay? And without
food on the table? The days ahead look very interesting indeed.
Vena A Ikem.
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