Cross River 2019: Ibeshi promises to make decision soon as another group joins clamour for him to contest.
A former PDP National Publicity Secretary Hon Emmanuel Ibeshi has responded to demands made by a political group "Cross River State PDP support coalition" that he should contest in the forthcoming PDP Gubernatorial primaries against Governor Ben Ayade.
The group had last week besieged the National Headquarters of the PDP demanding a credible process leading to primaries for all elective positions in Cross River State and also that Ibeshi should contest for Governorship.
In a statement released by his media assistant, Hon Ibeshi said,
"The attention of Hon Emmanuel Ibeshi has been drawn to widespread media reports of a peaceful demonstration carried out by a coalition of PDP support groups from Cross River State at the National Headquarters of the PDP on Thursday 19th April 2018 during the Emergency NEC meeting of the Party.
It is reported that the coalition demanded for a credible process for the Primaries in Cross River State and also that he (Hon Emmanuel Ibeshi) declares his interest to contest in the primaries for the position of Governor of Cross River State for 2019 elections.
Hon Ibeshi recognizes that the action of the Party supporters is in line with their Democratic rights
and wishes to thank them for expressing so much confidence in his ability to lead Cross River State in the right direction.
Hon Ibeshi wishes to state that he will consider their demands and make his decision clear after wide consultations."
In another development, a leading political group in the state "Cross River Unity Frontiers, CRUF, especially its Abuja chapter, on Tuesday(24/4/2019), rallied her support for Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi to aspire in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
According to the National Coordinator Rt.Comr. Okoi Egbe Ofem, CRUF has always been disposed to contributing to the political process of Nigeria's most peaceful and organized state, "Cross River State". Rt.comr. Ofem informed that the political movement houses over 18 political support groups. In a communique issued at the end of the meeting which held at Destiny Hotel, Wuye Estate, Abuja and signed by Rt.comr. O. Ofem and the Deputy Coordinator, Chief Williams Nsa Otu, a long standing supporter of a former Governor of Cross River State.
CRUF resolved as follows :
*PDP National Working Committee must ensure that there is a level playing field for all candidates in respect of the primaries in Cross River State PDP;
*Credibility, functionality, trustworthinessmust be the watch action to the emergence of a gubernatorial candidate;
*CRUF supports the demand by the Cross River State PDP support coalition for Hon Emmanuel Ibeshi to declare his interest in the2019 Gubernatorial elections;
*CRUF caution Gov. Ben Ayade to desist from deceit, lies and pretence and to stop his gimmicks and dramas for the past three years without productivity thereby making Cross River State PDP vulnerable to the APC.
*CRUF must rally this support beginning from an overwhelming base from the grassroot particularly the polling unit of each wards, LGA, Senatorial District, and diaspora.
While granting an interview to pressmen immediately after the meeting of the group, Rt.comr. Ofem observed that CRUF's coming together is to organise itself for readiness in view of the forthcoming general elections.
According to him, 'I am a foundation member of CRUF —Cross River Unity Frontier, this is a political platform that has been in existence since 1999. It started as Cross River People's Front and gradually metamorphosed into Cross River Unity Frontiers.
'As a political family, which has always sort to be part of the political process in this state. You know we are gradually entering another political process, so our coming together today as the family from Cross River State is to organise ourselves in readiness for the forth coming series of political activities; we want to be able to participate. You can see behind me is a crowd that can produce a strong force in the forthcoming election.
We CRUF want to join our support to Cross River State PDP support coalition, by telling Hon. Emma Ibeshi to indicate interest as we will rally this time for his success as we won't give rooms for imposition, lies and craftiness.
According to Emmanuel Odey aka The People's Voice 'Hon.Emma Ibeshi is a leader, it's a CRUF meeting. So, as a political family, definitely we will listen to him first, —Oga, are you running? If you are running we are behind you. Oga, if you are not running who are we supporting?
'CRUF will support a candidate, either from the family or outside the family; CRUF will work for the family, CRUF has always worked for a gubernatorial candidate. So we are getting ready to work for a gubernatorial candidate that CRUF national will point a finger to'.
On his part, Chief Otu popularly referred to as "Talk and Do" said, Gov. Ben Ayade who has not been attending PDP meetings is now scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to the PDP NWC apparently in response to the call for Hon. Emma Ibeshi's to aspire for the Governorship seat. We don't need such candidate (Gov. Ben Ayade) whose economy is filled with lies, deceits and dramas.
His words, 'At a point we thought we got it right at the 2015 election not until most of us saw the state of Cross River State, then we knew we need to come back again and tell Ben Ayade the truth that he has made PDP in Cross River State unpopular and we seek an emergence of Ibeshi who PDP flows in his blood stream and understands the true blueprint of Cross River State as well as its wants and needs.
'We had governments that were running, it was clear that we needed to have a progressive government for continuity, and so we had that which we thought was a gentleman's agreement. So we've learnt our lessons. At different times we've gone through so many things which make Hon. Emma Ibeshi one of the most formidable materials available for the Job.
'Formidable in the sense that his economy is strong, his outfit is strong, his mobilization scheme is strong, his gifting to mechanism is strong and above all he fears God.
'You know, this notice was short and they came from across the 18 LGAs and you listen to them speak, their passion for CRUF.
Present at the occasion were Rt Hon. Justin Etene (Bakassi freedom group) Rt. Comr. O. Ofem( National Coordinator CRUF) Chief Otu(National Deputy Coordinator CRUF) Chief Mrs Cynthia Odey(National Women leader CRUF), Pius Ifere, Austine Akawo, and Jeremiah Usani (Yakurr Frontiers), Dr. Cassidy Ezama (Voice of Obubra), Festus Bisong (Boki Unity Team) Jimmy Ani (Akpabuyo frontiers) and host of others from different support groups
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