Andy Esiet , Calabar
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has split Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp in Cross River State even as the PDP governorship candidate in the State , Senator Sandy Onor and few others shunned the Atiku/Okowa Presidential campaign rally in Calabar.
Since the Wike/Atiku crisis, Senator Onor who represents Cross River Central Senatorial in the Senate, the State Chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem, the Senator and candidate for Cross River North Senatorial district, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, the PDP Cross River South Senatorial candidate, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, former governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke, House of Representatives member and candidate for Calabar Municipality/Odukpani constituency, Ntufam Eta Mbora, former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Efiok Cobham and others have pitched camp with the Rivers State Governor who is said to be the major financier of his camp in the state as they never identified with the Atiku/Okowa camp in the state led by former governor Liyel Imoke and the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial, Senator Gershom Bassey.
But at the Atiku/Okowa rally at the U J Esuene stadium, Calabar that was filled to capacity on February 13, the state governorship candidate, a freind and ally of Wike, former governor Donald Duke, former deputy governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham, Senator Jarigbe and few others were absent while the State Chairman, (Mr. Ikem), Ntufam Okon, Ntufam Mbora and few others of the Wike camp were present showing a sharp departure from the past were they never identified publicly with the Atiku camp in any major event.
But the party secretariat at Mary Slessor avenue does not fly the posters of Atiku/Okowa while the campaign office of Atiku at Marian does not also carry posters of Senator Onor and others loyal to the Wike camp. Amen and amen and remain bless
However, ikem was given a cold reception at the rally as he was not given an opportunity to speak as the state chairman.
Speaking at the presidential rally, the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, thanked the people of Cross River for their continuous support for PDP and urged the people to vote for PDP both in the state and presidency, promised to expand and make the Calabar Port functional.
The Presidential candidate assured the people that restructuring the country would be a major policy in his government when voted as the president saying, “one thing you must understand the moment Calabar Port is expanded it is going to be an attraction to factories and businesses and it will be of benefits to the people of Cross River”
Atiku who was not bordered about the absence of the PDP governorship candidate and few other allies of Wike at the rally said, “I promise you if you vote for PDP for the president and governorship, we will work together with your governor and legislators to make sure this policies which have been grounded by APC work since APC projects like Agriculture, dredging of Calabar Port and others are dead” .
On his part, the former governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke assured the presidential candidate of the state PDP’s vote.
He said “Cross River is PDP, we know that you are our friend and in spite of all the seeming challenges, we remain in PDP. I assure you that on February 25, our people who are here in their numbers will vote PDP” .
Also speaking the State Presidential Campaign Committee Chairman, Senator Gershom Bassey said, “we have never lost a governorship election in Cross River state and 2023 will be no different. We are solidly behind you and we will work to support you and your government when you come into power come May 29, 2023” .
