The Chairman of Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Offiong Bassey has said there were tangible reasons for millions of Cross Riverians, including Akpabuyo people, to follow Gov Ben Ayade to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Hon Bassey made the remarks in Akpabuyo during the grand declaration for the APC of his administration and many others, and which had in attendance former Minister of Culture and Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, the Managing Director, Cross River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Bassey Mkposong, state caretaker secretary of the APC, Dr. Ntete Bassey Duke, Commissioners, Special Advisers and other party stalwarts from the area.
Explaining why his people decided to pitch tent with the Governor, the council boss said, “there has never been any time in our history that Akpabuyo was given two Commissioners slot except now. The power sub-station we have in our council area is a product of Ben Ayade’s administration. These and many reasons explains why the people of Akpabuyo have every justification to follow the Governor to APC.”
Hon. Offiong explained further that the event has given opportunity to both PDP decampees and people from other parties in the area to register their membership with APC.
“Today’s event marks the unification of all the parties in Akpabuyo, thereby making the local government fully APC. My administration and indeed the whole Akpabuyo people will continue to support His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade,” he stated.
Also speaking, the former Minister of Culture and Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke commended Ayade for aligning with the centre through his defection to the APC.
He said there has to be new enlightenment of the people about the party, assuring that APC would take the people to the promise land. He called on the people to be united so that they could build a strong and virile party.
Duke advised against any discouragement, maintaining that everybody has the right to choose and cautioned against taking anything personal against anybody in the course of moving to APC because “we are still brothers and sisters and we are all from the same state.”
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Cross River Basin Development, Engr. Bassey Mkposong said the administration of Ben Ayade, amongst other things, has brought relative peace to the area.
While assuring the people that lack of electricity in the council area would soon be a thing of the past particularly with PHEDC bringing it sub-station to Akpabuyo, he commended Governor Ayade for being proactive in handling the affairs of the state.
The State Secretary of the party, Dr. Ntete Bassey Duke, in his remarks, advised the Chairman of council to ensure everybody is carried along, and called on all Akpabuyo sons and daughters to formally register as APC member especially as registration is free.
