Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Efiok Cobham
Gov. Ayade victimizing Cross River people – PDP alleges
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, Efiok Cobham has accused the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade of victimizing the people of the state rather than members of the party.
Cobham made this known in Calabar while inaugurating a seven man committee to fill some vacant positions at the Ward and local levels of the party.
He said it is barbaric for the governor to threaten PDP members who refused to defect with him because the people are first Cross Riverians before they are party men.
He maintained that the party will challenge all the defections in court.
“It is the government of the day that is victimizing the Cross River people and not the PDP people because they are first of all Cross Riverians before they are party men.
“It’s barbaric, and the highest insult the people of the state can receive especially given the goodwill he has enjoyed.
“Most of the people who defected with him have lost their elections and it is the people that made them.
“We will file processes against the actions of the governor and we are going to challenge the defections in court”, Cobham said.
He expressed hope that the committee will do a thorough job and help reposition the party.
The seven-man committee has Obol Godwin Eta as Chairman while Hon. Donatus Etim serves as secretary.
Other members of the committee include Dr. Rose Atsu-Arop, Mrs. Ekondua Amaoke, Hon. Emmanuel Etene, Pastor Anthony Effiong and Hon. Ignatius Agabi.
On his part, chairman of the committee Obol Godwin Eta commended the party selecting people who are highly experienced.
“We are going to be very thorough and are going to submit our report with our credibility and integrity intact”, Obol Eta said.
The committee has three weeks to submit its report and its terms of reference include; examining all wards and chapter executives of the party as presently constituted.
Others are finding out vacancies that have arisen as a result of resignation/decamping and finding out in consultation with stakeholders suitable replacements.
