Elders and concerned stakeholders of the Southern Senatorial Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have lambasted a former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke and Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndom-Egba over what they described as deprecatory campaign against the incumbent state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke.
Addressing a press conference in Calabar, the Elders and Stakeholders, drawn from the Southern Senatorial District of the state, said they could no longer continue to be indifferent to what they called the macabre dance and destructive campaign being orchestrated by Duke and Ndoma-Egba against Governor Imoke.
The elders, who particularly took a swipe at what they described as desperate and febrile attempt by Duke and his cohorts to foist a governorship aspirant on the people of the state, warned that not again would they allow them to have their way.
Professor Nya Asuquo, who spoke on behalf of the group, said: “We as Senior Citizens of Cross River State and bona fide members of the PDP in our respective rights cannot be indifferent to the macabre dance and campaign of calumny and destruction orchestrated by the former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndom-Egba and their cohorts.
“It saddens us that these people who have benefited the most from the good people of Cross River State are now the very same people bent on dragging the state back to the stone age because they believe they must always have their way, no matter what happens to the rest of the populace.”
Continuing, Nya, who was reading a statement signed by 22 elders of the party, said: “These people believe it is their birthright to give Cross Riverians the governor of their choice so as to resume the exploitation of the state from where they left off seven years ago. They believe they should import a governorship candidate from Abuja and foist him on us whether we like it or not.
“For the first time in the history of Cross River State and the PDP in the state, the Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has put his foot down and insisted that democracy must be fully participatory and that all the citizens of the state must participate in the election of all candidates, all hell is being let loose by these disgruntled people. We the people of this state say unequivocally that we shall not allow them. No! Not again.”
While warning those they described as agents of destabilization not to forget the lesson of history, the group said: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. We are living witnesses of the eight years of ruin that we passed through under our home grown dictator and Pharaoh, Mr. Donald Duke. In his time, the dictator and Pharaoh decreed those who contested all elections from ward to Abuja. He appointed all public office holders singlehandedly and he alone presided over the privatization of public property in the state, most of which he privatized to himself. We the people of Cross River State will no longer allow this state of gansterism in Cross River State again. No! Not again!”
Duke has been accused of stealing several public assets including his current residence in Calabar, which used to be the former NUJ Diamond Hill Press Centre. Duke had claimed that the property was bought by a company whose identity he could not readily remember when THEWILL contacted him through his media handler on the allegations in 2010.
While praising Governor Imoke and the state party Chairman for putting in place a robust structure for the sustenance of democracy in the state, the Elders echoed: “We the good people of Cross River State commend our governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and state party chairman, Ntufam John Okon for the very peaceful and transparent manner in which they conducted the Ward Delegate Election of November 1, 2014. The money bags have been put to shame and for once, their money has not been able to help them.”
