April 15, (THEWILL) – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Dr Chris Agara, has dispelled rumours of a crack in his relationship with Governor Ben Ayade.
Chief Agara, a governorship aspirant from the central senatorial district, maintains that his relationship with the governor is intact and he is very much in touch with him despite the governor’s preference for candidates from the Southern Senatorial District.
However, while paying a consultative visit to the APC Headquarters in Calabar, Chief Agara said he is very much in touch with the governor and his friend is a democrat.
In his words, “I came to consult with the leadership of the party on my gubernatorial ambition for 2023.
“I know what the state has, what it needs to do, so it is something that is already in my agenda, plan and thought.
“On zoning, the governor is very entitled to his opinion and has his reasons.
“I hope you heard what the state chairman said, as a human being and a Cross Riverian, constitutionally I have a right to aspire.
“I respect the governor as well as my relationship with him and he is also a democrat.
“People can say what they want to say of my relationship with him, but I am still very much in touch with him, support him and wish he ends well”, Agara said.
Chief Agara, who is also the chairman of AA Universal Agro Industries, also emphasised on the unity of the party while soliciting the support of the party for his ambition.
He stated that party unity remains sacrosanct, calling on party women and men not to allow candidates from other parties to snatch the Governorship seat.
“I am a loyal party man. United we stand, divided we fall. Part of the reason why my team and I are here is to notify the house of nursing ambition to declare my intention to contest for the seat of governor of Cross River State.
“I solicit your support as no man goes to battle without members of his community and hopes to emerge victorious at the end of the battle”, the industrialist said.
In his reaction, the state party chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, welcomed Chief Agara to the party.
He commended him for being part of the consensus arrangement that saw the emergence of the present state executive of the party and pledged to provide a level playing field for all aspirants.
“We are products of consensus building and Chief Agara was part of the consensus building that ensured our emergence.
“By embarking on a consensus that ensures the doors of our party are shut against any person will not be done by this party that is why we are opening our doors.
“If it is within my power to grant the ticket of the party to anyone, I will give it to you because you are my boss’s bosom friend.
“If it was a nepotistic democratic practice the governor would not think twice in giving you a ticket.
“There is no difficulty in demanding a level playing field”, the party chairman said.”
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
