The Lumine News

Category: Politics

  • Godwin Agbor Declares Intention To Contest Obudu State House Of Assembly Election

     

    A front line contender to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Godwin Agbor has formerly declared his Intention to contest the election under the All Progressive Congress APC.

    The declaration was held on Monday 18th April, 2022 at his home town, Ukpada – Utugwang, Obudu Local Government Area as part of the Easter celebration with his ward party members, leaders, councillors, ward Chairmen and Secretaries, chapter Chairman and Vice Chairman.

    Declaring his intention, Dr Agbor stated that he has consulted the leadership of the party at all level and he is still consulting and so decided to formerly declare his intention to contest election.

    He assured that which ever modality the party will adopt for the selection of its flag bearer, he will emerge victorious by God’s grace.

    Dr Agbor averred that his loyalty to the party is evidently clear and that most of those who parade themselves as loyal members of the party do so because they are in the payroll of his Excellency, if you remove the salary from them, they may want to leave the party.

    “I have a lot of bills to bring to the table for good governance which will take care of the youths, the women and the elders. If you liken our political sojourn to Catholicism, you will realize that I have done my baptism, I am only waiting for confirmation. Most of those who have indicated interest are preparing for baptism” Said Agbor.

    He assured that most of his bills will come from his constituents through town hall meetings.

    Agbor maintained that he has capacity, qualifications and has impacted his people through community services and that the people are witnesses to his impact.

    Agbor maintained that the party now more than ever needs credible candidates that will be accepted across party lines to win the general election.

    Responding, Mr Agorye Ajang commended Dr Agbor for the initiative and bold step to contest the election, having consulted the relevant stakeholders.
    He advised Dr Agbor to avoid having issues with other aspirants, as they will support whoever the party chooses to fly the flag.

    The Ward Chairman of Utugwang North, Mr Paul Akpanke thanked Dr Agbor for his boldness and advocated for primaries which will offer them the opportunity to participate in the process, as they will not have any role to play if the process is going to be by consensus.

    In his vote of thanks, the Councilor representing Utugwang Central, Hon Emma Adinyang commended Dr Agbor and used the opportunity to call on the party to explore the direct or indirect mode of primaries as the use of consensus post potential danger to unity of the part.

    Dr Agbor is the Medical Director, Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity, Boki, Cross River State and currently the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP Cross River State.

    He is a practising Catholic and a Knight of St Molumba Nigeria, Sub Council Physician. He is married to Mrs Adeline Agbor and is blessed with Children. He was the Coordinator and Supervisor for the APC registration and revalidation exercise in Obudu. He was the APC flag bearer in the December 2020 Obudu State Constituency bye-election to replace the late Hon Godwin Akwaji.

     

  • Southern Senatorial District Group Presses For Chris Agara To Take Over From Ayade In 2023, Sees Him As The Right Person To Continue With Ayade Legacy Of Development

     

    A group from the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State has called on Mr. Chris Agara to step into the race for the governorship of Cross River State to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade come May 29, 2023.

    The political support group which has membership across the seven Local government Areas of the district known as “Southern Senatorial District Standing for Agara and Continuation of Governor Ayade Legacy,” (SSDSACAL), through a statement signed by the group Chairman Comrade Asuquo Asuquo Etim, dated April 11, 2022, said the political group has chosen to pull all its resources Chris Agara without ethnic or religious sentiments.

    Mr. Etim who is from Akpabuyo LGA emphatically asserted that Chris Agara is the right person to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade to continue with the laudable development projects and programmes, especially the industrial revolution on going in Cross River State and that their position is without ethnic or senatorial sentiments, but for the progragress of Cross River State.

    “Southern Senatorial District Standing for Agara and Continuation of Governor Ayade Legacy want to emphatically state without ethnic or senatorial Biase That Chris Agara is the right person to take over from Senator Professor Benedict Ayade to continue with the laudable development projects and programmes, especially the industrial revolution on going in Cross River State,” Etim maintained.

    The group through the  Chairman further stressed that Chris Agara has been with Governor Ayade for a long time and take part in the great industrial and other projects and programmes development right from. The inception and actually understand the mind set of the initiator, Ayade and  completely share in that vision.

    Etim went on to explained that the business of taking  Cross River State from obscurity to indusrial heights and to an all round developmental transformation at this moment goes beyond the issue of rotational argument to a man who possess the know-how to continue with the aggressive development  pedigree which Governor Ayade has set in motion in the state.

    “We understand and appreciate the argument that in 1999 the governorship started from the South, went to the Central and then the North, then it should return to the South, an idea which the governor himself is strongly behind. However we asa group look beyond this argument to the general interest of the state and the continuity of the great  development blueprint of Ayade,” he stressed.

    Arguing further, Etim explained that it is still the same” if Chris Agara finishes his terms, we know that the South will take its two terms and them reverse to the North since at this time both the Central and South had taken their two terms leaving only the North with one round and will need to go for its own second round. ”

    The SSDSACAL Chairman called on Chris Agara to come out frontally to contest for the 2023 number one political position in Cross River State and that the groupyand other similar groups will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure that Chris Agara emerge as the winner of the governorship race and be sworn in on May 29, 2023.

    He therefore appealed to all Cross Riverians to file behind Chris Agara desire to take over from Ayade next year to continue with the development projects and programmes of Governor Ayade.

     

  • The Leading Presidential Aspirant In PDP, Nyesom Wike Will Be In Calabar Today – Joe Obi Bisong

     

    Dear partners, this is to officially inform you that our own His Excellency Barr Nyesom Wike Governor of Rivers state and leading Presidential Aspirant will be in calabar today by 11am
    We are expected to mobilise in our numbers to the calabar Airport by 10am to recieved and accord our August visitor a resounding welcome to calabar.
    Give this information very wide publicity. Thank you and God bless you all.

    Joe obi Bisong
    DG

    Caterpillar Movement

  • Cross River 2023: In Search Of Mr Integrity As Tag Team Partner BY JERRY EKPO

     

    The die is cast. 2023, another year of political transition is here with us. Cross River, like most states in Nigeria, is bracing up for a fresh governorship election and contenders for the two topmost political positions in the state are not in short supply.

    A candidate shall definitely emerge in the All Progressives Congress,  APC. But what is also critical, is who will play the deputising role for the governor?

    For the sake of argument, they are those who have been parroting the claim that as a party now in power in the state, it has not won a major election, except for the recently conducted senatorial by-election in the Northern Senatorial District of the state. However, before then, the APC won Abi-Yakurr federal seat as an opposition.

    So as the APC warms up for what will no doubt be its first major election for the office  of the governor come 2023, the choice of a tag team partner with the governorship candidate of the party is key, as whoever is chosen should be one with something to bring to the table.

    It is against this background that the name Anthony Odey Ochicha is a fit and proper one for deputy governor.

    Odey Ochicha has become a recurring decimal on the lips of a broad spectrum of Cross Riverians of like-mind who insist that there is an inextricable nexus between integrity and good governance.

    For the good of Cross River, recruitment and enthronement of quality leaders that will take over the baton from His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade on May 29, 2023, is one task that must not be shirked or treated with levity,  thus John Quincy Adams’ treatise on leadership ready comes to mind here.

    In climes where good governance and service delivery are the meat of democratic ethos, Quincy’s prescription forms the fulcrum upon which the leadership selection process rests.

    According to Quincy Adams, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

    This timeless quote clinically mirrors the character traits of Anthony Odey Ochicha. It also offers a veritable barometer to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River to hinge on while carefully sieving through the galaxy of gladiators in its fold currently angling for the two topmost political positions in the state- Governorship and Deputy Governorship.

    While zoning arrangement in Cross River APC may have technically precluded Ochicha from gunning for the number one position, even though he flew the party’s flag in the 2015 gubernatorial election,  his wealth of experience, patriotic fervour, selflessness, rock-solid integrity and unflinching loyalty to the party highly recommend him for the Deputy Governorship position.

    Cross Riverians are desirous of leaders who are well acquainted with the socio-political and economic anatomy of the state, ones that know the nitty-gritty of governance and are committed to consolidating the gains of His Excellency, Governor Ayade’s administration. Ochicha perfectly fits this bill.

    There is no doubt that if paired with whoever the APC eventually endorses as flagbearer, Ochicha will provide a robust bulwark against maladministration.

    Here is an incorruptible character,  a man who places integrity, honesty and morality above self-aggrandisement.

    A few years ago, as a senior staff of NAPIMS, a subsidiary of the NNPC, before he resigned to vie for Cross River governorship, Ochicha refused to do what most public servants would have gleefully done.

    He was supposed to travel to the US for a training program on the bill of his employers (NAPIMS)

    NAPIMS had already paid him millions of Naira upfront as travel allowance to cover his stay there. However, knowing that his mind was already made up for politics, he declined to attend the training because he wanted to attend a scheduled APC meeting in Lagos, Ochicha promptly returned the humongous travelling allowance to NAPIMS.

    As is the lurid norm in the public/civil service, Ochicha, if he had wanted, could have decided not to return the money as others that did not attend the training program oversea did but it was not in his character to swim in corruption.

    In all he does, Ochicha puts Cross River first. For him, love of the state transcends political and pecuniary benefits which was why shortly after Ayade, his main challenger in the 2015 governorship election, was declared the winner of the exercise, he wasted no time in conceding defeat and congratulating the winner.

    Of course, moving the state forward rather than dissipating energy on legal tussle or toxic opposition was paramount to him. Like the governor himself, Ochicha’s political philosophy is rooted in the principle of politics with ethics.

    A consummate party man, his fidelity and loyalty to the APC contributed to a large extent the reason the party didn’t go into extinction following the debilitating crisis that rocked it before and after its defeat in the 2019 guber election.

    Even when it became fashionable for some chieftains to switch allegiance to the then ruling party in Cross River, the PDP, Ochicha hugged the APC tightly, helping to navigate it through that perilous phase to its current position of strength as the ruling party following the entrance of Governor Ayade.

    Ochicha’s unwavering loyalty to the party was to catch the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari hence he was appointed by Mr President to serve his fatherland as Chairman of the governing Board of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

    However, the President, knowing Ochicha’s pedigree, no doubt will be happy to see him serve Cross River as Deputy Governor.

    A native of Bekwarra local government in Northern Cross River, in the spirit of equity, fair play and natural justice, Ochicha’s Deputy Governorship will go a long in assuaging the hurt that the local government has felt over the years following its mindless marginalisation politically as well as unexplained denial of basic amenities.

     

    Jerry Ekpo, a chieftain of the APC, wrote in from Abuja

  • Dr Ekpenyong Congratulates Ayade On Validated Victory over Defection

     

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has congratulated the State Governor and His Deputy over the validation of their Defection to the ruling All Progressive Congress by an Abuja High Court, today April 7th 2022 describing it as a “mandate to Purpose Fulfilling Mission”.

    In a Press State Issued and Signed by the Director General, she described the purported failed and premature ejection of the State Governor and His Deputy as a divine authentication procedure meant to solidify the identity of the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade as one of the most loved leaders in the history of Cross River State, urged him to remain committed in the actualization of his goals which is aimed at enhancing the lives of Cross Riverians.

    She used the opportunity to thank the state Governor for his numerous life enhancing programs in the Health sector which has signalled a revolutionary trend across the Country since his inauguration in 2015, urging the state to show support especially in the forthcoming Outbreak response against Poliomyelitis slated for 9th – 14th of April 2022.

    “Total, history is made in Cross River State as the Judiciary did not only stand for the truth and proclaimed it’s unbiased opinion to the issue of Defection and other constitutional rights of Citizens, but it solidified the image of the state Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade as one of the most loved, cherished and celebrated leaders in the state and the Country at large.

    The Unprecedented wave of support from party men and concerned citizens is an equivocal evidence that, truth cannot remain unspoken and a shinning light can never be hidden especially at a moment when the nation needs the expertise of visionary leaders like His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade.

    He has shown all of these magnanimity in the innovations in the Health sector and as of today, Cross River State has become a model for national programs implementation seeing to the ever growing quest for Universal Health Coverage.

    Since 2015, the state has witnessed reduced rate of child and maternal mortality, improved healthcare Facility utilization, increased enrollment and Community acceptability of our programs, to this light, I wish to remind all of our parents and caregivers of the forthcoming Outbreak Response Campaign Against Poliomyelitis coming up for our children within the ages of 0-5 years old in this month of April, we hope our children will partake in this History making Court Judgement by receiving doses of vaccines and other suplimentary products”.

    Once Again, Congratulations His Excellencies, Senator Ben Ayade and Professor Ivara Esu.

    Dr Janet Ekpenyong
    Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency

  • Bukola Saraki Campaign Advocacy Council Visits Party Secretariat, Solicits Support For Saraki’s Presidential Ambition.

    *PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE*

    1st April 2022.

    Press Statement

    *Bukola Saraki Campaign Advocacy Council Visits Party Secretariat*
    ……Solicits Support for Saraki’s Presidential ambition.

    Earlier today, the State Working Committee members of our party received in audience the Campaign Advocacy Council of Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki led by Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher. The Campaign Council arrived the Secretariat around 9am.

    Speaking during the consultative meeting, the Spokesperson of the campaign council, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher thanked the leadership of the Party for the reception accorded them, stressing that Cross River State has always been a good neighboring state to the North, especially North Central. Speaking about Bukola Saraki’s Presidential ambition, the Spokesperson declared that hope has arrived with the coming of Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    “I want you to rejoice with us because hope has arrived. Nigerians are victims of broken promises. We are faced with leadership failure. Failure to provide good leadership to manage the resources of this country. We have bad leaders with bad management taking loans without concrete plans on how to repay. This is the time to look for qualitative leadership to pull Nigeria to the greatest height. A president that is not a product of Zoning but competence. For even if we are to talk about zoning, North Central where Bukola Saraki hail from, is yet to produce a president. For Bukola Saraki, he will serve as a nexus between the young and old as he is relatively young. His experience as former Governor and Senate President is another considerable advantage”

    Reacting to the comment made by the Spokesperson, the State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Barr. Venatius Ikem thanked the campaign council for coming to Cross River State. He reiterated the commitment of the party to competence and capacity.

    “My path with your Principal has crossed even to the other generation. I coordinated for Bukola’s father, Oloye when he ran for Presidency in 1992. I was the Chairman of the Electoral Panel that delivered Bukola Saraki as Governorship Candidate. By the grace of God, I will be here to assist him become President. So, I welcome you specially, especially on this agenda, the Saraki Agenda. We in Cross River State like you’ve heard had an accident that has tagged us an opposition State but the reality on ground will always testify differently. We are the surest State for PDP. I am delighted whenever I see a team with people of high intellectual capabilities and experience. As Chairman, I have to manage all the contending aspiration that comes to us but ultimately, it is God that gives power. Within the Chairmen forum, there’s a lot of talk about capacity because we have all seen what just Politics has done to us. Last year, Nigeria used 4trillion Naira just to service debt, not to repay debt, and if you remember, our budget was about 12trillion Naira. Which means, very soon we will be using half of our budget to service debt. This is a serious disaster and I fear for tomorrow. So, we need people with the capacity to navigate their way through the economy and other sectors”

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Boki 2: Bajie Ekum Embarks On Consultation Tour, Assures Of Victory

     

    An Aspirant for Boki II State Constituency for the Cross River State House of Assembly Polls in 2023, Mr Bajie Odu Ekum, has commenced his consultation across the six wards of the state constituency, starting with Kakwagom/Bawop ward.

    The aspirants was well received by the chiefs, youths and women of the ward.

    Accordingly, he received their support, prayers and encouragement needed to be afloat on the race.

    The frontline aspirant also visited the Commissioner for Aviation in the state, Dr Jake Otu-Enyia, who described his aspiration as ‘timely’, giving the fact that the time for Kakwagom/Bawop ward to produce the next house of assembly representative is now.

    Dr Jake told Bajie and his supporters that what would stand him out are his qualities which he mentioned to include; humility, intelligent, accessibility, integrity, and above all, having the fear of God in him.

    He assured Bajie of his support, thereby advising him to tour the nook and crannies of Boki II to canvass for a wider support and acceptability of all stakeholders ahead of the primaries and the general elections.

  • Local Government Councilors In Cross River State Threatens To Return To PDP Over Poor Remuneration, None Release Of Funds

     

    BY George Prints

    Councilors in Cross River State have threatened to dump the APC to the PDP over what they described as “poor funding and none release of funds for their legislative activities” by the Cross River State Government.

    The lawmakers, after a meeting held in Ikom local government area, also agreed that they were going to commence the immediate impeachment of all the Local Government Chairmen in the state.

    According to them, over N150million have been released to each Local Government Chairman as capital projects, yet no Councilor have been carried along or given any project.

    They lamented that out of the 22 months they have been in office, they have only received Legislative Votes for six months, a situation they described as “painful and worrisome”.

    Other issues deliberated at the meeting include;

    1. Refusal of CRS government to accommodate councilors on the LGA capital projects

    2. None release of councilors Furniture/Wardrobe allowances.

    3. None payment of councilors monthly legislative votes. (6 LV in 22 months in government)

    4. Lack of legislative training to enhanced legislative proceedings

     

     

  • K J Jeddy-Agba Takes Consultation To Obudu And Obanliku Local Government Areas

    K J Jeddy-Agba Media

    The leading aspirant for Obudu /Obanlikwu /Bekwarra Federal Constituency, Prince KJ Jeddy-Agba, consults Obudu and Obanliku chapters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and informed them of his ambition to represent them at the National Assembly.

    Addressing the ward and chapter executives of Obudu and Obanliku separately, KJ Jeddy-Agba insisted that the PDP needs people with credible and outstanding track records to be able to win the general election taking into account the fact the party is in opposition.

    At Obanliku, KJ Jeddy-Agba used the opportunity to acknowledge the relentless efforts of the former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, whose contribution to the development of Nigeria and Obanliku in particular, speaks volumes.

    His words “I want us to observe a minute silence for late Joseph wayas, whom I described as the political bulldozer.

    “I am one of you, a son of the soil. I am not a visitor in Obanliku, I was born and brought up here, and so, I have come to seek for your mandate and support. I trust Obanliku very much that I know I will not be disappointed here having met with the ward and chapter executives who form the bulk of the delegates and some principal officers of the party.

    “I have been a committed party man since 1999, and I have been a Caretaker Committee member of PDP in Cross River State that midwived the current State executives after the defection of Gov Ben Ayade.

    “We are in the opposition and as such, we need capable hands like myself to win the election and not people who cannot match the opposition because, politics is no longer business as usual.

    “I admonish you all to go get your PVCs because elections can no longer be rigged in Nigeria especially with the BVAS machine”.

    Responding, Mr Goodwin Ukpangvum, a former PDP Chapter Secretary of Obanliku described K J Jeddy-Agba, as a man who is humble and not in a hurry about life but understands the times and season.

    The PDP Chapter Chairman of Obanliku, Hon Justine Ejiekpese described K J Jeddy-Agba, as the owner of the land and assured him that, he will not come and consult in Obanliku again, having done that previously.

    In his words” you are the first aspirant to have received ancestral prayers from my people which shows that you are the choosen one and am assuring you that the whole delegates will cast their votes for you”

    While at Obudu local Government Area, K J Jeddy-Agba, also made known his intention to serve his people at the house of representatives. He charged them to be decisive and resolute in the choice of the best among those aspiring to represent them during the primaries election.

    On his part, the PDP Chapter Chairman of Obudu, Hon Francis Atsu, appreciated K J Jeddy-Agba to have deemed it fit to consult his people on his intention to contest the house of representatives election.

    He however assured that, having evaluated him kindly, they’re really ready to send him to National Assembly comes 2023.

    In his words “we will never let you or turn you down for there is no better aspirant for the race other than you”.

    Atsua used the opportunity to ask God to direct the affairs of K J Jeddy-Agba as he pursue his ambition.

     

  • Gov Ayade Impact While In The Private Sector Is My Motivation To Serve My People – Agbor

    A front line contender for the Obudu State Constituency election comes 2023, Dr Godwin Agbor has stated that look up to Sen Prof Ben Ayade then when he was in the private sector. He started by giving scholarship where some of my close relations benefited. He became my role model looking at the trajectory of what he has achieved and done for our people.

    Dr Agbor disclosed to TheLumineNews in an interview:

    TLN: Can we meet you please?

    Dr Agbor: I am Dr Godwin Agbor, Medical Director, Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity, Okundi-Boki LGA. Currently, I am the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Cross River State chapter. Businessman and politician.

    I hail from Utugwang South, Obudu LGA of Cross River State. I am a member of the All Progressive Congress APC and was the party flag bearer for the December 2020 bye-election for Obudu State Constituency.

    I served as the Supervisor, APC membership revalidation/registration exercise for Obudu, 2021. I also served in the reconciliatory committee that harmonized the previous factions in the party in Obudu.
    I was the poineer ward Secretary of the defunct All People’s Party APP in 1999, during which time I donated an apartment for the ward secretariat, opposite St Paul’s Primary School, Ukpada. I am a Knight of St Molumba Nigeria, as the Sub Council Physician for St Patrick’s Parish Kakwagom, Boki Local Government Area.

    TLN: What is your motivation to serve?

    Dr Agbor: I have a strong passion to serving humanity. That is why I chose medical profession whose motive is ‘service to humanity’ This I have been quitely doing for more than a decade now. Quite a number of our constituents used to receive assistance by way of the health needs and empowerment. I feel fulfilled at providing such services.

    Secondly, when I was still in the primary school, in 1989, I took first in a gifted scholarship exams, Organised by the then Minister of Education, Prof Jubril. Then our late Elderstatesman , Denis Akwaji, addressed and gave me support to be kind to our people after completion of my studies. He used to attract a lot of infrastructural and manpower development to Obudu and Nigeria at large. So he became my role model and I got inspired to aspire into position which I can serve my constituency to the best of my ability with God on my side.

    Thirdly, l look up to Sen Prof Ben Ayade then when he was in the private sector. He started by giving scholarship where some of my close relations benefited. He became my role model looking at the trajectory of what he has achieved and done for our people. He has raised the bar beyond what any of us can think of as far as Obudu is concerned.

    TLN: What is your plans for youth inclusiveness in your policy formulation and implementation?

    Dr Agbor: I am a youth to start with. I don’t think my policy trust will be fair without the very strata I belong. The youths deserve to be fully involved in all level of governance because they constitute more than 60 percent of the entire population. The youth have the energy, the mental alertness and the proficiency to drive any process. Just as my leader, mentor and role model, Prof Ben Ayade has shown that 80 percent of his administrative drive constitutes the youths. I shall ensure that if voted into office to represent the good people of Obudu, sponsor bills that are youths centered in areas of Information and Communication Technology ICT, agriculture, entertainment and sports development.

    TLN: How do you intend to harness the vast potentials in the youths to solving the myriads of challenges confronting us using the Tech Solution?

    Dr Agbor: You have said it all that the youths are energetic, full of wisdom and they explore a lot as seen in ICT. It is unfortunate that some bad elements among us indulged in cyber Yahoo Yahoo activities, which is a criminal cyber security issue. I think this trend can be reversed. Those boys can be engaged, retrained by psychologists as to use same knowledge and ideas to provide modern security in technology, by government at all levels, private organizations or individuals instead of allowing them idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”

    TLN: How do you intend to advance the course of empowerment in your constituency?

    Dr Agbor: Giving of motorcycles, sewing machines and grinding machines is not a bad idea. But I will go a step further to include giving scholarship to intellectually sound constituents, skills acquisition, craftsmanship and business training to enhance small and medium enterprise as well as partner with organizations that provide credit facility for my constituents.

    TLN: Bearing in mind that your constituents are predominantly peasant farmers, what is your plan to advance their livelihood?

    Dr Agbor: The APC led government already have in place programmes like the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, which have seen a lots of our people cultivate more rice and cereal crops. I will facilitate more of my constituents to benefit from such programmes by working very closely with my leaders at the centre. This can improve their means of livelihood in poultry, fisheries, cassava farming etc.

    TLN: How do you intend to change the narrative of poor stakeholder’s engagement in your constituency?

    Dr Agbor: I wouldn’t agree with you completely on this, but I think more robust contributions from stakeholder’s engagement is the way to go. Yes our leaders need to be properly engaged, carry along with the policies of government to avoid friction in the politics. I will hold meetings regularly so that what the people want, government can provide with the limited available resources. Don’t forget, Cross River State has been denied her God given resources in the political lost of her 76 Oil wells to our sister state, Akwa Ibom. In the same vein, Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon. This by extension has drastically reduced our revenue base. I use to wonder what this present administration of Sen Prof Ben Ayade is doing that he has achieved so much with limited resources.

    TLN: Your party, the All Progressive Congress APC, in recent times is known for consensus, do you have the confidence that the party will provide a level playing ground for you to advance your aspiration?

    Dr Agbor: Yes I am very confident that my party, APC leaders, critical stakeholders and members will give us the level playing ground for all of us who want to aspire to achieve it. I am qualified by training, by political experiences, and what I have done as a private medical practitioner to my people.
    I have no doubt in my mind that which ever modalities my party adopts for the primaries election, I will be supported again. And don’t forget, the last bye-election, for Obudu State Constituency, 2020, I emerged party flag bearer via a consensus.
    More importantly, the APC led Chairman in the state, Barr Alphonsus Ogar Eba have shown tremendous capacity. He is a man who is simple and accessable who have galvanized the party and will want the popular person to emerge through a transparent, fair and level playing process, so that the APC can win the general election.

    TLN: How have you impacted your people previously?

    Dr Agbor: My dear, I think that question will have rather being for my people to answer, knowing what I have done for them so far. However, don’t forget I told you that I have been reaching out to numerous persons in my medical practice at Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity Okundi-Boki, through free medical outreaches, organised sporting activities and graded 5km road from Eshankpe to Mbube in my community, just to mention but a few. I have a penchant to do more for not only my constituency Obudu, but for mankind at large, if given the opportunity to serve. This service will not be about me, but the people.

    TLN: What is your campaign ideology and your advice to your supporters?

    Dr Agbor: It is simply the ideology of my party which together we can do for Obudu “Yes we can”
    I want to appeal to them to remain committed to this aspiration which is a collective decision for the good people of Obudu. They should continue to propagate our aspiration to all nooks and crannies of Obudu. I count on their prayers to ensure that collectively, we will achieve our aspiration.
    Thank you and God bless you.