OVER 2000 CROSS RIVER APC CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS, LEADERS, MEMBERS CONVERGE FOR FIRST POST ELECTION MEETING IN CALABAR
..As State Chairman, Eba seeks 6,000 appointments, empowerments for party faithfuls
The ancient city of Calabar, the Cross River State capital was in frenzy mood on Thursday, September 28, 2023 as over 2,000 critical stakeholders, political leaders, members and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state attended the party's first post elections Stateholders Meeting.
The strategic and well attended meeting was held at the Calabar International Convention Centre, and chaired by the State Governor, His Excellency, Sen Prince Bassey Otu and hosted by the State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq JP with the theme 'A Celebration of Victory and Future Growth'.
Critical Stakeholders and leaders as well as members of the APC from the 18 Local Government Areas of the state were in attendance and used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor and his deputy, Rt Hon Peter Odey on their recent victory at the Tribunal, which reaffirmed the overwhelming mandate of the governor during the March 18, 2023 Governorship Election by Cross Riverians.
Speaking with Journalists during the meeting, the State Chairman and foremost Political Evangelist, Alsphonsus Eba who was visibly elated thanked the Governor for his nod for the meeting to hold and expressed his excitement over the overwhelming turn out of party leaders and supporters to the stakeholders meeting and said our hope has not only been renewed but our hope has been kept alive.
While commending the Governor for the over 200 appointments made so far, he said the party's target is for 6,000 party faithfuls to benefit through appointments and empowerments in line with it's slogan of 'monkey work monkey chop'. He added that in view of the current realities occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, the Governor's 'People First' mantra can only be sustained if his campaign promises are kept.
He said, "I thank His Excellency, Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu for hearkening to the heart beat of the party, that there was need after elections to bring all stakeholders, all party members, and critical stakeholders who contributed to the victory of our party in our dear State.
"Most particularly, the occupation of Perigrino hall, which at the inception on the 16th of October, 2021 when I took over the mantle of leadership as the State Chairman, I said one of my fundamental objective was going to be the sustainance of that occupation of Perigrino Hall. It came to pass on the 18th of March, 2023, when Cross Riverians across party lines came together to vote for His Excellency Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
"Since after that we have not had a robust, resplendent and what you can call a splendiferous environment and ambiance to sit down together, to rob minds, to reassure our people and to keep hope alive on the promises we made to them.
"More so that the Governor himself had come to support the party's slogan of 'monkey work, monkey chop'. And then after the election, people started complaining across party lines that strange bed fellows were getting appointments even at the state level. Some unpleasant comments were coming in and we felt as a party there was a need to just sit down again and remind ourselves of the promises we made and to the appeal to the Governor that please we want you to sustain the 'food on the table' and which himself came with an added acronym 'food for the table', because we know that with the removal of fuel subsidy, his mantra of the 'People First ' can only be sustained if we ensure that his campaign promises were kept.
"The Governor has done well, almost 200 appointments given but that is not our target. Our target is to have about 6,000 persons both for appointments and empowerments. Our veterans need to go and occupy the spaces we have in Abuja. Mr President is ready to give us a space for about 50 to 100. We would upload our people into Abuja and those that may not be able to be accommodated there, we would create a space for them in the state here.
"And then our young people and our progressive people would find proper accommodation. The civil service has been depleted, reasonably over 10,000 persons or more might get employment into the civil service structure.
"So today the meeting has not just given hope, has not just renewed the hope, it has kept hope alive. I can only say to God be the glory."
The highpoint of the historic gathering was the cutting of the victory cake to celebrate the victory of the state Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu and Deputy Governor Rt Hon Peter Odey at the poll and the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Notable personalities in attendance include The speaker of the Cross River State House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem. The two senators. Sen. Eteng Williams, representing CR Central and Sen. Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr, representing CR South. Also the former senator representing CR Central and super stakeholder, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN., Sen. Stephen Odey Ph D. Amb. Soni Abang. High Chief Higgins Peters, immediate past deputy Governor Of Cross River State, Prof. Evara Esu. Chief Asuquo Ekpeyong, OON. Ntufam Hilliard Etta,Obol Okoi Obono Obla, Dr. Stella Odey -Ekpo, members of national assembly, state commissioners and all other supra stakeholders and leaders of the party across the 18 local governments area of the state.
*Hon Bill Francis Bill Spokesperson to Governor Prince out*