The National Vice Chairman, South South of the All Progressives Congress (APC, Ntufam Hilliard Eta has written to the governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade demanding for postponement of the Local Government poll scheduled for May 30th, 2020.
The Vice Chair in a letter dated May 26th and directed to the governor appealed to him to reverse the decision and instruct the state electoral commission to reschedule the election in the interest all parties and considering the present pandemic ravaging the nation at large.
See excerpt of the letter below:
Office of the National Vice Chairman South South
26th May, 2020,
His Excellency,
Prof. Ben Ayade,
Governor of Cross River State,
Government House,
Calabar.
OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR BEN AYADE: COMPELING NEED FOR REASON TO PREVAIL
REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PURPORTED LGA ELECTIONS
OF 30TH MAY, 2020
We bring you sincere greetings from all the teeming members of the All
Progressives Congress, APC; especially from Cross River State. We have
received with disgust and utmost shock reports that in this period of
National crisis which has necessitated the Federal Government
restricting the movements of both humans and vehicles especially
through inter-state travels in the country, you have nicodemously, in
conspiracy with the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission
fixed the Local Government Elections in Cross River State for Saturday,
May 30th, 2020.
We choose to write to you through this medium hoping it will quickly get
your attention to enable you reverse this decision of fixing the LGA
elections on 30th of May, 2020; and reschedule it for a date that will be
acceptable by all parties. Just as our dear country is faced with the
dreaded covid19 pandemic, it is our view that fixing an election of this
critical nature is another man-made crises howbeit, created and
orchestrated by you and your cohorts in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to further keep the good people of Cross Rivers State in penury and
bondage.
We wish to state categorically as follows:
1) That fixing this election at this time when most participants are
locked-down outside Cross Rivers State negates the spirit of
fairness, equity and justice. What manner of elections are we
expecting when you know that for the past two months, most of our
candidates and supporters were not involved in any form of
campaigns and mobilization?
2) We view this as an act of cowardice and self-service by the Peoples’
Democratic Party led government of Cross River State. Why are
you afraid of our great Party and our candidates? Why do you
want to ambush us politically, and bring the popularity of our
esteemed candidates to disrepute just because of your selfish
interest and blind loyalty to your party, the PDP?
3) We are reliably informed that you have already concluded the
elections as you have perfected plans to compile the names of your
stooges who are majorly known cultists and just counting days to
announce them as duly elected Local Government Chairmen of the
18 LGAs of Cross River State. We wish to place it on record that we
will not accept this charade in the name of elections in this 21st
century.
4) For the past five years, you and your Party the PDP have continued
to operate illegal joint account with the Local Government Areas,
thereby perpetually siphoning and stealing funds meant for the development of Cross River State, and this ploy of foisting your
loyal boys in the name of LGA chairmen is a clear strategy to
continue in the stealing spree of our States’ funds. How long shall
we continue in this inglorious path in Cross River State?
5) Knowing your antecedents as someone who has the proclivity for
land grabbing, primitive accumulation of wealth and conversion of
States’ own assets and funds to personal use, continuing with this
election on 30th May, 2020 will only be a way of strategically
placing your men in Local Governments to help you continue with your nefarious acts of ripping Cross River State off.
6) We had long prepared for this election, but in your deceptive
character, you kept influencing the postponement of the elections
and just woke up from your slumber and fixed an election of this
critical nature, without giving time for adequate preparations by
our candidates. It is therefore an incontrovertible fact that your
plan of going into this election is to reward your political thugs so
that they will continue serving your parochial interest and certainly
not the interest of Cross Rivers State.
7) Although equity, fairness, even handedness and a sense of history
seem to be very scarce commodities in your character, we speak
on behalf of the millions of Cross River State citizens and call on
you to cancel the plans of holding this election as announced, for
the sake of posterity and our dear State.
8) Please be informed that where you turn deaf ears to this call for
the voice of reason, we will have no choice than to use all legitimate
and available instruments to seek for justice.
Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem. Thank you and God
bless.
NTUFAM HILLIARD ETA
NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN SOUTH SOUTH
