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Governor Ben Ayade
By Akpan David, Calabar
The opposition PDP in Cross River State and Governor Nyesom Wike have said that Governor Ben Ayade and his ruling APC can not be able to bully, intimidate or cow then as preparations towards weekend by-election and general elections next year ensue.
PDP issued a statement, signed by its publicity Secretary, Mike Ojisi in respect of yesterday’s alleged attempt by the police to bully their supporters and stop them from holding their flag off campaign for the two by-elections for Ogoja/Yala federal and Akpabuyo state constituencies at Calabar sports club venue.
They strongly accused the state governor, Ben Ayade as one behind the bullying, brigandage and intolerance.
“As a party, we condemn in strong terms this bizzare act of political intolerance, bullying and intimidation by the Governor. It is worthy of note that the said flag-off rally was approved by INEC and all the relevant agencies in the State, as such, we find the Governor’s attempt to stop the rally absolutely unbecoming, nauseating and undemocratic.
“We are aware that the Governor is behind the attempt by the police to stop us from holding our peaceful flag off ceremony because he damned afraid of our formidability and is sensing the imminent defeat awaiting the APC in the forthcoming by-election.
“We heartily sympathize with him and his failure-personified Party. We call on him to retrace his step and follow the path of nobility, as we cannot be intimidated or cowed by his shenanigans.”
We call on Security agencies to rise up to the occasion and guarantee the safety of all PDP faithful. We call on all party faithfuls to remain committed and resolute, as this too shall pass. Cross River State belongs to all of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed can deny us the privilege of Political participation.”
Speaking in Calabar similarly, Gov Wike auctioned against the acts of intimidation by the ruling party and maintained that PDP supporters in the state should never be cowed.
“The PDP and it’s members have full rights to hold its lawful political programmes. I am surprised that a programme approved by INEC somebody can use another federal government agency to intimidate. PDP can never be cowed.”
Reacting, the APC in the state through its publicity Secretary, Erasmus Ekpang said they are more engaged in the task of mobilising their members and supporters towards the two by-elections than to be distracted.
APC denied that Governor Ayade has no such control over the security agencies operating in the state, “so he could not have directed them to prevent the PDP from doing whatever takes their fancy, inasmuch as it does not violate public law and order.
“The security agencies do not need the Governor’s directives to carry out their constitutional responsibilities when they sense or see that a group or individual might be a threat to public peace.”
They argued that PDP should not have held their rally in Calabar for elections taking place in Ogoja and Akpabuyo LGAs, adding that they were aware that their APC youth rally was simultaneously holding in Calabar.
